special subjects
Chondroitin Sulfate
Evidence
 (500 mg orally 3 times a day), chondroitin sulfate (400 mg orally 3 times a day), and both drugs to treat osteoarthritis of the knee; in the group as a whole, pain was not reduced. However, exploratory subanalyses suggested efficacy in a subgroup of patients with moderate-to-severe knee pain ( References ). Prior to that trial, only small trials had studied chondroitin sulfate alone or in combination with A review of 43 randomized, controlled trials has also suggested that the benefit of chondroitin is limited to slight pain improvement in short-term studies, although quality of life may improve ( References ). A different meta-analysis of 18 randomized placebo-controlled trials found that chondroitin treatment ranging from 13 to 104 weeks reduced pain and improved function ( The American College of Rheumatology recommends against use of chondroitin for osteoarthritis ( References ), whereas the European Society of Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoarthritis (ESCEO) recommends pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin ( 