Cartilage is soft tissue situated between joints that provides cushion for the bones to absorb shock with movement and impact, defending the bones from friction against one another, which can result in damage to the You do not have access to view this node. Cartilage is responsible for the curved body parts, for instance, the external curves of human ears or a large part of the nose that would otherwise be unsupported. Without cartilage the ears and nose would collapse. As a person ages, they lose cartilage at different rates. A specific level of loss is known as “osteoarthritis”. The progress of osteoarthritis causes pain and restriction in You do not have access to view this node. Although, there are other types of arthritis, it is only for osteoarthritis that glucosamine and chondroitin supplements are advised. Glucosamine is a substance found naturally in cartilage. Another substance chondroitin is also found in the cartilage. Both are available as dietary supplements.
What is cartilage composed of?
Cartilage is a kind of opaque connective tissue. It consists of specific cells called ‘chondrocytes’ that fabricate a huge quantity of extra-cellular medium composed of collagen fibers, copious ground matter rich in proteoglycan, and elastin fibers. Cartilage is classified in three types:
Cartilage varies in the comparative quantities of these three key components. Cartilage is present in several locations in the body including the articular surface of the bones, the rib cage, the ear, the nose, the bronchial tubes and the inter vertebral discs. Its mechanical properties are in-between bone and dense connective tissue like tendon. Unlike other connective tissues, cartilage does not contain blood vessels. The chondrocytes are fed by diffusion, helped by the pumping action generated by compression of the articular cartilage or flexion of the elastic cartilage. Consequently, compared to other connective You do not have access to view this node, cartilage grows and repairs very gradually.
How does cartilage damage occur?
Cartilage damage can happen in many different ways such as:
After a fall or slip.
Through direct contact with anyone when playing a physical contact sport like football or soccer.
Damage can also due to wear and tear over time in long distance runners or soccer players
Continuous strains for many years, mainly in people who have an active job, slowly lead to erosion.
Issues with the joint structure itself, for instance, osteoarthritis, can also damage the cartilage.
A person can also experience cartilage damage, if he/she is bedridden or motionless for a long duration. This is because the cartilage requires regular movement to function properly.
Another major issue with cartilage is its deficient of a direct blood supply, and it depends on the compression and decompression of the articular cartilage, or on the flexing of elastic cartilage to generate a pumping action that leads blood to the chondrocytes. For this reason, inactivity can lead to cartilage damage owing to lack of blood supply. So, it is repaired more slowly than other body components.
The other causes may also be due to metabolic diseases, dysplasia, aseptic necrosis of bone, endocrine disorders, neuropathies, viral diseases and genetic disorders.
What are some drugs that are believed to reconstruct damaged cartilage?
Currently, there are studies and assumptioms about the likelihood of rebuilding of cartilage in the non-surgical sports people or those who have degenerative changes of articular cartilage due to age. Among the different pharmacological agents in use some of the beneficial drugs in slowing the destruction of the joint are given below:
Glucosamine sulfate: Glucosamine sulfate is a substance readily soluble in water and well digestible by the body after oral administration. It is absorbed in the small intestine. It is a natural element of synovial fluid. The highly electrically charged groups with sulfate are believed in the compression properties of cartilage. It is readily absorbed into the bloodstream, although only one quarter of the oral dose is available to the body, and high concentrations collect in the liver, kidneys. It is present in huge quantities in seafood such as shrimp, crab, cancers. It is linked in the protective covering of crustaceans in the form of chitin. Glucosamine works by retaining water in the connective You do not have access to view this node, thereby offering them suppleness and resilience. Glucosamine must be taken for a long duration. Many people insist that glucosamine sulfate is very effective in reducing, or even eliminating, their pain, and it is finding increasing popularity in the treatment of arthritis and other conditions involving cartilage damage.
Hyaluronic acid: It is vital element of all extra-cellular makeup. Hyaluronic acid is found in synovial fluid and articular cartilage in high concentrations. Its useful effects are maintaining appropriate viscosity fluid in order to fortify the “slip” of the surface of cartilage, absorption of vibration and mechanical stress, inhibition of leukocyte migration, inflammation and inhibitory effect on chondrocytes.
Piskledyna: It is an extract got from avocado and soybean. Beneficial effects of this substance are to increase cartilage matrix. The drug is safe to use and is recorded in Poland.
Diaceryna: This has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic properties. Its effectiveness is notable after several weeks of use. Availability of Diaceryna in Poland is small. Only a few medical centers hold them.
Chodroityna: This is a natural constituent of cartilage. The preparation is used for illness of degenerative arthritis of the substrate. Chondroitin itself is mostly taken with glucosamine sulfate. Research shows that chondroitin slow down inflammation and acts as a pain killer.
Extracts of ginger, extract from shark cartilage, S-adenosylometionin?, Vitamin B3, Antioxidants (vitamin C, beta-carotene) are also believed to rebuild cartilage.
Are these drugs useful in rebuilding cartilage?
Generally, Rebuilding cartilage is not achievable once it is gone. Reconstruction of cartilage by these drugs may be possible, however needs enduring treatment. In people with specific conditions like osteoarthritis, the cartilage in joints will prolong to wear away year after year, until nothing is left behind. The only way to repair the joint is to perform a total replacement. An advance in the successful treatment of cartilage damage and degeneration of joints is believed to be a 'Gene therapy You do not have access to view this node'.