Supplement
Chondroitin is a natural part of cartilage, the cushioning tissue in joints, where it helps hold water and structure. People mostly look at it for joint pain, and the evidence is moderate: a pooled analysis of about 3,800 people with knee osteoarthritis found pain improved. The gains were small, though, and trials did not always agree, so the findings mostly apply to osteoarthritis.
Sources: PMID 30879253
- Updated
- How we grade
- 1 study cited
- Best evidence
- Grade B
- Conditions studied
- 1
- Outcomes
- 2
- Graded outcomes
- 0200
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 1 study | 3,791 people | ||
| Osteoarthritis Symptoms Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 1,822 people | |||
What the published studies found
1 automated reading
Joint pain
A Cochrane review (2015, 43 studies, 4,962 people) found an improvement in joint pain. That review studied adults with osteoarthritis. 6 of the 9 studies read agree; 3 found no clear difference. The evidence is limited.
9 studies counted of 10 read: 9 reviews.
- Meta-analysis, 2015; 43 studies, 4,962 people; adults with osteoarthritis: improves (the review the verdict rests on).
statistically significantly and clinically meaningful better pain scores
Chondroitin for osteoarthritis - Meta-analysis, 2023; 6 studies, 297 people; adults with knee osteoarthritis: no clear difference.
effect of G, or G and C, in combination with exercise is not significant
Effects of adding glucosamine or glucosamine combined with chondroitin to exercise on pain and physical function in adults with knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis - Meta-analysis, 2019; 18 studies; people with osteoarthritis: improves.
SMD -0.41, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) -0.57 to -0.25
Effects of Oral Chondroitin Sulfate on Osteoarthritis-Related Pain and Joint Structural Changes: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis - Meta-analysis, 2018: improves. Effect of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials
- Meta-analysis, 2018; 30 studies: improves.
chondroitin could alleviate pain symptoms and improve function
Effectiveness and safety of glucosamine and chondroitin for the treatment of osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials - Systematic review, 2010; 10 studies, 3,803 people; patients with osteoarthritis of hip or knee: no clear difference.
for chondroitin, and -0.5 cm (-0.9 to 0.0 cm)
Effects of glucosamine, chondroitin, or placebo in patients with osteoarthritis of hip or knee: network meta-analysis - Meta-analysis, 2007; 20 studies, 3,846 people; patients with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip: no clear difference. Meta-analysis: chondroitin for osteoarthritis of the knee or hip
- Meta-analysis, 2003: improves.
effective on Lequesne Index, visual analog scale pain
Structural and symptomatic efficacy of glucosamine and chondroitin in knee osteoarthritis: a comprehensive meta-analysis - Meta-analysis, 2000; 7 studies, 372 people; patients with osteoarthritis: improves.
significantly superior to placebo with respect to the Lequesne index and pain VAS
A metaanalysis of chondroitin sulfate in the treatment of osteoarthritis
- Meta-analysis, 2015; 43 studies, 4,962 people; adults with osteoarthritis: improves (the review the verdict rests on).
Key findings
- PainImproves (the measure goes down)
- Osteoarthritis SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)
Studies cited
1 study from PubMed