What is a Glucosamine Chondroitin Complex? Glucosamine and chondroitin are compounds that are critical for the formation and maintenance of the connective tissues and the joints. When the joints begin to break down, people can take glucosamine as a dietary supplement. Glucosamine has been tested in a number of clinical trials and has been proven to be successful in treating osteoarthritis.
Chondroitin is another compound that is a significant constituent of cartilage. The chemical structure of chondroitin, however, is different from that of glucosamine. Chondroitin is a much larger compound than glucosamine and is a lot more complicated in structure. As with glucosamine, chondroitin has been subjected to various double blind clinical trials to test its efficacy in osteoarthritis treatments. Testing has shown that chondroitin, when taken as a dietary supplement, is also efficacious in treating osteoarthritis.
A lot of people with osteoarthritis take both glucosamine and chondroitin supplements to treat their disease. It is widely believed that the two compounds together are more effective in treating osteoarthritis than when they are when taken separately. This particular belief about the benefits of pairing the compounds has not been supported by any clinical data to date. The results are anecdotal, and it has not been scientifically substantiated.
People usually take a glucosamine chondroitin complex as dietary supplements to retard the development of osteoarthritis and to relieve the pain and stiffness they experience with this disease. Glucosamine is essential for the body to manufacture new cartilage and make repairs to existing cartilage in people suffering from osteoarthritis. Chondroitin is effective in relieving arthritis pain. Enzymes that break down cartilage are thought to be inhibited by taking chondroitin. Chondroitin is also responsible for increasing the suppleness of cartilage, so that the joints have an increased range of motion.
Both of these supplements are the principal methods for the effective treatment of osteoarthritis. Taking either glucosamine or chondroitin have been clinically proven to inhibit the effects associated with osteoarthritis, including the pain of this disease.
World Vitamins Online says
Treatment for osteoarthritis is a combination of exercise, weight and stress management, hot and cold treatments and medication. Every situation is different. What works for some may not work for others even if the disease is in the same joint. It is a matter of trial and error to see what is most effective for you.
Any osteoarthritis treatment plan is patient specific. What works for one person may not work for another even if the same joint is affected. Treatment needs to be a combination of weight control, medication (either prescription, over the counter or natural), hot and cold treatments and stress management. It is a matter of trial and error to see what is most effective for you particular situation.