Chondroitin glucosamine benefits
Today, many people with mild to moderate osteoarthritis enjoy chondroitin glucosamine benefits. The chondroitin glucosamine benefits can be pain relief as well as a reduction of the speed of cartilage damage. For some, the chondroitin glucosamine benefits are enough to keep their osteoarthritis in check. For others, chondroitin glucosamine supplements must be combined with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or other types of osteoarthritis medication. Always consult with you doctor in order to find out the best and safest way of treating your osteoarthritis.

Chondroitin glucosamine benefits controversy
There is currently an ongoing debate within the medical profession regarding the usefulness of chondroitin glucosamine in osteoarthritis treatment. Many different studies and clinical trials have been carried out, but the results are often conflicting. It is therefore very difficult for doctors to know what to recommend their patients. More studies are needed before anyone can know for sure why so many people with osteoarthritis experience chondroitin glucosamine benefits. More studies are also necessary in order to determine other possible effects of chondroitin glucosamine, including side effects that may not manifest until the supplements have been used for many years.

How high a dose is necessary to experience any chondroitin glucosamine benefits?
The best way of finding out which dose that is suitable for you is to consult your doctor. During clinical trials, it is common to give test persons around 1,500 mg of glucosamine and 1,200 mg of chondroitin sulfate each day.

Common chondroitin glucosamine side effects
Common side effects are softened stools and increased intestinal gas. These are usually not considered severe side effects, but if they persist it is always a good idea to consult your doctor. Sometimes a switch from one supplement manufacturer to another will decrease the amount of and severity of the side effects. You can also try to use only chondroitin or only glucosamine; you might be able to tolerate at least one of them. Contact your doctor if you experience any other side effects. You can read more about possible chondroitin glucosamine side effects in the article named “chondroitin glucosamine side effects”.

Studies of chondroitin glucosamine benefits
Several studies have focused on chondroitin glucosamine benefits, but the results tend to be very conflicting. One of the largest studies was carried out by the National Institutes of Health (an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services). This was a 6-month long multi-centre clinical trial where chondroitin sulfate benefits, glucosamine HCl benefits, and chondroitin glucosamine benefits were investigated. The participants suffered from painful knee osteoarthritis, and the benefits of chondroitin and glucosamine were compared to both placebo and celecoxib. (Celecoxib is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug commonly used in osteoarthritis treatment.) In this study, the recipients of glucosamine HCl, or chondroitin sulphate, or a combination of both, did not show any statistically significant improvement compared to the placebo group. A secondary analysis of a subgroup did however show that supplements may actually be beneficial for certain osteoarthritis patients, especially if you are experiencing moderate to severe pain.