Popular Joint Supplements Fight Chronic Inflammation

Glucosamine and chondroitin, popular joint supplements among athletes, active people, and those with osteoarthritis, have long been regarded as a source of building blocks for healthy cartilage that cushions joints. Now, researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle have found that both nutrients are also anti-inflammatory, thereby helping to protect joints and prevent a variety of chronic conditions driven by inflammation, including cancer.

Using blood samples, the study, published in the journal PLoS One, found that the supplements reduced C-reactive protein, a chief marker of systemic inflammation.