Biochemical basis of the effect of chondroitin sulfate on osteoarthritis articular tissues

Jordi Monfort ¹, Jean-Pierre Pelletier ², Natalia Garcia-Giralt ¹ and Johanne Martel-Pelletier ^2*

¹ Hospital del Mar, Spain
² Osteoarthritis Research Unit, University of Montreal Hospital Centre, Notre-Dame Hospital, Canada

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: jm{at}martelpelletier.ca.

Accepted 5 July 2007

Abstract

Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease characterized by irreversible damage to joint structures, including loss of articular cartilage, osteophyte formation, alterations in the subchondral bone and synovial inflammation. Pain, functional disability and impairment of health-related quality of life are major complaints in patients with osteoarthritis. Several compounds have been investigated for their positive effects on the relief of clinical symptoms and improvement of structural changes in osteoarthritis. It has been shown that chondroitin sulfate interferes with the progression of structural changes in joint tissues and is used in the management of patients with osteoarthritis. This review summarizes data from relevant reports describing the mechanisms of action of chondroitin sulfate involved in the beneficial effects of the drug.

Keywords: biochemical factors, chondroitin sulfate, osteoarthritis

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