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Glucosamine and chondroitin are two popular supplements said to help manage joint pain.

 

Glucosamine and chondroitin are two compounds that occur naturally in your cartilage. Available in supplement form, they’re commonly taken together to lessen osteoarthritis pain and manage symptoms.

 

Cartilage is a main type of connective tissue in your body. One of many important purposes of cartilage is to protect and cushion the ends of your bones, which is why it’s found within your joints. In people with osteoarthritis, this cartilage is wearing down, which can cause the bones to rub together. Over time, this can lead to pain and decreased joint mobility, commonly in the knees, hips, hands, and spine.

 

Glucosamine and chondroitin, typically taken combined in a single supplement, are said to relieve arthritis pain by acting as natural anti-inflammatories and slowing down the deterioration of cartilage. With upward of 3.6% of the global population living with this debilitating condition, many people use or have tried using combined glucosamine and chondroitin supplements to alleviate osteoarthritis pain.

 

Glucosamin has been extensively studied for its role in osteoarthritis pain management. In a 2017 analysis in 1,625 people with hip or knee osteoarthritis, glucosamine supplements did not significantly improve osteoarthritis pain or function compared with a placebo.

 

Also, a 2-year cohort study found a 36% reduction in nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use when taking 1,500 mg of crystalline glucosamine daily. In the same study, 1250 mg/day of glucosamine hydrochloride, 1,200 mg/day of chondroitin sulfate, 100 mg/day of diacerein, 300 mg/day of avocado-soybean unsaponifiable (ASU), and a placebo didn’t change NSAID use.

 

Finally, a 2 1/2-year study in 407 women with overweight ages 50–60 found 1,500 mg/day of glucosamine sulfate to significantly decrease the risk of knee osteoarthritis compared with a placebo, suggesting that it may work as a preventive therapy.

 

Chondroitin has also been well studied as a remedy for osteoarthritis symptom management. A 2017 double-blind, randomized study in 604 participants with knee osteoarthritis compared the effects of taking 800 mg/day of chondroitin sulfate, 200 mg/day of a popular NSAID known as celecoxib, and a placebo on osteoarthritis pain management. After 6 months, chondroitin sulfate led to similar pain scores as celecoxib and significantly lower scores than the placebo. Thus, the authors concluded that chondroitin sulfate may be an effective pain remedy for those with knee osteoarthritis pain.

 

Though the two can be taken separately, glucosamine and chondroitin are commonly taken as a single supplement. This combination has been more extensively studied. A 2015 2-year double-blind, randomized study showed no differences in pain or joint space narrowing — a sign of cartilage deterioration — after taking either 1,500 mg/day of glucosamine sulfate, 800 mg/day of chondroitin sulfate, a combination of both, or a placebo.

 

Similar results were observed in a 2018 analysis, where combined glucosamine and chondroitin didn’t significantly improve pain or stiffness. Meanwhile, chondroitin alone led to minor improvements in pain (13Trusted Source).

 

Similarly, a 2015 sponsored study showed that combining 1,500 mg of glucosamine hydrochloride with 1,200 mg of chondroitin sulfate effectively reduced knee osteoarthritis pain, stiffness, and swelling compared with 200 mg of the osteoarthritis NSAID celecoxib. Another 2015 study also found that combined glucosamine and chondroitin supplements were comparably effective as celecoxib.