What does chondroitin sulfate do for cartilage?

Chondroprotectors are a group of drugs that have a protective effect on the human joint system and promote its healing processes ( hondros means "cartilage" in Greek). 

Chondroprotectors strengthen the musculoskeletal system, stimulate tissue regeneration and have a general anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effect.

Chondroitin sulfate is undoubtedly one of the most effective components of chondroprotectors.

Chondroitin sulfate is one of the most important biopolymer components of cartilage tissue, tendons and ligaments. Chemically, chondroitin sulfate belongs to the group of compounds that consist of long thread-like (fibrillar) polymer chains.

The elementary unit of chondroitin sulfate consists of two main fragments. The first is an oxidized form of glucose - glucuronic acid. The second is a nitrogen-containing derivative of a simple sugar, galactose, which is part of the milk sugar lactose.

The high biological activity of the group of compounds to which chondroitin sulfate belongs is due to the presence of several active functional groups and at least one strongly acidic sulfonic group. This gives the chondroitin sulfate molecule a high affinity for water (hydrophilicity) and the expression of surface-active properties.

In living systems, the strongly acidic sulfone groups are neutralized by inorganic cations or basic amino groups of proteins. As a result, chondroitin sulfate forms strong bonds with proteins, especially collagen.

Chondroitin sulfate is often used as a chondroprotector because it increases the strength of the articular cartilage under pressure and stretching and is part of the synovial fluid that performs a lubricating function in the joints, ensuring smoother and more even gliding of the joints.

A special feature of chondroitin sulfate is its ability to store water and nutrients in the thickness of the cartilage in the form of water cavities, which provide good shock absorption.

At the same time, chondroitin sulfate promotes the permeability of cartilage, which is a very important factor for the nutrition of this tissue and the removal of metabolic end products from it.

Chondroitin sulfate strengthens the cartilage lining between the joint surfaces and prevents wear. It improves phosphorus-calcium metabolism in the cartilage tissue.

An important property of chondroitin sulfate is its ability to weaken the action of enzymes that destroy connective tissue. The ability of cartilage tissue components, such as shark cartilage, to exert such an effect is about 100 times higher than that of bovine cartilage.

Chondroitin sulfate has a pronounced analgesic effect, reduces pain and increases mobility of the affected joints, promotes the regeneration of the cartilage surfaces and the articular sac.

Biochemical analyses of blood composition and intra-articular fluid, conducted in numerous scientific studies, objectively confirm the conclusions reached.

After ingestion and partial destruction in the gastrointestinal tract, chondroitin sulfate fragments can serve as building blocks for the synthesis of many other types of connective tissues in the body.

It is important to point out that the necessary intake of chondroitin sulfate by humans occurred through the consumption of tendons and cartilage of animals, and especially fish, while today the use of these products has significantly decreased or practically disappeared. For example, how many sharks or sturgeon have you eaten yourself in the last year?

For this reason, chondroitin sulfate must be supplied to the body in finished form or in the form of its precursors. For this purpose, chondroitin sulfate is currently extracted on an industrial scale from the bones and cartilage of fish and farm animals.

The most valuable are the low molecular weight fractions of chondroitin sulfate, which are almost completely absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and then serve as the basis for the synthesis of cartilage and connective tissue. The cartilage of sharks, rays, sturgeons and salmon fish is the most physiologically active in this respect.

The isolation of pure chondroitin sulfate from natural objects is a rather difficult technical task, since it involves the separation of two high molecular weight fibrillar compounds - chondroitin sulfate and collagen. This, of course, is reflected in the rather high cost of well-purified chondroitin sulfate.

It has been proven that chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate in combination have a synergistic effect, that is, they enhance each other's action. Consequently, the combination of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate, supplemented with hyaluronic acid, is the most effective in slowing down the process of increasing degenerative changes in the joints and stopping cartilage destruction, compared to the action of the two substances individually.

The recommended intake of chondroitin sulfate for normal people with a normal body weight of about 70-80 kg is 1200 mg/day when taken two or three times a day. The duration of administration of chondroitin sulfate should be at least 12 weeks until a noticeable clinical effect is achieved.

Unfortunately, the bioavailability, that is, the absorption of chondroitin sulfate in the body when ingested with food, is low and is estimated at about 13%. This is due to the size of its molecule, which makes it difficult to enter the bloodstream and further into the joints of the body.

This is another reason for the need for long-term (up to one year) use of chondroitin sulfate in sports injuries and severe joint diseases.

Unfortunately, only with long-term use of chondroitin sulfate is it possible to achieve greater joint mobility, a reduction in pain intensity and an X-ray-confirmed enlargement of the joint space as well as an increase in the total thickness of the cartilage plate.

Effective products for improving the condition and preventing joint and ligament diseases as well as accelerating the recovery of the musculoskeletal system after high and intense physical exertion and injuries are the products of MST® Nutrition:

• MST® Flex PRO, which contains an optimal combination of chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine sulfate, collagen hydrolysate, hyaluronic acid, essential vitamins and a number of other physiologically active components;

• MST® Flex PRO, which contains an optimal combination of chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine sulfate, collagen hydrolysate, hyaluronic acid, essential vitamins and a number of other physiologically active components;

• MST® Collagen for Joints FORTIGEL OptiMSM is an effective concentrated complex in liquid, bioavailable form for the health of joints and cartilage, combining hydrolyzed collagen, glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, OptiMSM and hyaluronic acid;

• MST® Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM + Hyaluronic Acid 🧬 Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM + Hyaluronic Acid is a new generation combined multicomponent chondroprotector enriched with hyaluronic acid and L-proline for the treatment of joint diseases and the prevention of premature aging, containing the most effective substances in the form of sulfates, methylsulfonylmethane.

In summary, our body, mind and will are inextricably linked in our lives, reinforcing and supporting each other, so it is important to keep each of these components in the best possible condition.

Chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid and other similar vital components help us to ensure the necessary biological balance in the body and generally create the conditions for its functioning at a higher level of vital parameters.