We have so many better choices that we have good data on. Similarly, bovine cartilage, another supplement used to treat arthritis, has been ineffective. Once researchers began to uncover the active components in cartilage, however, they came up with glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, Dr. Bucci says. These components, both of which have been used effectively to treat osteoarthritis, are available as separate supplements. Cartilage powders are much cheaper than purified components.
Some manufacturers use cartilage powders and claim that their products have chondroitin.
You ll see shark cartilage powders and capsules in the natural foods aisle and in some mail-order catalogs. By Dr. Lane s estimation, as many as 95 percent of these supplements may be worthless because they have been denatured that is, their molecular form has been altered during processing, making them largely ineffective against cancer and other illnesses. This poses a dilemma for the average consumer. Meanwhile, research continues. To test the effectiveness of shark cartilage , Dr. Lane has initiated four FDA-approved research studies for a number of different kinds of cancer that have not responded to conventional medical treatments.