Sports Med Blog

Clinical Studies prove Chondroitin Sulphate helps knee Arthritis

Details

Published on Tuesday, 08 March 2011 02:08

Written by Anne Moss Rogers

Clinical Studies prove Chondroitin Sulphate modifies the effect of those with Knee Osteoarthritis

Glucosamine supplements normally contain one of two types of glucosamine: glucosamine sulfate or glucosamine hydrochloride. EGlucosamine sulfate is not recommended if you suffer from high blood pressure.

A group of Canadian researchers led by Prof. Jean-Pierre Pelletier, Head of the Osteoarthritis Research Unit at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre, confirms in a clinical trial the disease modifying effects of chondroitin sulphate, a symptomatic slow acting drug for osteoarthritis (SYSADOA). They proved it’s usefulness using quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (qMRI),

Published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases they explored the effect of chondroitin sulphate (CS) treatment on cartilage volume loss, subchondral bone marrow lesions (BML) and synovitis (inflammation of the synovial membrane) in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

The investigator states that after only six months of treatment with CS, patients show a significant decrease in loss of articular cartilage as compared to the placebo group and a significant reduction in the progression of bone marrow lesions by 12 months.

Prof. Pelletier concluded that, "CS is a safe drug with an overall positive effect on OA, significantly reducing the volume of cartilage loss in knee OA ".

May prolong knee stability and enable patients to postpone knee replacement surgeries

In short, Chondroitin Sulfate can slow the progression of osteoarthritis, however this does not mean it is able to cure. "The cure involves the regression of all lesions related to OA," he says, "and that's not the case. Chondroitin sulphate slows the progression of the disease. This is an important finding as a decrease in the rate of progression of cartilage loss in knee OA patients, as seen by MRI, could potentially reduce the need for total knee replacement a phenomenon that has been observed in other MRI clinical studies".

Future goals

The expert says the results of this pilot MRI study are very positive and encouraging. Given the evidenced efficacy and safety of the product, it definitely represents a most valuable option for OA patients. Though he notes, "it is important that patients are provided with highly purified pharmaceutical grade Chondroitin Sulfate supplements, the one used in this study, as this is the only one that can guarantee such efficacy and specifically, safety results".

Source: Jean-Pierre Pelletier, MD, Professor of Medicine, Head Arthritis Division, Director of Osteoarthritis Research Unit, University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM) http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/218295.php

>>Glucosamine Sulfate Review

>>Liquid Glucosamine Sulfate Reveiw

>>Glucosamine Hydrochloride - For those with high blood pressure