Chondroitin Sulphate for Sports & Fitness

What is it?

Chondroitin sulphate consists of repeating chains of molecules called glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Chondroitin sulphate is a major constituent of cartilage, providing structure, holding water and nutrients, and allowing other molecules to move through cartilage—an important property, as there is no blood supply to cartilage.

Where is it found?

The only significant food source of chondroitin sulphate is animal cartilage.

Why do athletes use it?*

Some athletes say that chondroitin sulphate

helps reduce joint pain.

What do the advocates say?*

For a long time, glucosamine dominated the market among supplements used to ease joint pain. Now, many practitioners prefer to use a combination of both glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate. Many have found this combination to be effective, particularly for runners, who tend to develop problems with their knees. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate are well absorbed by the molecules that make up cartilage. They are not available from food. It is not uncommon to have to take these supplements indefinitely to continue to experience relief.

Recent research has shown that the results of arthroscopic surgery for osteoarthritis in the knee is no different than that of placebo. This gives people further reason to at least give supplements, such as chondroitin sulphate, a try before enduring more invasive, expensive approaches.

How much is usually taken by athletes?

Chondroitin sulphate, 800 to 1,200 mg per day, is effective for reducing joint pain caused by osteoarthritis.¹ ² Other uses of chondroitin sulphate for sports and fitness, including prevention of joint pain or treatment of sports injuries, have not been studied.

Are there any side effects or interactions?

Nausea may occur at intakes greater than 10 grams per day. No other adverse effects have been reported.

One doctor has raised a concern that chondroitin sulphate should not be used by men with prostate cancer. This concern is based upon two studies. In one, the concentration of chondroitin sulphate was found to be higher in cancerous prostate tissue as compared to normal prostate tissue.³ In the other study, it was shown that higher concentrations of chondroitin sulphate in the tissue surrounding a cancerous prostate tumour predict a higher rate of recurrence of the cancer after surgery.⁴ However, no studies to date have addressed the question of whether taking chondroitin sulphate supplements could promote the development of prostate cancer. Simply because a substance is present in or around cancerous tissue does not by itself suggest that that substance is causing the cancer. For example, calcium is a component of atherosclerotic plaques that harden the arteries; however, there is no evidence that taking calcium supplements causes atherosclerosis. To provide meaningful information, further studies would need to track the incidence of prostate cancer in men taking chondroitin supplements. Until then, most nutritionally-oriented doctors remain unconcerned about this issue.

It is not known whether taking glucosamine sulphate and chondroitin sulphate in combination is a more effective treatment for osteoarthritis than taking either one by itself.

At the time of writing, there were no well-known drug interactions with chondroitin sulphate.

Resources

See a list of books, periodicals, and other resources for this and related topics.

*Athletes and fitness advocates may claim benefits for chondroitin sulphate based on their personal or professional experience. These are individual opinions and testimonials that may or may not be supported by controlled clinical studies or published scientific articles on chondroitin sulphate. For more complete and detailed information, including references and safety information, see Chondroitin Sulphate as a nutritional supplement.

References

1. Leeb BF, Schweitzer H, Montag K, Smolen JS. A meta-analysis of chondroitin sulfate in the treatment of osteoarthritis. J Rheumatol 2000;27:205–11.

2. McAlindon TE, LaValley MP, Gulin JP, Felson DT. Glucosamine and chondroitin for treatment of osteoarthritis: a systematic quality assessment and meta-analysis. JAMA 2000;283:1469–75 [review].

3. De Klerk DP, Lee DV, Human HJ. Glycosaminoglycans of human prostatic cancer. J Urol 1984;131:1008–12.

4. Ricciardelli C, Quinn DI, Raymond WA, et al. Elevated levels of peritumoral chondroitin sulfate are predictive of poor prognosis in patients treated by radical prostatectomy for early-stage prostate cancer. Cancer Res 1999;59:2324–8.

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Learn more about the authors of Healthnotes.

The information presented in Healthnotes is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or chemist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires September 2008.

2007-09-01

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