Chondroitin active constituents

Chondroitin usually exists as the sulfate salt, and products in the marketplace vary in molecular weight, from 50,000 to below 1000 no products have been the subject of published evaluations of the molecular weight of the chondroitin, but this variability may have a profound effect upon its ability to treat joint pain. The report of Adebowale, Liang, and Eddington showed two products out of seven passing, and Consumer Reports showed no products passing. Table 5 shows the range of values determined for levels of active constituents in samples of formulated chondroitin products. 

Table 6 shows the range of values determined for levels of active constituents in samples of formulated combination glucosamine and chondroitin products. Two of the four products tested passed, and three out of the 12 tested by Consumer Reports passed on levels of both components, chondroitin levels being most frequently below 95% of the stated level. " ... 

Table 5 Levels of active constituents in chondroitin products...

The amino sugars include D-glucosamine, a constiment of hyaluronic acid (Figure 13-10), D-galactosamine (chondrosamine), a constituent of chondroitin and D-mannosamine. Several antibiotics (eg, erythromycin) contain amino sugars believed to be important for their antibiotic activity. 

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