A recent study indicates that taking glucosamine, chondroitin or glucosamine and chondroitin does not reduce arthritis instigated arthralgia nor restore cartilage damage caused by osteoarthritis. Although, for those who claim glucosamine with chondroitin osteoarthritis treatment offers them some health benefits, one possible explanation is because of the placebo effect.
Glucosamine and chondroitin are naturally found in your body. Glucosamine is produced and distributed in cartilage and other connective tissue. Chondroitin sulfate helps your cartilage retain water. On this basis, the theorized health benefits for taking glucosamine with chondroitin as a treatment for osteoarthritis is pain relief and stop or rebuild any joint deterioration. Neither of these hoped for benefits have been proven in clinical studies so far.
Despite the lack of clinical evidence, researchers suggest that for those who experience some sort of health benefit from this osteoarthritis treatment, there is no known significant health reason to stop taking glucosamine with chondroitin.
As far as side effects caused by glucosamine and chondroiton, the most common one is dyspepsia. Other side effects you may experience are:
Essentially, if you can afford the cost of this osteoarthritis treatment and feel a health benefit, then the suggestion is to continue. For those who’ve never have taken glucosamine with chondroitin the evidence doesn’t support you even start.