A chondroitin is a
chondrin
Chondrin is a bluish-white gelatin-like substance, being a protein-carbohydrate complex and can be obtained by boiling cartilage in water.
The cartilage is a connective tissue that contains cells embedded in a matrix of chondrin. Chondrin is made u ...
derivative.
Types include:
*
Chondroitin sulfate
Chondroitin sulfate is a sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG) composed of a chain of alternating sugars ( N-acetylgalactosamine and glucuronic acid). It is usually found attached to proteins as part of a proteoglycan. A chondroitin chain can have ov ...
*
Dermatan sulfate
Dermatan sulfate is a glycosaminoglycan (formerly called a mucopolysaccharide) found mostly in skin, but also in blood vessels, heart valves, tendons, and lungs.
It is also referred to as chondroitin sulfate B, although it is no longer classif ...
Chondroitin as a supplement is now commonly used (often in combination with
glucosamine
Glucosamine (C6H13NO5) is an amino sugar and a prominent precursor in the biochemical synthesis of glycosylated proteins and lipids. Glucosamine is part of the structure of two polysaccharides, chitosan and chitin. Glucosamine is one of the most ...
) in treating the joint disease of
osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a type of degenerative joint disease that results from breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bone which affects 1 in 7 adults in the United States. It is believed to be the fourth leading cause of disability in the w ...
.
In contrast to the symptomatic treatments, chondroitin can modify the progression of a disease process in the patient which it can be used as an alternative medicine.
Chondroitin's effect toward the articular cartilage integrity as it is part of the
proteoglycan molecules.
The cartilage proteoglycan synthesis can speed up as chondroitin is going through the pathway of the alimentary canal.
Research has been conducted to show the effectiveness of chondroitin and results indicate that it helps to manage pain in knee and hip, slow down the progression and also recovery.
However, the effectiveness of the drugs is still doubtful.
References
{{Glycosaminoglycans
Glycosaminoglycans