Medical Evidence
Metabolic Fate of Exogenous Chondroitin
Sulfate in Man A. Contea, M. de Bernardib, L. Palmieria,
P. Lualdic, G. Mautonec, and G. Ronca
Summary: Chondroitin sulfate
is administered as a drug to man by intravenous, intramuscular
or oral route. However, few data are available on the metabolic
fate of exogenous chondroitin sulfate in man. After intravenous
administra-tion of 0.5 g of chondroitin sulfate to healthy volunteers,
the plasma level decreases according to a two-compartmental open
model. The half-lives of distribution and elimination are 25.5
± 6.6 and 281 ± 32 min, respec-tively. The volumes of central
and tissue compartments are 6.0 ± 1.0 and 22.9 ± 7. 7 L, respectively.
More than 50 % of the administered chondroitin sulfate is excreted
with urine during the first 24 h as high and low molecular weight
derivatives. After oral administration of 3 g of chon-droitin
sulfate to 12 healthy volunteers, a main peak (11.4 ± 3.7, µg/ml)
preceded by a lower peak is observed after 190 ± 21 min. The elimination
half-life is 363 ± 109 min. The absolute bioavailability following
oral administration calculated from AUC of plasma con-centration
is 13.2 %. A peak of oligo- and polysaccharides with a molecular
weight lower than 5000 Daltons derived from partial digestion
of exogenous chondroitin sulfate is also present in plasma. These
observations indicate that the metabolic fate of exogenous chondroitin
sulfate is sim-ilar in man and in experimental animals.
Source: Drug Research. Arzneim.-Forsch./Drug
Res. 41 (II), 7, 768-772 (1991) ECV - Editio Cantor Verlag - Aulendorf
(Fed. Rep. of Germany)
Dr. Theo’s Comments: This
study proves that chondroitin sulfate is indeed absorbed in humans
when taken by mouth. This is not surprising, since so many clinical
trials have proven the oral form of chondroitin works well in
treating osteoarthritis.