Research

Chondroitin

75 peer-reviewed studies curated from PubMed and Semantic Scholar.

14
Meta-analyses
5
Systematic reviews
35
RCTs
21
Other studies
Meta-analyses (19%)
Systematic reviews (7%)
RCTs (47%)
Observational (3%)

Studies

Sorted by quality and recency

2025·Aging clinical and experimental research·Alberto Migliore, Orazio De Lucia, Alessandro de Sire, et al

Low dose NSAIDs and sysadoas in the management of knee osteoarthritis.

Systematic reviewJoint Bone Health

Systematic review and Delphi survey evaluated the efficacy and safety of combining low dose diclofenac and chondroitin sulfate for knee osteoarthritis management. The combination may reduce pain and improve joint function, potentially reducing the need for higher NSAID doses.

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2024·PloS one·Ruiqi Wu, Qinglin Peng, Weiwei Wang, et al

Systematic review and network meta-analysis on the efficacy and safety of parmacotherapy for hand osteoarthritis.

Meta-analysisn = 3,965Joint Bone Health

Systematic review and network meta-analysis of 21 studies with 3965 patients assessing the efficacy and safety of various drug interventions for hand osteoarthritis. GCSB-5 showed the greatest reduction in pain, CRx-102 mitigated stiffness, and chondroitin sulfate had the highest incidence of adverse events.

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2024·Advances in therapy·Olivier Bruyère, Jean-Yves Reginster

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Pharmaceutical-Grade Chondroitin Sulfate for Knee Osteoarthritis Based on Individual Patient Data from a Randomized Clinical Trial.

RCTn = 404Joint Bone Health

Post hoc cost-effectiveness analysis of a randomized clinical trial comparing 800 mg/day of pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin sulfate to placebo in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Chondroitin sulfate was found to be cost-effective, with a mean ICER of 33,462 EUR per QALY gained, indicating a 93% probability of being cost-effective compared to placebo.

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2024·Inflammopharmacology·Anvita Rabade, Gollapalle Lakshminarayanashastry Viswanatha, Krishnadas Nandakumar, et al

Evaluation of efficacy and safety of glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and their combination regimen in the management of knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Meta-analysisJoint Bone Health

This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the efficacy and safety of glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and their combination in managing knee osteoarthritis. Chondroitin sulfate showed a significant reduction in pain intensity and improved physical function, while glucosamine sulfate significantly reduced tibiofemoral joint space narrowing. The combination did not significantly improve symptoms or modify the disease. Both substances were well tolerated.

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2022·Computational and mathematical methods in medicine·Zhiyao Wang, Rongtian Wang, Hui Yao, et al

Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Chondroitin Combined with Glucosamine in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Meta-analysisn = 764Joint Bone Health

Systematic review and meta-analysis of 6 RCTs evaluating chondroitin combined with glucosamine for knee osteoarthritis. The combination was significantly more effective than routine treatment in reducing joint pain, tenderness, swelling, and dysfunction. No significant difference in adverse reactions was found compared to single treatment.

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2022·Cranio : the journal of craniomandibular practice·Víctor Ruiz-Romero, Jorge Toledano-Serrabona, Cosme Gay-Escoda

Efficacy of the use of chondroitin sulphate and glucosamine for the treatment of temporomandibular joint dysfunction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Meta-analysisJoint Bone Health

Systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the efficacy of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine for temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Results showed a decrease in pain, joint noise, and inflammatory biomarkers, and an improvement in maximum mouth opening. Meta-analysis indicated a significant increase in maximum mouth opening with CS-GS use.

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2021·Arthritis research & therapy·Milena Simic, Alison R Harmer, Maria Agaliotis, et al

Clinical risk factors associated with radiographic osteoarthritis progression among people with knee pain: a longitudinal study.

RCTn = 605Joint Bone Health -

Longitudinal study within the 'Long-term Evaluation of Glucosamine Sulfate' (LEGS study) assessing clinical risk factors for radiographic osteoarthritis progression in people with knee pain. The study found that NSAID use and not meeting physical activity guidelines were associated with greater risk of progression, while glucosamine and chondroitin treatment allocation was adjusted for in the analysis.

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2020·Journal of drug targeting·Abebe Feyissa Amhare, Jian Lei, Huan Deng, et al

Biomedical application of chondroitin sulfate with nanoparticles in drug delivery systems: systematic review.

Systematic review

Systematic review evaluating the biomedical application of chondroitin sulfate with nanoparticles in drug delivery systems. The review included 20 original articles, assessing drug loading, encapsulation efficiency, and drug release profiles. The risk of bias was rated as high in two studies.

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2018·JAMA·Dario Gregori, Giampaolo Giacovelli, Clara Minto, et al

Association of Pharmacological Treatments With Long-term Pain Control in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Meta-analysisn = 22,037Joint Bone Health

Systematic review and network meta-analysis of 47 RCTs with 22,037 patients with knee osteoarthritis, examining long-term outcomes of various pharmacological treatments. Glucosamine sulfate showed significant associations with pain improvement and joint space narrowing, while chondroitin sulfate and strontium ranelate were associated with improvement in joint space narrowing.

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2008·Osteoarthritis and cartilage·M C Hochberg, D O Clegg

Potential effects of chondroitin sulfate on joint swelling: a GAIT report.

RCTn = 1,583Joint Bone Health

The GAIT trial was a randomized double-blind placebo and active comparator controlled trial involving 1583 persons with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee. While celecoxib showed significant improvement in knee pain, the dietary supplements did not show statistically significant improvement in pain compared to placebo. However, chondroitin sulfate was associated with a significant improvement in knee joint swelling, particularly in patients with milder pain and lower Kellgren-Lawrence Grade.

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2025·mSystems·Kexin Wang, Hanbo Wang, Zhixin Zhao, et al

subsp.Probio-M8 enhances chondroitin efficacy for knee osteoarthritis in postmenopausal women via the gut-joint axis.

RCTn = 65Joint Bone Health

A 4-month RCT assessed the adjunctive effects of Probio-M8 on knee osteoarthritis in postmenopausal women. Sixty-five patients were randomized to receive either Probio-M8 with chondroitin sulfate or placebo with chondroitin sulfate. The probiotic group showed significant reductions in WOMAC scores and changes in gut microbiota, indicating enhanced chondroitin efficacy through modulation of the gut-joint axis.

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2025·Terapevticheskii arkhiv·A V Naumov, A V Unkovskiy, N O Khovasova, et al

[Combination therapy for exacerbations of pain in osteoarthritis with non-fixed combinations].

RCTn = 60Joint Bone Health

A phase IV RCT comparing combination therapy of chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine, methylsulfonylmethane, hyaluronic acid, and collagen versus a collagen-free regimen in 60 knee osteoarthritis patients. The collagen-inclusive group showed superior reductions in pain scores and NSAID use, and greater functional improvements.

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2019·Nutrients·Anna Shmagel, Ryan Demmer, Daniel Knights, et al

The Effects of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate on Gut Microbial Composition: A Systematic Review of Evidence from Animal and Human Studies.

Systematic reviewGut Health

Systematic review of animal and human studies on the effects of glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate on gut microbial composition. Moderate-quality evidence suggests chondroitin sulfate exposure is associated with changes in gut microbiota, while evidence for glucosamine sulfate is limited.

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2019·Drugs & aging·Germain Honvo, Jean-Yves Reginster, Véronique Rabenda, et al

Safety of Symptomatic Slow-Acting Drugs for Osteoarthritis: Outcomes of a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Meta-analysis

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials assessing adverse events with various SYSADOAs in osteoarthritis patients. Diacerein was associated with increased odds of total adverse events, gastrointestinal disorders, renal and urinary disorders, and dermatological disorders compared to placebo. Glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and avocado soybean unsaponifiables were not associated with increased adverse events.

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2019·Advances in therapy·Germain Honvo, Olivier Bruyère, Anton Geerinck, et al

Efficacy of Chondroitin Sulfate in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Exploring Inconsistencies in Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trials.

Meta-analysisJoint Bone Health

This meta-analysis reviewed 18 randomized, placebo-controlled trials to assess the efficacy of chondroitin sulfate (CS) in alleviating pain and improving function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The analysis found that CS significantly reduced pain and improved function, although results were inconsistent. Factors such as risk of bias, brand, and study size contributed to heterogeneity in trial outcomes.

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2019·Aging clinical and experimental research·Germain Honvo, Olivier Bruyère, Jean-Yves Reginster

Update on the role of pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin sulfate in the symptomatic management of knee osteoarthritis.

Meta-analysisJoint Bone Health

This literature review and meta-analysis summarize recent findings on the efficacy and safety of pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin sulfate (CS) in managing knee osteoarthritis (OA). The analysis indicates that pharmaceutical-grade CS reduces pain and improves function in knee OA patients, with a good safety profile. However, the findings suggest that these benefits may not apply to other low-grade preparations.

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2019·Journal of special operations medicine : a peer reviewed journal for SOF medical professionals·Joseph J Knapik, Rodney Pope, Sally S Hoedebecke, et al

Effects of Oral Chondroitin Sulfate on Osteoarthritis-Related Pain and Joint Structural Changes: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Meta-analysisJoint Bone Health

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials on the effects of orally consumed chondroitin sulfate on osteoarthritis-related pain and joint structural changes. The analysis found small to moderate effectiveness in reducing pain but minimal effects on joint space narrowing and no effect on cartilage volume.

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2018·Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy·Olivier Bruyère

Pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin sulfate in the management of knee osteoarthritis.

RCTn = 604Joint Bone Health

The CONCEPT trial assessed the symptomatic effect of pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin sulfate 800 mg/day in 604 patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. The study found that chondroitin sulfate is superior to placebo and similar to celecoxib in reducing pain and improving function in patients with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis.

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2018·RMD Open·F. Kroon, L. Carmona, J. Schoones, et al

Efficacy and safety of non-pharmacological, pharmacological and surgical treatment for hand osteoarthritis: a systematic literature review informing the 2018 update of the EULAR recommendations for the management of hand osteoarthritis

Systematic reviewJoint Bone Health

Systematic literature review of non-pharmacological, pharmacological, and surgical interventions for hand osteoarthritis. Positive results were found for chondroitin sulfate and intra-articular glucocorticoid injections in interphalangeal joints. Topical NSAIDs were effective with fewer adverse events compared to oral NSAIDs.

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2017·Annals of the rheumatic diseases·Jean-Yves Reginster, Jean Dudler, Tomasz Blicharski, et al

Pharmaceutical-grade Chondroitin sulfate is as effective as celecoxib and superior to placebo in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: the ChONdroitin versus CElecoxib versus Placebo Trial (CONCEPT).

RCTn = 604Joint Bone Health

RCT comparing pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin sulfate (800 mg/day) to celecoxib and placebo in 604 patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis over 6 months. Chondroitin sulfate and celecoxib both significantly reduced pain and improved function compared to placebo, with no difference between the two active treatments.

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2017·Medwave·Valentina Rojas-Briones, Stephanie Harrison-Muñoz, Sebastián Irarrázaval

Is chondroitin sulfate effective for osteoarthritis?

Meta-analysisJoint Bone Health -

Meta-analysis of 13 systematic reviews including 50 randomized trials on chondroitin sulfate for osteoarthritis. The study concluded that it is unclear whether chondroitin sulfate improves pain or functionality due to very low certainty of evidence.

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2013·Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism·Yves Henrotin, Cécile Lambert, Pascal Richette

Importance of synovitis in osteoarthritis: evidence for the use of glycosaminoglycans against synovial inflammation.

Systematic reviewInflammation Joint Bone Health

Systematic review of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) targeting synovial inflammation in osteoarthritis. Chondroitin sulfate controls cell infiltration, biochemical mediators, and angiogenesis. Glucosamine affects cellular and molecular inflammation, while hyaluronic acid is anti-inflammatory in its native form.

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2012·Osteoarthritis and cartilage·J Yue, M Yang, S Yi, et al

Chondroitin sulfate and/or glucosamine hydrochloride for Kashin-Beck disease: a cluster-randomized, placebo-controlled study.

RCTn = 251Joint Bone Health

Cluster-randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 251 patients with Kashin-Beck disease comparing chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine hydrochloride, their combination, and placebo over 6 months. Combination therapy was effective in reducing WOMAC pain, stiffness, and total scores. Chondroitin sulfate alone also improved WOMAC total and stiffness scores, while glucosamine hydrochloride alone showed no significant effects.

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2012·The Open Rheumatology Journal·H. Schneider, E. Maheu, M. Cucherat

Symptom-Modifying Effect of Chondroitin Sulfate in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials Performed with Structum®

Meta-analysisJoint Bone Health

Meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials assessing the efficacy of chondroitin sulfate (Structum®) in knee osteoarthritis. Results showed a modest but significant reduction in pain and improvement in functional index compared to placebo, suggesting effectiveness in managing knee osteoarthritis symptoms.

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2010·Osteoarthritis and cartilage·M C Hochberg

Structure-modifying effects of chondroitin sulfate in knee osteoarthritis: an updated meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials of 2-year duration.

Meta-analysisJoint Bone Health

Updated meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials assessing chondroitin sulfate for knee osteoarthritis. Results showed a small significant effect on reducing the rate of decline in minimum joint space width, indicating its efficacy as a structure-modifying agent.

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2008·Current medical research and opinion·Marc C Hochberg, Min Zhan, Patricia Langenberg

The rate of decline of joint space width in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials of chondroitin sulfate .

Meta-analysisJoint Bone Health

Meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials assessing chondroitin sulfate's efficacy as a structure-modifying drug for knee osteoarthritis. Results showed a small significant effect on reducing the rate of decline in minimum joint space width, suggesting a positive role in joint health.

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2007·Annals of Internal Medicine·S. Reichenbach, R. Sterchi, M. Scherer, et al

Meta-analysis: Chondroitin for Osteoarthritis of the Knee or Hip

Meta-analysisJoint Bone Health -

This meta-analysis summarized data from 20 trials comparing chondroitin with placebo or no treatment in patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis. Recent high-quality trials showed chondroitin had minimal or no effect on joint pain, and effects on joint space were inconclusive.

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2005·Arthritis and rheumatism·Beat A Michel, Gerold Stucki, Diana Frey, et al

Chondroitins 4 and 6 sulfate in osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized, controlled trial.

RCTn = 300Joint Bone Health

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial studied the effect of 800 mg chondroitin sulfate (CS) daily on cartilage loss in 300 patients with knee osteoarthritis over 2 years. The CS group showed no change in mean joint space width, while the placebo group experienced progressive joint space narrowing. CS was well tolerated, suggesting it may retard radiographic progression in knee osteoarthritis.

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2019·Nutrients·Mariangela Rondanelli, Valentina Braschi, Clara Gasparri, et al

Effectiveness of Non-Animal Chondroitin Sulfate Supplementation in the Treatment of Moderate Knee Osteoarthritis in a Group of Overweight Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study.

RCTn = 60Joint Bone Health Inflammation

RCT of 60 overweight adults with knee osteoarthritis comparing 600 mg non-animal chondroitin sulfate to placebo for 12 weeks. The study found significant improvements in knee function, pain, and inflammation markers in the chondroitin sulfate group.

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2018·Advances in rheumatology (London, England)·Andrea Barranjard Vannucci Lomonte, José Alexandre Mendonça, Gilberto de Castro Brandão, et al

Multicenter, randomized, double-blind clinical trial to evaluate efficacy and safety of combined glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate capsules for treating knee osteoarthritis.

RCTn = 100Joint Bone Health

Multicenter, randomized, double-blind study comparing glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate capsules to glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulfate in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Both groups showed significant pain reduction with no difference in efficacy or adverse events, demonstrating non-inferiority of the new formulation.

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2018·Clinical pharmacology in drug development·Nicola Volpi, Veronica Mantovani, Fabio Galeotti, et al

Oral Bioavailability and Pharmacokinetics of Nonanimal Chondroitin Sulfate and Its Constituents in Healthy Male Volunteers.

RCT

The study investigated the pharmacokinetic profile of a new 800-mg tablet of nonanimal chondroitin sulfate (Mythocondro) compared to animal-derived chondroitin sulfate in healthy male volunteers over 48 hours. Nonanimal chondroitin sulfate showed greater plasma concentration and increased charge density and specific 6-sulfation of endogenous plasma chondroitin sulfate compared to animal-derived chondroitin sulfate.

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2017·Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.)·Jorge A Roman-Blas, Santos Castañeda, Olga Sánchez-Pernaute, et al

Combined Treatment With Chondroitin Sulfate and Glucosamine Sulfate Shows No Superiority Over Placebo for Reduction of Joint Pain and Functional Impairment in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Six-Month Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

RCTn = 164Joint Bone Health -

A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial assessed the efficacy of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate combination therapy in 164 patients with knee osteoarthritis. The study found no superiority of the combination therapy over placebo in reducing joint pain and functional impairment over 6 months.

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2017·Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin·Mitsuhiro Morita, Kotaro Yamada, Hideki Date, et al

Efficacy of Chondroitin Sulfate for Painful Knee Osteoarthritis: A One-Year, Randomized, Double-Blind, Multicenter Clinical Study in Japan.

RCTn = 73Joint Bone Health

One-year, randomized, double-blind study in Japan comparing low-dose and high-dose chondroitin sulfate for knee osteoarthritis. High-dose chondroitin sulfate improved pain faster in patients with severe symptoms, with good tolerability. No dose-related effects on cartilage oligomeric matrix protein or hyaluronic acid levels were found.

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2017·Medicina clinica·Laura Tío, Cristobal Orellana, Selene Pérez-García, et al

Effect of chondroitin sulphate on synovitis of knee osteoarthritic patients.

RCTn = 70Joint Bone Health Inflammation

Randomized, single-blind, controlled trial of 70 knee osteoarthritis patients treated with chondroitin sulfate (CS) or acetaminophen for 6 months. CS reduced synovitis presence by 50% and improved pain significantly, while acetaminophen had no effect on inflammation. CS treatment was associated with changes in RANTES and UCN synovial fluid concentration.

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2017·Arthritis research & therapy·Johanne Martel-Pelletier, Jean-Pierre Raynauld, François Mineau, et al

Levels of serum biomarkers from a two-year multicentre trial are associated with treatment response on knee osteoarthritis cartilage loss as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging: an exploratory study.

RCTn = 57Joint Bone Health

This post hoc study explored the association of serum biomarkers with the response to chondroitin sulfate treatment in a 2-year RCT for knee osteoarthritis. Patients with lower inflammation biomarkers and higher cartilage catabolism biomarkers showed less cartilage volume loss when treated with chondroitin sulfate.

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2016·BMC ophthalmology·Ana L Pérez-Balbuena, Juan C Ochoa-Tabares, Sandra Belalcazar-Rey, et al

Efficacy of a fixed combination of 0.09 % xanthan gum/0.1 % chondroitin sulfate preservative free vs polyethylene glycol/propylene glycol in subjects with dry eye disease: a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

RCTn = 148

A phase III, double-blind, masked, controlled, multicenter RCT of 148 subjects with dry eye disease comparing a fixed combination of xanthan gum and chondroitin sulfate to polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol. Both treatments improved Schirmer test, tear film break-up time, and OSDI score with no significant difference between them.

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2016·Arthritis research & therapy·Jean-Pierre Pelletier, Jean-Pierre Raynauld, André D Beaulieu, et al

Chondroitin sulfate efficacy versus celecoxib on knee osteoarthritis structural changes using magnetic resonance imaging: a 2-year multicentre exploratory study.

RCTn = 138Joint Bone Health

This 2-year randomised controlled trial compared the effects of chondroitin sulfate (CS) and celecoxib on knee osteoarthritis using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging. CS showed a significant reduction in cartilage volume loss in the medial compartment and medial condyle compared to celecoxib, with a trend towards reduced synovial thickness. Both treatments had similar safety profiles.

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2016·BMC musculoskeletal disorders·Ingrid Möller, Myriam Gharbi, Helena Martinez Serrano, et al

Effect of chondroitin sulfate on soluble biomarkers of osteoarthritis: a method to analyze and interpret the results from an open-label trial in unilateral knee osteoarthritis patients.

RCTn = 72Joint Bone Health

Open-label trial of 72 patients with unilateral knee osteoarthritis evaluating the effects of chondroitin sulfate (800 mg/day) on serum Coll2-1 levels. Significant differences in Coll2-1 levels were found at 3 and 6 months, with decreases in pain and improvements in function recorded throughout the visits.

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2015·Aging clinical and experimental research·Taishi Tsuji, Jieun Yoon, Naruki Kitano, et al

Effects of N-acetyl glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate supplementation on knee pain and self-reported knee function in middle-aged and older Japanese adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

RCTn = 50Joint Bone Health Physical Performance

RCT of 50 middle-aged and older Japanese adults assessing the effects of 24-week supplementation with N-acetyl glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate on knee pain and function. The Glu/Cho group showed improved knee function and household physical activity, but no significant effect on pain or physical performance tests.

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2012·Urology·J Curtis Nickel, Philip Hanno, Keshava Kumar, et al

Second multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group evaluation of effectiveness and safety of intravesical sodium chondroitin sulfate compared with inactive vehicle control in subjects with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.

RCTn = 98

RCT evaluating the effectiveness and safety of intravesical 2% chondroitin sulfate in women with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome. The study found minor improvements in symptoms and pain, but differences were not statistically significant, suggesting limited benefit as monotherapy.

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2004·Osteoarthritis and cartilage·Daniel Uebelhart, Michel Malaise, Roberto Marcolongo, et al

Intermittent treatment of knee osteoarthritis with oral chondroitin sulfate: a one-year, randomized, double-blind, multicenter study versus placebo.

RCTn = 120Joint Bone Health

RCT of 120 knee osteoarthritis patients comparing 800mg chondroitin sulfate to placebo for two 3-month periods over 1 year. Chondroitin sulfate significantly decreased pain and improved knee function, with no radiological progression in joint space narrowing, suggesting structure-modifying properties.

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2001·The Journal of rheumatology·B Mazieres, B Combe, A Phan Van, et al

Chondroitin sulfate in osteoarthritis of the knee: a prospective, double blind, placebo controlled multicenter clinical study.

RCTn = 130Joint Bone Health

This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study assessed the efficacy and safety of chondroitin sulfate (CS) 1 g/day in patients with femorotibial osteoarthritis over 3 months, followed by a 3-month posttreatment period. The study found a trend towards greater improvement in the CS group compared to placebo, with significant improvements in the completer population for functional handicap and pain at rest. CS showed persistent efficacy one month posttreatment.

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2000·Harefuah·R Debi, D Robinson, G Agar, et al

[GAG for osteoarthritis of the knee--a prospective study].

RCTn = 57Joint Bone Health

RCT of 57 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee comparing daily i.v. glucosamine sulfate with 800 mg chondroitin sulfate to placebo for 4 weeks. The glucosamine sulfate group showed significant reduction in knee pain and improved range of motion, with no adverse reactions.

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2017·Medicina clinica·Jordi Monfort, Jesús Pujol, Oren Contreras-Rodríguez, et al

Effects of chondroitin sulfate on brain response to painful stimulation in knee osteoarthritis patients. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

RCTn = 49Joint Bone Health

RCT investigating the effect of chondroitin sulfate (CS) on brain response to painful stimulation in knee osteoarthritis patients using fMRI. CS showed significantly greater activation reduction in the brain's mesencephalic periaqueductal gray region compared to placebo, indicating a positive effect on joint health.

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2017·Neurourology and urodynamics·Ömer Gülpınar, Barış Esen, Aytaç Kayış, et al

Clinical comparison of intravesical hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate therapies in the treatment of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis.

RCTn = 42

Prospective RCT comparing intravesical chondroitin sulfate (CS) and hyaluronic acid (HA) therapies in 42 patients with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis. Both treatments improved pain and symptom indices, but CS was superior to HA in reducing 24-hour frequency, nocturia, and ICPI scores.

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2016·BMC veterinary research·Sergi Segarra, Silvia Martínez-Subiela, Marta Cerdà-Cuéllar, et al

Oral chondroitin sulfate and prebiotics for the treatment of canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease: a randomized, controlled clinical trial.

RCTn = 27Gut Health

This double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the effects of a supplement containing chondroitin sulfate and prebiotics on canine inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) over 180 days. The supplement group showed a significant decrease in histologic score and improvements in serum biomarkers, suggesting a reduction in disease activity. No side effects were reported.

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2012·Clinical rheumatology·J-J Railhac, M Zaim, A-S Saurel, et al

Effect of 12 months treatment with chondroitin sulfate on cartilage volume in knee osteoarthritis patients: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study using MRI.

RCTn = 43Joint Bone Health

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study evaluated the effect of 12 months of chondroitin sulfate (Structum) treatment on cartilage volume in knee osteoarthritis patients using MRI. The study found that the total cartilage volume increased in the Structum group compared to a loss in the placebo group, suggesting a potential structure-modifying effect.

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2007·The Journal of nutrition·Stefan Storcksdieck genannt Bonsmann, Thomas Walczyk, Sabine Renggli, et al

Nonheme iron absorption in young women is not influenced by purified sulfated and unsulfated glycosaminoglycans.

RCTn = 16

Two randomized stable isotope studies with crossover design were conducted in 16 young women to assess the effect of purified sulfated and unsulfated glycosaminoglycans on iron absorption. The study found that sodium hyaluronate and chondroitin sulfate did not affect human nonheme iron absorption.

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2004·Drugs under experimental and clinical research·G Rovetta, P Monteforte, G Molfetta, et al

A two-year study of chondroitin sulfate in erosive osteoarthritis of the hands: behavior of erosions, osteophytes, pain and hand dysfunction.

RCTn = 24Joint Bone Health

This study evaluated the effect of 800 mg/day of chondroitin sulfate plus naproxen versus naproxen alone over 2 years in 24 patients with erosive osteoarthritis of the hands. The group receiving chondroitin sulfate showed partial efficacy in improving some aspects of the condition, with significant worsening in erosion and node scores in the untreated group.

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1998·Osteoarthritis and cartilage·P Bourgeois, G Chales, J Dehais, et al

Efficacy and tolerability of chondroitin sulfate 1200 mg/day vs chondroitin sulfate 3 x 400 mg/day vs placebo.

RCTn = 127Joint Bone Health

Multicenter randomized, double-blind, controlled study comparing chondroitin sulfate 1200 mg/day oral gel vs 3 x 400 mg/day capsules vs placebo in 127 patients with knee osteoarthritis. Both chondroitin sulfate groups showed significant reduction in clinical symptoms and improved joint mobility compared to placebo, with no difference between the dosing regimens.

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1998·Osteoarthritis and cartilage·L Bucsi, G Poór

Efficacy and tolerability of oral chondroitin sulfate as a symptomatic slow-acting drug for osteoarthritis (SYSADOA) in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

RCTn = 80Joint Bone Health

RCT of chondroitin sulfate (CS) in patients with knee osteoarthritis over 6 months. CS group showed significant improvements in Lequesne's Index, joint pain (VAS), and walking time compared to placebo. Both treatments were well tolerated, with efficacy judgments favoring CS.

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1995·Arzneimittel-Forschung·A Conte, N Volpi, L Palmieri, et al

Biochemical and pharmacokinetic aspects of oral treatment with chondroitin sulfate.

RCT

The study characterized the biochemical and pharmacokinetic properties of chondroitin sulfate (Condrosulf) in rats, dogs, and humans. It found that more than 70% of radioactivity was absorbed and found in urine and tissues after oral administration. Plasma concentration of chondroitin sulfate increased significantly in humans over a 24-hour period after administration.

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2025·ACS applied materials & interfaces·Jiachen He, Jianjun Wu, Jingcheng Zheng, et al

Injectable Chondroitin Sulfate Microspheres with Gallic Acid-Magnesium MOF for Anti-Inflammatory and Cartilage Degeneration Alleviation in Osteoarthritis Treatment.

In vitroInflammation Joint Bone Health

The study develops injectable chondroitin sulfate microspheres with a gallic acid-magnesium metal-organic framework for osteoarthritis treatment. The microspheres release Mg2+ and puerarin, improving the inflammatory microenvironment and supporting cartilage repair. In vitro and in vivo experiments show reduced osteophyte formation and delayed OA progression.

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2024·Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society·Van Dat Bui, Jueun Jeon, Van Hieu Duong, et al

Chondroitin sulfate-based microneedles for transdermal delivery of stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Animal studyInflammation Joint Bone Health

The study developed chondroitin sulfate-based dissolving microneedles for delivering stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles to treat rheumatoid arthritis. The microneedles suppressed inflammatory cells and facilitated stem cell differentiation, showing significant therapeutic effects in mice with collagen-induced arthritis.

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2021·Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences·Tiantian Tan, Qin Yang, Dan Chen, et al

Chondroitin sulfate-mediated albumin corona nanoparticles for the treatment of breast cancer

Animal study

The study developed chondroitin sulfate-mediated albumin corona nanoparticles for breast cancer treatment. These nanoparticles showed improved tumor targeting and cytotoxicity against 4T1 cells, with greater drug accumulation and tumor growth inhibition in mice compared to other formulations.

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2021·Frontiers in Endocrinology·Shanshan Qi, Mengjiao Shao, Ze Sun, et al

Chondroitin Sulfate Alleviates Diabetic Osteoporosis and Repairs Bone Microstructure via Anti-Oxidation, Anti-Inflammation, and Regulating Bone Metabolism

Animal studyJoint Bone Health Inflammation

Animal study using a type 1 diabetic rat model to test the effects of chondroitin sulfate on diabetic osteoporosis. Chondroitin sulfate administration for 10 weeks improved bone mineral density, bone microstructure, and reduced inflammation and oxidative stress in diabetic rats.

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2020·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Hongxin Zheng, D. Chen, Y. Zu, et al

Chondroitin Sulfate Prevents STZ Induced Diabetic Osteoporosis through Decreasing Blood Glucose, AntiOxidative Stress, Anti-Inflammation and OPG/RANKL Expression Regulation

Animal studyJoint Bone Health Inflammation Nutrition

Animal study using a STZ-induced diabetic rat model to test the effects of chondroitin sulfate (CS) on diabetic osteoporosis. CS treatment improved diabetes symptoms, increased bone-mineral density, and normalized bone histomorphometric parameters. It also decreased inflammatory cytokines and regulated OPG/RANKL expression, suggesting CS can prevent bone loss caused by diabetes.

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2018·Journal of dietary supplements·Jordi Puigdellivol, Carme Comellas Berenger, Miguel Ángel Pérez Fernández, et al

Effectiveness of a Dietary Supplement Containing Hydrolyzed Collagen, Chondroitin Sulfate, and Glucosamine in Pain Reduction and Functional Capacity in Osteoarthritis Patients.

Observationaln = 130Joint Bone Health

Observational study evaluating a dietary supplement containing hydrolyzed collagen, chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine sulfate, devil's claw, and bamboo extracts in 130 osteoarthritis patients. The supplement significantly reduced pain and improved functional capacity over 6 months.

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1998·Osteoarthritis and cartilage·D Uebelhart, E J Thonar, P D Delmas, et al

Effects of oral chondroitin sulfate on the progression of knee osteoarthritis: a pilot study.

RCTn = 42Joint Bone Health

A 1-year randomized, double-blind, controlled pilot study of 42 patients with knee osteoarthritis assessed the efficacy of 800 mg/day oral chondroitin sulfate. The study found that chondroitin sulfate significantly reduced pain, increased mobility, and stabilized joint space width and bone metabolism compared to placebo.

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1990·Ophthalmology·J H Lass, W J Reinhart, D L Skelnik, et al

An in vitro and clinical comparison of corneal storage with chondroitin sulfate corneal storage medium with and without dextran.

RCTn = 42

The study assessed the safety and efficacy of 1% dextran in Chondroitin Sulfate Corneal Storage Medium (CSM) for reducing corneal swelling after storage. In vitro and clinical comparisons showed no significant difference in endothelial DNA synthesis or survival between CSM and CSM-dextran groups, though intraoperative corneal thickness was less in the CSM-dextran group.

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2023·Cureus·Rui Brito, Diogo Menezes Costa, C. Dias, et al

Chondroitin Sulfate Supplements for Osteoarthritis: A Critical Review

ReviewJoint Bone Health

This narrative review examines the use of chondroitin sulfate (CS) for osteoarthritis, highlighting inconsistencies in clinical efficacy and the impact of supplement quality. It suggests that pharmacologic-grade CS may offer benefits, but emphasizes the need for high-quality clinical trials to confirm efficacy.

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2022·Carbohydrate polymers·Kangyu Wang, Liwei Qi, Laiyu Zhao, et al

Degradation of chondroitin sulfate: Mechanism of degradation, influence factors, structure-bioactivity relationship and application.

Review

The review discusses the degradation methods of chondroitin sulfate (CS) and their mechanisms, highlighting how different methods affect the structure and biological activity of low molecular weight chondroitin sulfate (LMCS). It also examines factors influencing CS degradation and its impact on metabolism, including absorption and gut microbiota.

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2021·Frontiers in Aging·C. Ewald

Drug Screening Implicates Chondroitin Sulfate as a Potential Longevity Pill

ReviewLongevity Inflammation

Narrative review discussing chondroitin sulfate as a geroprotective compound with potential to promote health during aging. Highlights include its positive correlation with human longevity, efficacy in decelerating age-related diseases, and mechanisms involving extracellular matrix homeostasis and inflammation inhibition.

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2019·Carbohydrate polymers·Xueqing Zhang, Ya Ma, Lijun Ma, et al

Oral administration of chondroitin sulfate-functionalized nanoparticles for colonic macrophage-targeted drug delivery.

Animal studyInflammation

The study investigated chondroitin sulfate-functionalized nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery to macrophages in ulcerative colitis treatment. The nanoparticles showed higher cell internalization and stronger inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines compared to control nanoparticles. In vivo, the chondroitin sulfate nanoparticles embedded in hydrogel improved therapeutic outcomes against ulcerative colitis.

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2018·Circulation·R. Zhao, M. Ackers-Johnson, J. Stenzig, et al

Targeting Chondroitin Sulfate Glycosaminoglycans to Treat Cardiac Fibrosis in Pathological Remodeling

Animal studyHeart Health

The study investigates the role of chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycans in cardiac fibrosis and pathological remodeling in heart failure. Recombinant human arylsulfatase B (rhASB) was administered in rat models, showing effectiveness in preventing cardiac deterioration and reducing myocardial inflammation and fibrosis.

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2017·Stem Cell Research & Therapy·Tianyi Wang, Fan Yang

A comparative study of chondroitin sulfate and heparan sulfate for directing three-dimensional chondrogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells

In vitro

The study compared chondroitin sulfate (CS) and heparan sulfate (HS) in hydrogels for directing 3D chondrogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). CS was found to be more effective in enhancing MSC chondrogenesis, particularly in softer hydrogels, with a moderate dosage of CS leading to the highest neocartilage deposition.

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2016·Journal of Cellular Biochemistry·A. Stellavato, V. Tirino, F. de Novellis, et al

Biotechnological Chondroitin a Novel Glycosamminoglycan With Remarkable Biological Function on Human Primary Chondrocytes

In vitroJoint Bone Health Inflammation

In vitro study comparing biotechnological chondroitin (BC) and commercial chondroitin sulfate (CS) on human chondrocytes. BC enhanced cell proliferation, preserved chondrocyte phenotype, increased type II collagen expression, and reduced inflammatory response compared to CS.

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2011·Molecular & Cellular Proteomics·V. Calamia, P. Fernández‐Puente, J. Mateos, et al

Pharmacoproteomic Study of Three Different Chondroitin Sulfate Compounds on Intracellular and Extracellular Human Chondrocyte Proteomes*

In vitroJoint Bone Health

The study investigates the effects of three different chondroitin sulfate compounds on the proteome of human chondrocytes. CS1 induced inflammatory and catabolic pathways, while CS2 and CS3 promoted anti-inflammatory and anabolic responses, highlighting the importance of high-quality CS in osteoarthritis therapy.

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2007·Arthritis Research & Therapy·S. K. Tat, J. Pelletier, J. Vergés, et al

Chondroitin and glucosamine sulfate in combination decrease the pro-resorptive properties of human osteoarthritis subchondral bone osteoblasts: a basic science study

In vitroJoint Bone Health

In vitro study on human osteoarthritis subchondral bone osteoblasts examining the effects of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate, individually and in combination, on bone biomarkers and resorptive activity. The combination increased the OPG/RANKL expression ratio and decreased resorptive activity, suggesting a positive effect on osteoarthritis subchondral bone structural changes.

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2005·Dermatology online journal·Josep Vergés, Eulàlia Montell, Marta Herrero, et al

Clinical and histopathological improvement of psoriasis with oral chondroitin sulfate: a serendipitous finding.

Studyn = 11Skin Hair Health

The study describes clinical and histopathological improvements in plaque psoriasis in 11 adult patients with knee osteoarthritis treated with 800 mg per day of chondroitin sulfate for 2 months. Most patients showed dramatic improvement in skin condition, including reduced swelling, redness, flaking, and itching, with histopathological improvements such as decreased epidermal thickness and psoriasis activity.

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2003·Osteoarthritis and cartilage·Nicola Volpi

Oral absorption and bioavailability of ichthyic origin chondroitin sulfate in healthy male volunteers.

Studyn = 20

The study assessed the absorption and bioavailability of ichthyic origin chondroitin sulfate after oral administration to 20 healthy male volunteers. Results showed that ichthyic CS plasma levels increased significantly, with a peak concentration at 8.7 hours. The study highlighted the influence of molecular structure on absorption and bioavailability.

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2002·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·Zhenqiang Li, Wu-Shiun Hou, Carlos R Escalante-Torres, et al

Collagenase Activity of Cathepsin K Depends on Complex Formation with Chondroitin Sulfate*

Study

The study investigates the collagenase activity of cathepsin K, which depends on its complex formation with chondroitin sulfate. The complex is essential for collagenolytic activity, while monomeric cathepsin K lacks this activity. The findings suggest targeting cathepsin K complex formation could be a treatment for diseases with excessive bone resorption.

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2001·Japanese journal of pharmacology·Y. Hori, J. Hoshino, C. Yamazaki, et al

Effects of chondroitin sulfate on colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium in rats.

Animal studyGut Health Inflammation

Animal study investigating the effects of chondroitin sulfate (CS) on dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in rats. CS improved symptoms of bloody stools, erosion, and increased white blood cells, with the 100 mg/kg dose showing more improvement than 5-aminosalicylic acid. CS may have therapeutic value for inflammatory bowel disease due to its protective and anti-inflammatory effects.

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1999·Journal of orthopaedic science : official journal of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association·H Yamada, S Miyauchi, H Hotta, et al

Levels of chondroitin sulfate isomers in synovial fluid of patients with hip osteoarthritis.

Cross-sectionaln = 50

Cross-sectional study measuring levels of chondroitin sulfate isomers in synovial fluid from 50 patients with hip osteoarthritis. The study found that C6S was the dominant isomer and its levels negatively correlated with age. The ratio of C6S to C4S decreased with disease severity, suggesting these isomers may serve as markers for extracellular matrix metabolism in osteoarthritis.

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2019·Neurology, Neuropsychiatry, Psychosomatics·O. Gromova, I. Torshin, A. Lila, et al

Molecular mechanisms of myoprotective action of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate in sarcopenia

ReviewPhysical Performance

The paper conducts a systems analysis of 31,992 articles on sarcopenia to explore the molecular mechanisms of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate. It suggests that these substances interact with the CD44 receptor to inactivate the proinflammatory factor NF-kB and provide building material for connective tissue regeneration, potentially slowing sarcopenia progression.

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