Nutrients for a Stronger Athletic Body

Two supplements taken to help counteract joint damage include glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. Glucosamine is an amino sugar believed to promote cartilage formation and repair, and chondroitin sulfate is a component of proteoglycans and proteins responsible for cartilage’s elasticity.

Glucosamine may alleviate pain and restore motion in cases of joint pain caused by exercise-induced cartilage injury. In a 2003 study from the University of Western Australia, 46 subjects were randomly assigned to receive 2,000 mg/d of glucosamine or a placebo over 12 weeks.¹¹ Researchers found the clinical and functional test scores improved with time, but there were no significant differences between the two groups. The glucosamine group was found to have significantly better quality of life scores at week eight and 12. Eighty-eight percent of the glucosamine group reported some degree of improvement in their knee pain versus only 17 percent in the placebo group.

Another knee study suggested chondroitin sulfate (CS) may decrease pain and improve function in joints.¹² A total of 120 patients were randomized into two groups receiving either 800 mg/d of CS or a placebo for two periods of three months during one year. Subjects reported a decrease in joint pain and an increase in range of motion, while radiological progression revealed significantly decreased width in the medial femoro-tibial joint space on weight-bearing X-rays of both knees.

Continue...

Pages: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Next