IN ARTICULAR CARTILAGE, CHONDROITIN SULFATE DOES PERFORM AN IMPORTANT STRUCTURAL ROLE IN ITS BINDING
WITH COLLAGEN FIBRILS. IT ALSO HAS A METABOLIC EFFECT IN THE JOINT, IN THAT IT COMPETITIVELY INHIBITS MANY DEGRADATIVE ENZYMES IN THE JOINT THAT ACT TO BREAK DOWN JOINT COMPONENTS. IN ADDITION, IT IS FELT THAT CHONDROITIN SULFATE INHIBITS FORMATION OF FIBRIN THROMBI. CHONDROITIN SULFATE HAS EXHIBITED INHIBITION OF DEGRADATIVE ENZYMES IN CARTILAGE. THIS APPEARS TO BE MORE THAN FORTUITOUS, SINCE A MAJOR TARGET OF DEGRADATION IN CARTILAGE IS THE PROTEOGLYCANS, AND HYALURONAN IN SYNOVIAL FLUID. CHONDROITIN SULFATE, BY VIRTUE OF ITS CHAIN LENGTHS COMPETITIVELY INHIBITS DEGRADATIVE ENZYMES. IN HUMAN CLINICAL STUDIES, ADMINISTRATION OF CHONDROITIN SULFATE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH REDUCTION OF JOINT PAIN AND IMPROVED JOINT MOBILITY.