| FEMA | N/A |
| CAS | 9007-27-6 |
| EINECS | N/A |
| JECFA Food Flavoring | N/A |
| CoE Number | N/A |
| Organoleptic Notes |
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| Odor | N/A |
| Flavor | N/A |
| Material Notes | Chondroitin is a mucopolysaccharide constituent of chondrin. Chondrin is a gelatin-like protein-carbohydrate substance that can be obtained by boiling cartilage in water. Cartilage is a connective tissue that contains cells embedded in a matrix of chondrin. Chondroitin is a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) composed of a chain of alternating sugars (N-acetyl-galactosamine and glucuronic acid). It is usually found attached to proteins as part of a proteoglycan. A chondroitin chain can have over 100 individual sugars, each of which can be sulfated in variable positions and quantities. The structure depicted in this MetaboCard is simply a disaccharide component of the chontroitin subunit. Chondroitin's functions largely depend on the properties of the overall proteoglycan of which it is a part. These functions can be broadly divided into structural and regulatory roles. However, this division is not absolute and some proteoglycans have both structural and regulatory roles. Chondroitin is an ingredient found commonly in dietary supplements used as an alternative medicine to treat osteoarthritis. It is commonly sold together with glucosamine. The dosage of oral chondroitin used in human clinical trials is 800-1200 mg per day. Most chondroitin appears to be made from extracts of cartilaginous cow and pig tissues (cow trachea and pig ear and nose), but other sources such as shark, fish and bird cartilage are also used. Since chondroitin is not a uniform substance, and is naturally present in a wide variety of forms, the precise composition of each supplement will vary. While it is a prescription or over-the-counter drug in 22 countries, chondroitin is regulated in the U.S. as a food product by the Food and Drug Administration. As a result, there are no mandatory standards for formulation, and no guarantee that the product is correctly labelled. [HMDB] |