Analysis of glycosaminoglycans in human serum after oral administration of chondroitin sulfate

Abstract

Chondroitin sulfate was administered orally to six healthy volunteers, six patients with rheumatoid arthritis and six patients with osteoarthritis. Blood was collected at intervals before and after treatment and the glycosaminoglycan concentration was analyzed in serum using a sensitive assay based on the metachromatic reaction with 1,9-dimethylmethylene blue. The glycosaminoglycan concentration in serum before and after ingestion of chondroitin sulfate was statistically unchanged in all of the subjects studied. We suggest that chondroprotection by orally administered chondroitin sulfate is a biologically and pharmacologically unfounded theory. Any possible benefit to osteoarthritic patients after ingestion of chondroitin sulfate should be sought at the gastrointestinal rather than at the plasmatic or articular cartilage level.

Immunological Activity of Chondroitin Sulfate

“…Baici et al (1993) investigated the ability of an oral dose of CS to impact the concentration of GAGs in humans. In this study, CS samples were administered to six healthy volunteers, six patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and six patients with OA.…”

“…In this study, CS samples were administered to six healthy volunteers, six patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and six patients with OA. The concentration of GAGs in serum was reportedly unchanged following ingestion (Baici et al, 1993). Morrison (1977) has indicated that the intact absorption of CS was extremely low, estimating the absorption rate to be between 0 and 8%.…”

Chondroitin Sulfate Intake Inhibits the IgE-mediated Allergic Response by Down-regulating Th2 Responses in Mice

“…This would suggest that feeding CS mainly inhibits antigen-specific Th2 differentiation and only slightly affects antigen nonspecific differentiation. It is difficult to accept that orally administered CS is systemically distributed to connective tissues such as cartilage and skin and that exogenously administered CS actually directly stimulates chondrocyte synthesis of extracellular matrix components, because CS is poorly absorbed through the digestive system (24,25). Moreover, the half-life of CS in the circulatory system is only 3-15 min, based on the pharmacokinetic study of intravenously administrated CS (26).…”

“…Polysaccharides such as CS are poorly absorbed through the digestive system (24,25). Therefore, we examined the half-life of CS in the circulatory system and demonstrated it to be 3-15 min, based on the pharmacokinetic study of intravenously administrated CS (26).…”

Effects of Saponins from the Root Bark of Aralia elata on the Transport of Chondroitin Sulfate in Caco-2 Cell Monolayers and Rats

“…Nevertheless, a major problem in the successful clinical use of CS is its poor intestinal absorption, resulting from its high molecular weight, charge density, and hydrophilicity. 27,28) Thus, the enhancement of intestinal absorption of CS is important in its successful application.…”