Treatments: Study Sees Little Benefit in Chondroitin for Arthritis

A study released in The Annals of Internal Medicine suggests that chondroitin may not offer any real benefit for advanced osteoarthritis. Researchers said a review of 20 earlier studies had found that the benefit of the supplement was “minimal or nonexistent.” “For patients with advanced osteoarthritis, a clinically relevant benefit is unlikely and the use of chondroitin should be discouraged,” the study said. The lead author is Dr. Stephen Reichenbach of the University of Bern in Switzerland.

Steve - we absolutely agree that Glucosamine/Chondroitin offers little benefit for those with advanced osteoarthritis. We have seen as much in our clients. However, research has shown that glucosamine/chondroitin is very effective in treating mild osteoarthritis. We have seen this with many of our clients. This recent study is a waste because, first, it is another review study (which are very often flawed). Second, chondroitin has always been studied in conjunction with glucosamine, never alone.