Chondroitin – Protects and prevents joint problems

Carlos Sánchez 7 min. of reading Joint Health Leave a comment

Chondroitin is a food supplement that supports those who suffer chronic or acute joint pain. This is due to the fact that it stimulates the regeneration of the affected cartilage.

Index

1 What is chondroitin?
2 Properties and benefits of chondroitin
3 What is chondroitin used for?
4 Effects of chondroitin
5 Chondroitin and glucosamine
6 Chondroitin deficiency
7 Foods rich in chondroitin
8 Dose and uses of chondroitin
9 What do the experts think?
10 Contraindications and side effects
11 Bibliography
12 Related Entries:

What is chondroitin?

It is a food supplement that is mainly used to calm the pain and treat osteoarthritis. Moreover, it also helps with other diseases, like phlebitis, swelling and contusions.

In addition, it protects the tendons and joints. In fact, it plays an important role in the development of synovial fluid that helps with joint problems, preventing diseases like phlebitis and thrombosis.

Currently, there are many people who suffer joint pain. Our current lifestyle is very demanding and we spend a lot of time sitting in front of a computer. To top it all, we do not do enough exercise outdoors.

However, movement is very important for the health of our joints and cartilage. This is due to the fact that only through movement can our body transport all the essential nutrients that we need to regenerate our joints.

With time, our joints deteriorate, as well as the cartilage and synovial fluid. Consequently, this result in the inflammation and pain.

In general, the body produces the necessary substances to rebuild the cartilage. However, we will need to take a supplement to avoid a deficiency when our body is no longer capable of doing so.

Properties and benefits of chondroitin

Improving the blood flow
Helping to treat superficial vein diseases
Preventing bleeding in the body tissues and strokes
Fighting against the inflammation
Helping to treat thrombosis
Relieving the pain associated with joint inflammation
Fighting against the pain of arthrosis
Treating joint inflammation

What is chondroitin used for?

In general, our body has defenses and auto-regeneration mechanisms. This also applies to the joint area where there are substances the make all the machinery work perfectly.

The joints have a specific lubricant that is elastic and flexible. It is in charge of absorbing the impacts, keeping them healthy. Said lubricant is chondroitin, a special sugar naturally produced by the body that eliminates the toxins that can damage the joints.

Chondroitin is a natural compound of the protective layer of the mucous membranes. Therefore, it also provides an important support in urinary tract infections like cystitis and bladder pathologies.

It provides liquid properties to the molecules of proteoglycans. This is important for two reasons:

The liquid works as a spongy buffer
The liquid nutrients surround the cartilage

Joint cartilage does not have a blood supply. Therefore, its lubrication mainly comes from the synovial fluid that surrounds it. By producing pressure, it stimulates the production of synovial fluid. Without said substance, the cartilage would be malnourished, dry, thin and fragile.

Effects of chondroitin

Chondroitin is a long chain molecule with a negative charge. As this chain surrounds the proteoglycans, they repel each other, leaving spaces between them. This breach is known as cartilage matrix, which is where the liquid flows.

There can be up to 10000 of these chains in just a single proteoglycan molecule. Therefore, we have a great water storage, since these chains ensure that the molecules stay far away from each other.

Chondroitin has the following beneficial properties:

Protecting the cartilage tissue, preventing its deterioration and inhibiting some enzymes that break down the cartilage.
Being involved in the metabolism of other enzymes, preventing the loss of cartilage liquid.
Stimulating the production of proteoglycans, glucosamine and collagen.

Chondroitin and glucosamine

When the body does not produce enough of this substance, we will experience joint pain, inflammation and arthrosis. Chondroitin and glucosamine can stimulate the growth of cartilage tissue and improve its ability to bind to the liquid from the joints.

Moreover, chondroitin reduces the blood coagulation. Thanks to this mechanism, it is also used to treat the vein inflammation under the skin surface. Consequently, this helps to treat thrombosis, inflammation, bruises and congestion because the blood can flow more easily, without coagulating.

Chondroitin is good for the following cases:

Joint pain
Inflammation
Phlebitis or vein inflammation under the skin
Thrombosis
Osteoarthritis

Who can specially benefit from chondroitin?

People with joint problems
Those who suffer phlebitis or thrombosis
Osteoarthritis patients
Those who are prone to suffering bruises of blood clots

Chondroitin deficiency

A lack of chondroitin and other nutrients can cause pain, inflammation and joint swelling. This is often due to the deterioration of the cartilage and a deficiency of synovial fluid.

Foods rich in chondroitin

The main sources of chondroitin mainly come from animals. The chondroitin sulphate used for dietary supplements comes from shark cartilage and it is a byproduct of the food industry.

Dose and uses of chondroitin

There is a moment when the body itself is no longer capable of producing enough chondroitin to ensure the health of the joints. At this point, it is advisable to take chondroitin dietary supplements combined with glucosamine. Chondroitin is available in cream or gel so that you can apply it directly on the skin to treat phlebitis or thrombosis.

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What do the experts think?

According to the researchers, chondroitin has a positive effect on all the structures of the human body that are made up by collagen. Therefore, it affects the tendons, ligaments and bone structure as well.

Moreover, it provides elasticity to the arteries and prevents the formation of wrinkles. Even if we still do not know the cause of its anticoagulant effects, we cannot deny its beneficial effect on edema, clots and bruises.

Contraindications and side effects

Chondroitin does not have side effects or interactions of any kind, as long as we follow the instructions and after consulting a doctor that will monitor the treatment.

As always, pregnant or lactating women should consult their doctor before taking this product.