Oral glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate on synovial fluid biomarkers from osteoarthritic equine joints

Abstract

Several studies, mainly in vitro, have shown that chondroitin sulfate (CS) and glucosamine (GlcN) do have chondro protective and anti-inflammatory actions. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether oral CS/GlcN supplementation has effects on the CS, hyaluronic acid (HA) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) concentrations on synovial fluid of equine osteoarthritic joints. Horses with mild osteoarthritis (OA) in tibiotarsal joint received daily PO doses of CS and GlcN (2.8/3.1 g) for 25 days. Synovial fluid (SF) and urine samples were collected before treatment (day 0), and every 7 days, until day 55 (30 days after the end of treatment). Urinary CS increased upon oral treatment, indicating that this compound was systemically distributed. Concerning the SF, CS concentration increased after the end of the treatment and returning to baseline afterwards, while HA and PGE2 concentrations did not change. Despite the systemic distribution, oral supplementation of CS/GlcNfor 25 days was insufficient as an anti-inflammatory support. However, it is possible to infer that there was an anabolic effect upon cartilage matrix.

Effects of oral treatment with chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine in an experimental model of metacarpophalangeal osteoarthritis in horses

“…Since this treatment increases the production of chondral extracellular matrix and support the normalization of joint homeostasis [ 8 ], and observing the improvement in GT, it can be suggested that the surgically induced osteoarthritis may have influenced the measurement of synovial glycosaminoglycans. Previous studies [ 9 , 10 ] reported a systemic distribution of CS and GlcN after oral administration in doses even lower than the one used in this experimentation, through urinary excretion and measurement of glycosaminoglycans in the synovial fluid, indicating that, although not verified in this study, the systemic distribution probably also occurred. Likewise, their anti-inflammatory potential has also been reported [ 16 ].…”

“…In the present study, the chondral defect was created with surgical instruments and the oral treatment at the dose used may not have been effective to decrease or inhibit extracellular matrix degradation with the type of induction used. However, as preventive and support treatment this compound is may be important, considering the other beneficial effects demonstrated from T0 to T4 in the GT and also reported in the literature [ 8 – 10 , 12 , 25 ].…”

“…Despite the clinical improvement in GT, there was no increase in the synovial glycosaminoglycans (CS and hyaluronic acid), with no difference between groups. The possible explanations are the partial electrophoresis analysis, since the mass assessment of hyaluronic acid was not performed, and hyaluronic acid has different characteristics depending on its molecular mass [ 9 , 10 ], and differences in this regard could have been observed. The complete electrophoresis analysis was not performed due to insufficient synovial fluid samples.…”

“…Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is one of the main components of the extracellular matrix of articular cartilage and plays an important role in skeletal formation, being essential for proper functioning of the joints [ 7 ]. Some studies have reported an advantageous association of CS with glucosamine (GlcN) to treat and modulate osteoarthritis owing to an important chondroprotective effect [ 8 – 10 ].…”

“…The combination of CS and GlcN has shown positive results in several studies [ 8 – 10 , 14 ]. Glucosamine is an aminosugar that is present in the glycosaminoglycans structure.…”