other
Chondroitin
A cartilage component sold almost always alongside glucosamine. Retail preparations vary widely in purity, and are not necessarily the pharmaceutical-grade material used in the trials.
What it’s good for
Chondroitin for Chronic Inflammation
Evidence1 study · 1 supporting · 0 against
Proposed to quieten the inflammation around a worn joint.
Dose: 600 mg
Tested as: non-animal chondroitin sulfate 600 mg daily for eight weeks, in obese adults with knee osteoarthritis
Chondroitin for Joint Pain
No Benefit4 studies · 1 supporting · 3 against
How it was tested: The largest independent trial: alone or together, no better than placebo.
A building block of cartilage, meant to slow how fast it wears away.
Dose: 800–1200 mg
Tested as: chondroitin sulfate alone, 800–1200 mg daily — pharmaceutical-grade material in the most-cited trials, which retail product does not necessarily match