[aruanan]

I probably will find some of the shark cartilage stuff ;-) if my doctor doesn't feel strongly otherwise--I have arthritis in many joints and I doubt this can hurt.

Prog Drug Res 2000;55:81-103

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates in the treatment of osteoarthritis: a survey.

de los Reyes GC, Koda RT, Lien EJ.

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
School of Pharmacy,
University of Southern California,
Los Angeles, CA
90089, USA.

For more than 30 years, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been used as standards in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). Serious and often life-threatening adverse effects due to these agents are common. Clinical findings have revealed that glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate are effective and safer alternatives to alleviate symptoms of OA. Experimental evidence indicates that these compounds and their low molecular weight derivatives have a particular tropism for cartilage where they serve as substrates in the biosynthesis of component building blocks. This paper is a literature review of the chemistry, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy and safety of these two nutraceuticals.

Skip the sharks and go directly to the active ingredients. There are many similar review of chondroitin available through PubMed.

[ChemistCat]

Ah...that's what I was going to do....was just too buzzed from so many loving and wonderful posts and from cramming over 100 Organic Chem reactions to want to mess around with spelling glucosamine sulfate and (especially) chondroitin sulfate...especially if I can cut and paste it from some kind soul who spells "chondroitin" for me. :-)