Recently many Health and nutrition stores, magazines and news shows have been encouraging the use of nutritional supplements for the treatment of various forms of arthritis. The most commonly mentioned are those of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. These substances are both naturally synthesized in the body and are important components in the repair and maintenance of the articular cartilage. They form a component of the ground substance, which is the material present between the cartilage cells. This is important in the nutrition of the cartilage cells and in the mechanical properties of the cartilage.
Cartilage is composed of cells and the ground substance between the cells.
Since cartilage has such a poor blood supply when it is damaged the repair of the cartilage is very difficult. It is believed that by supplementing the ground substance with oral supplements that perhaps the ability of the cartilage to repair will be enhanced. Studies in the early 1980 s indicated that in animal models glucosamine might be able to aid in the synthesis of the components in the ground substance and also that it might be able to inhibit proteolytic enzymes which break down the cartilage. In a recent study performed and presented at the American College of Rheumatolgy Annual Scientific Meeting it was shown that glucosamine sulfate reduces the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis in the knee. It is believed to at least slow down the progression of osteoarthritis.