Glucosamine supplements: Can they rebuild cartilage?

Can glucosamine supplements help rebuild cartilage in people with osteoarthritis?

- John / Minnesota

Mayo Clinic rheumatologist April Chang-Miller, M.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.

Answer

Many manufacturers market dietary supplements that they claim can rebuild cartilage. But little scientific evidence supports this claim. The most studied of these supplements is glucosamine sulfate.

Glucosamine is a natural compound in your body that helps make your cartilage strong and rigid. Glucosamine is also sold as a nutritional supplement in many drugstores and health food stores.

Osteoarthritis causes the breakdown of joint cartilage and can affect any joint. Because glucosamine is a component of normal cartilage, it is thought that glucosamine supplements may be able to help the body repair damaged cartilage. But this has not been proved.

If you have arthritis, consult with your doctor before you start taking glucosamine supplements.