Chondroitin · Chondroitin Sulfate
Glucosamine's partner with mixed results: some structural benefit for knees alone, no added value in combination.
Short answer
Chondroitin (Chondroitin Sulfate) is a skin / joint with evidence grade C, meaning it is backed by mixed or small human trials. We track 0 produkter containing Chondroitin. The top-ranked product scores 0 out of 10 on our composite scale (dose, evidence, price, testing, transparency). Prices range up to $0.00 per månad.
What it is
A large carbohydrate molecule that helps cartilage hold water and resist compression. Extracted from animal cartilage.
Why people take it
Alone, chondroitin has metaanalys support for slowing cartilage loss in knee osteoarthritis. But the biggest combination trials found glucosamine plus chondroitin beat placebo only in the most painful subgroup — and a later head-to-head found the combo no better than placebo overall.
Our verdict
Weaker than its reputation. If you try it, judge it on your own knees for 3 months, then decide.
Structure & class
Sulfated glycosaminoglycan, major cartilage matrix component. Low oral bioavailability (~10-15%).
Mechanism & clinical data
Singh et al. 2015 metaanalys found chondroitin (alone, ≥6 months) had structure-modifying effects on joint space width in knee OA. The MOVES trial (2016) found glucosamine+chondroitin comparable to celecoxib at 6 months in severe OA — but the Zhu et al. 2018 network metaanalys and earlier GAIT trial found combination therapy did not clearly beat placebo overall.
Pharmacokinetics
Slow absorption; tissue effects take months.
Dose & forms
What to watch out for
Quality varies wildly — independent testing has found produkter with far less chondroitin than labeled. Effects, if any, take 2-6 months.
Where this dose comes from
The trial dose above is our editorial pick from the published human trials for this ingredient. We choose the dose that the best-available studies used on the endpoint most relevant to longevity. The range shows the lowest and highest doses tested in published trials. The landmark studies below are the papers we read to set it. You can click through and check our work.
When new trials publish, our automated sweeps flag them. If a new study materially changes the dose, we update it through editorial review and record the old dose, new dose, and the triggering study in every affected product's recommendation history. The dose is never changed automatically.
Regelverk status
Timeline
Regelverk events, evidence grade changes, and key research milestones for Chondroitin, most recent first. Every entry links to its primär source.
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EU Court sharpens the bar for botanical health claimsA Court of Justice of the European Union ruling in april 2025 further tightened the requirements for how botanical ingredients (herbs, plant extracts) can be marketed with health claims in the EU, effectively removing much of the flexibility of the on-hold list.
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EU report identifies 117 supplement substances as potential health risksThe HoA Working Group on Food Supplements (26 European countries) published its first report evaluating 117 substances used in food supplements. Of these, 65 were assessed as likely novel foods, 6 were already regulated, 34 had insufficient data, and 12 were prioritized for Article 8 restriction under Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006. The 12 priority substances include ashwagandha, curcumin, melatonin, piperine, St. John's wort, coumarin, p-synephrine, maca, holy basil, Melaleuca, black cohosh, and L-tryptophan. The report drew on 1,500 RASFF alerts reviewed between 2017 and mid-2022.
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EU Health Claims Regulation adoptedRegulation (EC) No 1924/2006 laid down harmonised rules for nutrition and health claims made on foods, including supplements. Only claims listed in the EU Register of authorised claims can be used. Rejected botanical claims are held in a separate on-hold list.
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EU introduces the Novel Food RegulationRegulation (EC) No 258/97 required any food or food ingredient without a history of consumption in the EU before 15 maj 1997 to be authorised before being placed on the market. This is the framework that captures NMN, spermidine as a supplement ingredient, urolithin A, and many other longevity actives.
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Structure-modifying metaanalys (knee OA)Meta-analysis: chondroitin taken ≥6 months slowed joint-space narrowing in knee osteoarthritis — a structural, not just symptomatic, signal.
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Combination vs placebo analysis (negative)Important negative result: glucosamine plus chondroitin showed no clear superiority over placebo for knee OA pain in rigorous analysis.
Landmark studies
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Structure-modifying metaanalys (knee OA)
Meta-analysis: chondroitin taken ≥6 months slowed joint-space narrowing in knee osteoarthritis — a structural, not just symptomatic, signal.
Läs studie → -
Combination vs placebo analysis (negative)
Important negative result: glucosamine plus chondroitin showed no clear superiority over placebo for knee OA pain in rigorous analysis.
Läs studie →
Found in these produkter
Alla produkter in our catalog that contain Chondroitin, ranked by our overall score. Ranking is editorial, never paid.
No produkter in our catalog contain this yet.
Buying guides and comparisons
Related ingredients
Se alla in Skin / Joint →Molekyler in the same class, plus the actives most often formulated alongside Chondroitin in our catalogue.
Frequently asked questions
What is Chondroitin?
A large carbohydrate molecule that helps cartilage hold water and resist compression. Extracted from animal cartilage.
What dose of Chondroitin should I take?
The trial dose in published human studies is 1200 mg per dag, with a range of 800 to 1200 mg per dag. Always consult a qualified clinician before starting any supplement.
Is Chondroitin safe?
Quality varies wildly — independent testing has found produkter with far less chondroitin than labeled. Effects, if any, take 2-6 months.
What is the best Chondroitin supplement?
We track 0 produkter containing Chondroitin. The top-ranked product scores 0 out of 10 on our composite scale, which evaluates dose, evidence, price, third-party testing, and transparency. See the comparison table above. Scores are editorial judgments, not a scientific standard.
What is the evidence grade for Chondroitin?
Chondroitin has evidence grade C, meaning it is backed by mixed or small human trials. Grade A means replicated human RCTs with hard endpoints. Grade B means human RCTs with biomarker outcomes. Grade C means mixed or small human trials. See our evidence grading methodology.
Data verification
Bevisning grades are reviewed when new human RCTs are published. Product counts update automatically as new produkter are added. Dose ranges reflect published trial data, not brand recommendations. Read how we verify.