Nowadays, there are many supplements present to treat your osteoarthritis pain. But the two major supplements are glucosamine and chondroitin.
Though most people use these supplements, still, some searches showed mixed results for both. According to some studies, both of these are not effective. So, it becomes difficult for people to decide which one is the best.
Read our article till the end and know the different health benefits of both supplements. We are hopeful that in the end, you will be able to decide whether to choose glucosamine or chondroitin, or both.
What to Know About Glucosamine and Chondroitin?
Glucosamine and chondroitin are organic supplements that are present in healthy cartilage. The connective tissues that give support to joints are cartilage. The source of these supplements is the cartilage of cows, pigs, or shellfish.
Many forms of glucosamine are available in the market. These include glucosamine sulfate and glucosamine hydrochloride. You have the option to buy these supplements individually or as a single supplement.
Though cartilage help to support your joints. But when you suffer from osteoarthritis, the cartilage starts breaking down. That is why your bones start rubbing together. With time, it causes pain and reduces joint motion. Osteoarthritis is common in the knees, hips, hands, and spine.
It is a common thought that when you take both compounds as a single supplement. They help to relieve pain because they are anti-inflammatory. Besides, these also slow down the damage to the cartilage.
FACT: Almost 3.6% of the world population is suffered from osteoarthritis. Most people use glucosamine and chondroitin for the alleviation of osteoarthritis pain.
Recent Study About Glucosamine and Chondroitin
According to a study, it is revealed that there were almost 164 patients in 2016. Doctors gave the combination of both supplements to half patients. In contrast, they gave a placebo pill to the other half patients. The results showed that supplements gave worse symptoms as compared to the pill. It means taking both supplements can be detrimental to your health. These may cause joints to feel worse compared to placebo pills.
Though much evidence showed negative reviews against both supplements, it does not mean these are not right for osteoarthritis or other health issues. Nothing can compete with the benefits of both these supplements.
It means many people find these supplements beneficial for health. Though these are not much effective, they can help to relieve pain. In the end, many people use these supplements for many reasons. It does not mean you can only use glucosamine and chondroitin for hip, joint, and knee osteoarthritis.
How Do Glucosamine and Chondroitin Work?
Though most people take both supplements individually, it is good to take both compounds as a single supplement. Several studies showed results for both supplements. No matter whether you take both supplements individually or in combination. This only help to relieve minor osteoarthritis pain. It means not all studies show their benefits.
In 2015, a patient used 1,500 mg of glucosamine and 800 mg of chondroitin. But he did not notice any significant difference in the pain after using these supplements.
In 2018, similar results were also seen. It means both glucosamine and chondroitin did not show significant improvement in pain and stiffness. In comparison, chondroitin alone showed significant minor relief in pain.
On the other hand, in 2018, the patient used both supplements as a single dose. He noticed a significant improvement in pain and stiffness. At the same time, individual treatment of both supplements is not enough for pain improvement.
In 2015, a study showed that taking 1,500 mg of glucosamine and 1,200 mg of chondroitin effectively reduces pain. Besides, it is also good to reduce stiffness and inflammation. Taking both supplements with a combination of NSAIDs is the right match.
Another study in 2015 showed that a combination of both supplements was more effective than celecoxib.
In the end, glucosamine and chondroitin alone and in combination are good for reducing pain, muscle stiffness, and inflammation. But many studies also show these are not enough to treat osteoarthritis. So, patients can also go for many other therapies.
Benefits of Using Glucosamine and Chondroitin:
Though both supplements are good for your health. No matter whether you have osteoarthritis issues or any other health disorders. These supplements are the right fit for your health. These can improve eye health in people suffering from glaucoma.
The following are the benefits of using glucosamine and chondroitin:
Reduced Joint Pain:
Many studies have shown that taking glucosamine is very beneficial for health. It can reduce joint pain, particularly in people suffering from osteoarthritis. Scientifically, glucosamine is a good option available as a medicinal compound. It means glucosamine is not only present as a supplement in the UK and Europe.
Many supplements, the combination of both compounds, are also present in the market. These are synthetic supplements. At the same time, the organic supplement is present in cartilage. So, these are considered more effective for osteoarthritis medicines such as celecoxib. Patients suffering from osteoarthritis who don’t react to anti-inflammatory drugs can use glucosamine. It is safe and effective to decrease arthritic symptoms.
May Reduce Inflammation:
Besides reducing joint pain, both supplements are also good for reducing chronic swelling. It is the cause of many health issues, such as heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. It is why people use glucosamine to treat arthritis pain.
Some people link the use of glucosamine with the inflammation level. It means more use of glucosamine can lower the inflammation level. If you daily take these supplements. Then these can reduce the risk of many chronic issues.
May Improve Bone Health:
With time, your bones start breaking down or damaging. This issue is more common in osteoarthritic patients. So, the use of glucosamine and chondroitin can prevent the increase of osteoporosis post-menopause.
Glucosamine is good for reducing bone weakening and improving bone health. It means patients suffering from osteoporosis must use this supplement. It will reduce the issue of osteoporosis with increasing age.
Health Risks:
Though glucosamine and chondroitin are good for your health, you must consult with your doctor about whether to take them individually or in combination. These help improve body health and reduce other health risks. Some people suffer from stomach issues, insomnia, and other issues. So, they can use these supplements for a few weeks to treat these issues.
May Trigger Shellfish Allergies:
Though many glucosamine supplements are present in shellfish, there are more chances that these supplements may cause allergies. So, people suffering from shellfish allergy should choose the right glucosamine. Always check the source of the supplement before using it. It is good to use supplements that are vegan. The reason is that these don’t contain any animal components.
May Affect Blood Sugar:
According to some studies, taking glucosamine can affect insulin resistance. It means diabetic patients must ask the doctor before using these supplements.
May Affect Liver Function:
There are many patients who use supplements of glucosamine which may suffer from liver damage. Though, these supplements contain many active compounds and glucosamine. So, patients must ask the doctor before using these supplements. It is revealed that supplements containing glucosamine and both compounds are not linked with issues.
Amounts and Dosage:
It is good to daily take almost 1,500 mg of glucosamine supplement. You can take one dose of this supplement or take many doses in a day.
There is controversy among many searches. Some studies showed that taking glucosamine daily dose is good. At the same time, some searches are still unaware of the required dose of these supplements. According to some results, if you take 1,500 mg of glucosamine. Then it is good for your health and treats osteoarthritis. But there are no results showing the effect of a high dose of these supplements.
Combining Treatments to Follow with Glucosamine and Chondroitin
It is proven that both supplements are not enough to relieve osteoarthritis pain. Some patients think that taking both supplements in combination with other surgical therapies is the best fit.
- Medicines used for pain have anti-inflammatory properties. These include ibuprofen, COX-2, naproxen, NSAIDs, and Another important medicine is acetaminophen. It is really good to treat osteoarthritis pain. If patients only take glucosamine and chondroitin as a supplement to treat pain. Then there are sufficient, and patients don’t need anti-inflammatory medicines. At the same time, some patients take medicines along with supplements to treat pain. Patients using aspirin therapy should not use chondroitin. The reason is that these cause bleeding.
- Stretching exercises are good for maintaining flexibility and movement. These also help to decrease the muscles and joints’ stiffness. Engaging in the exercises can maintain your back and reduce osteoarthritis pain.
- Another amazing option is water therapy which means performing exercise in a pool. It can relieve patients with osteoarthritis pain. This therapy is less painful as compared to other exercises. Another exercise is the use of an elliptical machine or stationary bike. It is a low-impact aerobic exercise.
- Manual manipulation is also useful in controlling chronic pain and other symptoms. Besides, it also relieves pain. Suppose you want to go for this therapy. It is important to consult your physician for the correct and safe device. Otherwise, the wrong device can be damaging to your health.
Most of the time, patients with osteoarthritis pain need to take rest and loss weight. This way, it reduces the stress on the joints. At the same time, some patients need to take some rest and medicines. It reduces swelling of joints, and they don’t need exercise. It means each patient needs different treatment. So, you must ask your professional doctor before going for any treatment.
Is it Safe to Use Glucosamine and Chondroitin for Long-term?
Glucosamine and chondroitin are present organically in the cartilage and synovial fluid. It is an egg-white-like fluid present in the cavities of joints. Chondroitin is good for the lubrication of joints and support cartilage.
While glucosamine is good for body repair and cartilage maintenance, it is not the issue whether these are present naturally in the body. The main issue is whether you can use these supplements for osteoarthritis pain.
Final Verdict:
We have discussed two main organic supplements for osteoarthritis pain, glucosamine, and chondroitin. The use of both supplements is controversial due to contradictory research. While according to some searches, both these supplements are good for the reduction of pain and stiffness. On the other hand, some searches don’t find it beneficial.
Though both supplements are safe for many people, in comparison, these are not good for those who have shellfish allergies, diabetes, and metabolic disorder. Before taking both supplements, consult with a healthcare professional to know whether these are right for you!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
How does glucosamine help in osteoarthritis?
Many searches have found that glucosamine is the best remedy for osteoarthritis. It can cause relieve pain in people suffering from knee osteoarthritis. Besides, it also helps reduce the degeneration of knee joints linked with osteoarthritis.
Are glucosamine and chondroitin effective in treating osteoarthritis?
Some experts do not agree with the thought that glucosamine and chondroitin are good for osteoarthritis. According to ACR, people with knee and hip osteoarthritis don’t use glucosamine and chondroitin.
How long does it take for glucosamine and chondroitin to work?
According to some studies, patients have to use chondroitin for 2-4 months. Soon, they will notice some improvement. The best combination of glucosamine and chondroitin is with NSAIDs.
Does chondroitin alone help osteoarthritis?
Studies showed that chondroitin stops cartilage breakdown. Besides, it also helps in the repairing of cartilage. However, the benefits of using these supplements are not enough. But still, some people think these are good for reducing pain.
What is the best time of day to take glucosamine chondroitin?
Commonly, it is good to take glucosamine three times a day. The dose taken with each meal should be 200-500 mg. It means your daily dose must be 900-1,500 mg.