Oral chondroprotection with nutraceuticals made of chondroitin sulphate plus glucosamine sulphate in osteoarthritis

•Chondroitin sulphate + GlcN sulphate, a safe slow-acting drug, delays osteoarthritis course.•Advantages: restoration of joint mobility, alleviation of pain.•Benefits: anabolic effects on cartilage, and inhibition of degenerative reactions.•This natural dietary supplement is exempt from side effects typical of synthetic drugs.•Trend: research on genetic aspects will be prevailing in the short term.

Oral supplementation of chondroitin sulphate plus glucosamine helps repair the articular surface in osteoarthritis. Chondroitin-S reduces the concentration of the pro-inflammatory cytokines and transcription factor involved in inflammation. GlcN.S enhances cartilage specific matrix components and prevents collagen degeneration in chondrocytes by inhibiting hydrolytic enzymes, and preventing the oxidation of lipids and proteins. Chondroitin-S plus GlcN.S are slow-acting drugs that alleviate pain and partly restore joint function in OA patients. Orally administered pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin-S plus GlcN.S stabilize the joint space narrowing and significantly decrease the number of patients with new erosive OA. They are safe and no adverse events have ever been reported; they are recommended by EULAR and OARSI. The cost/effectiveness of the oral chondroitin-S plus GlcN.S therapy derives from the reduction of costs for physiotherapy, and for gastroprotective and non-steroidal drugs. The synergistic association of these two world-widely preferred nutraceuticals is a step forward in the management of OA.