What Science ACTUALLY Says About Glucosamine & Chondroitin

I review Glucosamine Sulfate and Chondroitin for Joint Pain & Arthritis.

► Things my patients have found helpful:
Please note that I get a lot of requests and questions about what equipment is ‘best’ for treating a variety of conditions. The following is not meant to be an exhaustive or definitive list. Please use it as a starting point. If you have questions, please discuss with your healthcare provider. With that said, I have tried a number of the products below, but not all. I have included some based on positive feedback from many of my patients. As an Amazon Associate, Dr Peng earns from qualifying purchases. If you purchase any product using the below affiliate links, you are helping Dr Peng maintain this channel.

*Supplements*
The following are Thorne supplements which are NSF certified. NSF independently assesses products without being affiliated with the companies that produce them. Not only do they certify that what’s on the label is in the bottle, they also do toxicology review to certify product formulation and contaminant review to ensure the product contains no undeclared ingredients or unacceptable levels of contaminants.

*Soft Tissue & Rehab*

*Braces & Supports*

*Recommended Textbooks & Resources*

► ABOUT ME

Jeffrey Peng MD is a nonoperative orthopedist and sports medicine specialist. He created a YouTube channel and blog to translate cutting edge medical knowledge and clinical research to benefit all those looking to live an active and healthy lifestyle. He focuses on maximizing non-surgical treatments for sports injuries and orthopedic conditions. He specializes in using orthobiologics and ultrasound guided minimally invasive techniques to treat osteoarthritis, tendinopathies, and musculoskeletal disorders.

Dr. Peng is board certified in sports medicine and family medicine. He completed residency with the Stanford family medicine residency program and completed his sports medicine training with the Stanford primary care sports medicine fellowship in San Jose. He is an active faculty member for both programs and is excited about training the next generation of physicians.

Dr. Peng’s sports medicine clinic is located in Campbell, California.

► Disclaimer

My content reflects my own opinion and does not represent the views or opinions of my employers or hospital systems I am affiliated with. They are meant for educational purposes only. They do not substitute for the medical advice of a physician. Always seek the advice of your physician with any questions you may have regarding your health.

[garryjistel]

I have been taking glucosamine and condroitin for 40 years. It has kept me on my feet and avoid knee replacement. I am not going to stop it now. I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my mid 20's. I am now 68.

[artwise]

I'm 73 years old. I don't have arthritis. I run. I'm physically active. I do take Glucosamine and chondroitin. My study is my aging body. When I don't take it for a month or two my knees and hips hurt and keep me from running and even from long walks. When I get back on the glucosamine and chondroitin, after a few weeks the pain diminishes to no pain at all. I can sprint, top speed, the joy of flying on my feet. I feel good in my body. It feels great to feel good. That's my personal research. Onward.

[digital.mente.]

My own totally non scientific study with my own knees is that the supplement I take with glucosamine, chondroitin, collagen, msm, hyaluronic acid and a few vitamins means no pain in my knees. When I don't take it for a couple of days the pain comes back. You have to try different brands to see which works for you.

[phillipoleary]

Glucosamine alone worked for me. At age fifty was told both knees needed replacement and I had severe pain. Glucosamine was recommended and now at age eighty nearing eighty one am still running upstairs. No pain, no grating, no locking for thirty years. Only addition was MSM at age seventy.

[martinpolach]

I will be 77 this summer ..
I still xc and down hill ski….I ride a mt bike ….I have been taking glucosamine and chondroitin for more than 20 yrs …
I’m VERY fortunate that I don’t have joint issues ..!! Studies or no…but it works for me …

[somerset]

I was skeptical, but I recently started taking glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, and it has helped my knee pain and overall aches. I take the triple strength.

[nexxterra]

I love how the study says "in the short term" I have never been under the impression that these were beneficial unless taken for a while...

[Southprong]

I have a bad case of osteoarthritis in my knee and took Glucosamine & Chondroitin pills for approximately 30 years and it helped somewhat. Then I switched to a liquid Glucosamine & Chondroitin approximately 18 years ago and it made a big difference. I experimented a couple of times by stopping my intake of Glucosamine & Chondroitin for 3-4 days and my pain increased. Obviously, you body absorbs liquids more readily than tablet forms; if you use Glucosamine & Chondroitin, I highly recommend trying the liquid form.

[islandbirdw]

Your presentation was clear concise and easy to understand. As a wellness nurse I firmly believe knowledge is the key to helping people engage in pursuing healthy sustainable habits over a lifetime. People generally will be willing to make positive lifestyle changes if they can see benefits early in the course of any potential illness.

[BillyG]

In 1993 my wife and got rear ended by a truck on the freeway. After that my neck was trashed, so painful it literally limited me to muscle relanta and pain pills. Months after doctors, orthopedic surgeons and eventually chiropractors. Then I started taking a very heavy does of glucosamine/chondroitin. It took a few months to take hold, but eventually I believe my cartilage became more functional and possibly repaired itself. That is a fact and it made me functional once again. I’m now 77 work hard and take little meds. If I were to sustain another damaged joint, I would immediately turn to this supplement once again. It takes a steady intake of a sizable dose, and it takes several months to recognize its effects. See for yourself…

[MrLeedebt]

For me, glucosamine was a miracle. But probably not for everyone. I started a job delivering meat in my 50's. I would jump off the back of the truck, trying to give the impression I was young again. After a few months, my hand and knee joints were extremely stiff and painful in the morning when I woke up. I started taking glucosamine and it brought immediate relief. Because I had worked these joints for only a few months, maybe it would be different for say a carpet layer or bricklayer, who may have done it all their lives. I kept taking them, even after leaving the job after 10 months.
After three years I changed brands and it seemed to produce blood thinning and low blood pressure, so I ceased taking the glucosamine. Amazingly, I felt as good as I did prior to doing the job.

[armerwillenbring]

Several years ago my left knee hurt so much I couldn't go up stairs. I saw a knee surgeon who said nothing can be done and I should schedule knee replacement. I asked to have a PT appointment. He said 90% of my knee pain would go away in 3 months if I did the ankle and hip exercises he recommended. I did and my knees are still pain free. I use Glucosamine and MSM just for insurance. I regularly do the ankle and hip exercises. My hips and ankles were extremely weak before doing the exercises. Bottom line, define the problem before scheduling treatment.

My experience taking Condroitin and glucosamine
(g & c)together took time (several months ) but performed 3 repairs for me .
1/ I had a tear in my miniscus (knee) causing clicking and locking up with pain .
2/ My big toe was locking up and bending my foot in normal or quick walking was very painful .
3/ I tore a tendon in my little finger knuckle .
By taking g & c 2 times per day for 4 months my toe suddenly made a loud click . I exercised it back an forth further clicking . I was able to walk and run again without restriction and pain .
My knee stopped locking up and clicking after 6 months .
I stopped taking my 2 doses and my toe locked up again after 2 months so I took g & c again and it disappeared in days . I would take
g & c for 2 days whenever my toe would lock up .
My knee remained healthy for nearly 11 years when after kneeling on a hard floor for 5 minutes doing repairs I acquired a new clicking not miniscus but more like a tendon that was sliding out of its normal place and rubbing badly .
Im working on that with g & c and limiting the incorrect sliding by using elastic bandage when exercising now .
I also had the same issue in my little finger knuckle . I would bend it but could not straighten it . I wrapped it to keep the tendon from sliding to the side of the knuckle and took g&c and in 2 months regained normal function .
Glucosamine with Chondroitin has helped me fix tendon /ligament damage, arthitic joint lock (big toe) and repaired a torn miniscus in my knee so far .
I would say that it has really helped make repairs in my body .
After its already in my system, I only take it when joint damage occurs for brief periods .
It seems to work for a few months after .
I feel that it is helping the damage to reattach itself and mend back to its normal .

[daltonknox]

In my late 40s I had knee pain hiking and skiing. I even took up scuba so I would have a sport if my knees got worse. I also started G&C daily. It took a couple of years, but I was able to stop using neoprene compression on my knees. Now 76, my knees are fine and I'm still hiking and skiing, yes and taking G&C.

[garygauthier]

I also have been taking glucosamine and chondroitin with MSM since 1998 ! At that time I was suffering with pain and stiffness in my right hip, my family doctor ordered a X-ray and found that I had moderate to severe joint degenaration in my hip. He suggested that I could try glucosamine and chondroitin with MSM. I also would see Chiropractors for neck & hip adjustments. After about 3 weeks I could feel my mobility had improved as well much less pain . Not only did I get improvement in my hip but also my neck issues disappeared.
Just to mention that Veterinarians also prescribe glucosamine and chondroitin to horses & dogs that have mobility problems where noticeable improvement is seen ! 
One more thing that I think needs to be said is that glucosamine and chondroitin won't work if your joint is bone to bone.

[joecook]

In my early thirties my elbows and knees would get horribly stiff and painful, I saw a 60 minutes show about msm, glucosamine and chondroitin and there were several older people talking about there experience with it, this was in the late eighties. I started taking it and it helped tremendously. I’ve taken them ever since and I’m 64 now. It worked for me. I started taking a prescription nsaid for arthritis several years ago in addition to the supplements because as I got older I got stiffer and it hasn’t helped near as much as when I first took the supplements

[voxpopuli]

I am 66. I started taking G & C in the 90s when I was still doing ballet. I kept taking it. I still do yoga, hiking, weight training, biking. I plant to keep taking it to stay off meds and nsaids. I also take turmuric and hyaloronic acid for my joints and ligaments.

[shrinandan]

Dr. Peng, Thanks for a very informative video. My personal experience is that the two meds when combined with MSM are very beneficial. I'm a 78 year old male with a family history of osteoarthritis. MSM definitely adds to the effectiveness. More studies should be done with the trifecta. I am living proof that it works.

[venenareligioest]

I remember reading an academic paper which broadly said that daily Glucosamine with chondrites was as effective as ibuprofen at releasing pain. With the added benefit that the analgesic effects did not reduce over time, as Ibuprofen does.

[harjitkaur]

I have been having knee pain..later diagnosed as osteoarthritis for almost a decade. The doctor suggested surgery but I did my own research on what is effective for me.. Collagen, omega 3, boswellia with turmeric and pepper besides glucosamine + chondrotine +MSN.. Very very effective for me.