Many years of experience in using a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin in clinical practice

Abstract

The article presents the main approaches to choosing the treatment of osteoarthritis and the main links in the pathogenesis of this disease. The effects of glucosamine and chondroitin on the main pathogenetic mechanisms of osteoarthritis that prevent its progression are described. There are discussed an effectiveness and safety of treatment of the disease with a focus on the use of a combination of glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulfate (Arthra), as well as their combination with methylsulfonylmethane and sodium hyaluronic acid (Arthra MSM). Methylsulfonylmethane reduces pain, it is involved in the processes of maintaining and regeneration of connective tissue, in the synthesis of sulfated glycosaminoglycans and collagen. It is suggested that this compound may have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties due to the inhibition of the nuclear factor kB signaling pathway, which allows to reduce the local and systemic inflammatory response, as well as suppressing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and much more. This article also presents experimental and clinical evidence of the effectiveness and safety of these compounds. It has been convincingly demonstrated the possibility with these drugs to reduce joint pain and the need for analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, to improve the quality of life. Currently, symptomatic slow-acting drugs, which include the discussed ones, are recommended to be prescribed as first-line drugs for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Timely administration of symptomatic slow-acting drugs, their long-term use contributes not only to reducing the progression of the disease, but also makes it possible to avoid or delay endoprosthetics. In this article there is indicated the contribution of Russian scientists to obtaining evidence of the effectiveness and safety of Arthra and Arthra MSM in the application of various treatment modes in osteoarthritis of the knee joints and lower back pain.