What Is Chondroitin Sulfate?

Chondroitin sulfate is a dietary supplement. It is naturally found polymer of linear repeating units containing D-galactosamine and D-glucuronic acid.

Chondroitin sulfate is sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG) composed of a chain of alternating sugars (N-acetylgalactosamine and glucuronic acid). It is usually found attached to proteins as part of a proteoglycan. A chondroitin chain can have over 100 individual sugars, each of which can be sulfated in variable positions and quantities. Understanding the functions of such diversity in chondroitin sulfate and related glycosaminoglycans is a major goal of glycobiology.

Chondroitin sulfate is an important structural component of cartilage and provides much of its resistance to compression. Along with glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate has become a widely used dietary supplement for treatment of osteoarthritis.

Chondroitin sulfate belongs to a family of heteropolysaccharides called glycosaminoglycans or GAGs. Chondroitin sulfate A is found in humans in cartilage, bone, cornea, skin and the arterial wall. Chondroitin sulfate B is also known as dermatan sulfate. It is abundant in skin and is also found in heart valves, tendons and arterial walls. Chondroitin sulfate C is primarily found in fish and shark cartilage. Chondroitin sulfate is not a small molecule but a large polymer which contains between 15 to 150 basic units of D-galactosamine and D-glucuronic acid.

Chondroitin Sulfate Supplements

Chondroitin sulfate supplements are usually isomeric mixtures of chondroitin sulfate A and chondroitin sulfate C and from cartilaginous rings of cow trachea and pork byproducts (such as ears and snout) and also shark cartilage.

As a dietary supplement chondroitin sulfate is claimed to maintain of the structure and function of cartilage (referred to as chondroprotection), pain relief of osteoarthritic joints and anti-inflammatory activity.

Initial studies of the possible benifits of chondroitin sulfate taken orally was that the highly polymeric structure would not be absorbed by the body, however, recently it has been shown that the smaller polymer units can be absorbed by the small intestine, and therefore may be taken to joints by the blood stream and possibly have beneficial effects.

Chondroitin Sulfate Supplements For Horses & Dogs

Animal studies indicate that chondroitin sulfate may promote healing of bone, which is consistent with the fact that the majority of glycosaminoglycans found in bone consist of chondroitin sulfate. Chondroitin sulfate also appears to help restore joint function in pets with osteoarthritis.

Dog Chondroitin is important for bone integrity and has an anti-inflammatory effect, as well as preventing destructive enzymes from breaking down joint tissue. Chondroitin is also produced in cartilage. Products using Chondroitin Dog Glucosamine are important for bone integrity and has an anti-inflammatory effect, as well as preventing destructive enzymes from breaking down joint tissue and hyaluronic acid.

While Glucosamine is clearly the leading ingredient on the market when it comes to equine joint supplements, Chondroitin Sulfate has long been considered the other half of the formula needed for joint products to be effective. Chondroitin sulfate is a major constituent of cartilage, providing structure, holding water and nutrients, and allowing other molecules to move through cartilage—an important property,as there is no blood supply to cartilage.

In degenerative joint disease, such as osteoarthritis, there is a loss of chondroitin sulfate as the cartilage erodes. Studies indicate that chondroitin sulfate may support healing of bone, which is consistent with the fact that the majority of glycosaminoglycans found in bone consist of chondroitin sulfate.

Chondroitin Sulfate Chemical Name