A
naturally occurring substance. Some in the
medical profession say it comes from
shellfish,
mussels. Some in the
herbal remedies market say it comes from a 100%
bovine source. I trust the medical profession more than any market (besides maybe the
black market), but I'll let you decide that one for yourself.
Regardless of where it comes from, chondroitin sulfate acts within joint tissue to attract fluid to the proteoglycan molecules there. In addition to this, it also inhibits the natural processes that lead to decreased flow of fluids and nutrients through the tissue, and stimulates the production of cartilage matrix molecules. It is know as well to impede the natural degeneration of cartilage in the aging body.
Chondroitin sulfate acts best with glucosamine sulfate, and can therefore often be found sold in a pill with glucosamine sulfate. Such a pill would sometimes be called, simply, glucosamine chondroitin sulfate, but the two may be combined with other substances in a mega-substance pill.
-Most of the information in this write-up comes from Viable Herbal Solutions, and their wonderful site, www.herbal-solutions.com.