The NIH Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention (GAIT) study wasn’t the first clinical trial ever conducted on Glucosamine and Chondroitin but it was the largest. And it was government-funded.

GAIT confirms what at least 50 published clinical trials have pointed to before: that G&C can safely alleviate pain from osteoarthritis—the wear-and-tear kind of arthritis that causes 21 million Americans to suffer.

A Boston University team, for example, ran an analysis of 37 previous studies on Glucosamine and
Chondroitin Sulfate for treating osteoarthritis. They concluded that “…these compounds may have some efficacy against the symptoms of this most common form of arthritis…”

Hmm. Perhaps with the NIH findings, there’ll be more interest and finally more research in this area. There was a small sub-study within the GAIT, on the impact of Glucosamine and Chondroitin on the progression of knee osteoarthritis. Maybe a major study devoted to halting or slowing the progression of symptoms may be just around the corner.

Meanwhile, the study is ¬getting lots of enthusiasm from supporters:

“…This gold-standard NIH-sponsored study adds to the strong body of human clinical trials that supports the use of G&C for significant and long-lasting relief of joint pain and improvements in mobility.” Andrew Shao, PH.D., The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), Vice President of scientific and regulatory affairs


For thousands of people like me whose joints could use some TLC, things look even more hopeful.