Many triathletes and runners supplement with Chondroitin “for better joint health”. I put on this article because I found it very interesting how exactly Chondroitin Sulfate can aid to the proper mechanical function of articular cartilage.
The articulating surfaces of joints are highly specialized. They are lined with porous hyaline cartilage to protect the underlying bone. Hyaline cartilage is designed to absorb shock, reduce friction, minimize wear and to distribute loads across the joint surfaces. Hyaline cartilage is a slippery, watery-“GU”-ee material consisting of Cells (named Chondrocytes) and extracellular Matrix. The matrix itself contains collagen fibers, water and Proteoglycans, which is the combination of proteins and glycoaminoglycans (GAG’s). The GAG in articulating cartilage is what I am interested in: CHONDROITIN SULFATE.
The CHONDROITIN SULFATE’s osmotic pressure attracts water into the hyaline cartilage so that it swells up; it pre-loads. When pressure is applied onto the hyaline cartilage, the water is pressed back out into the joint space. This mechanism not only acts like a cushioning pillow but in addition to that, the displacement of the water uses energy, thus less energy is available to directly deform and damage the joint cartilage.
Interesting!
Picture courtesy of Mark Brown, UQ Brisbane
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