J Korean Rheum Assoc.  2008 Sep;15(3):197-203. 10.4078/jkra.2008.15.3.197.

Glucosamine Sulfate and Chondroitin Sulfate for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis

• Lee YH
• Ji JD
• Song GG

• KMID: 1270197
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4078/jkra.2008.15.3.197

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis often associated with morbidity, disability, functional impairment and impaired quality of life. A new perspective in OA management is to delay disease progression by modifying joint structure. Glucosamine sulfate (GS) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) have attracted a lot of interest as a specific drug for OA. Glucosamine is a constituent of glcosaminoglycans in cartilage matrix and synovial fluid and is involved in cartilage formation. Chondroitin sulfate (CS) belongs to the glycosaminoglycan group and is a major component of the articular cartilage. The meta-analyses have shown that GS (but not glucosamine hydrochloride) and CS have small-to-moderate symptomatic efficacy in OA. With respect to the structure-modifying effect, there is some evidence that GS and CS may interfere with structural progression of OA.

Keyword

Glucosamine; Chondroitin; Osteoarthritis

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Meta-analysis on the symptomatic efficacy of glucosamine in osteoarthritis.

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  Fig. 2. Standard difference in means and 95% CI of individual studies and pooled data for structural effect of glucosamine sulfate on minimum JSN of knee OA at follow-up period of 1 yr (A) and 3 yrs (B).

Reference

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