What is the history of chondroitin sulfate?
Chondroitin sulfate is a mucopolysaccharide substance extracted from animal cartilage, which plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, joint diseases, and other aspects. It is currently an important biochemical product on the market. In recent years, with the continuous expansion of the use of chondroitin sulfate and the booming demand in the international market, the production and export volume of chondroitin sulfate in China have rapidly increased, and the market prospects are promising.
Chondroitin sulfate was first put into production in China in 1958. Due to the extraction method of production, there have not been many production enterprises in China for many years, and the output and scale are also very small. Generally, the production capacity of enterprises is only a few hundred kilograms. In the mid-1990s, the total production of chondroitin sulfate raw materials in China was only over 1000 kilograms. Chondroitin sulfate preparations are mainly tablets and injections, and the indications are neuralgia, migraine and tinnitus caused by streptomycin, etc. The clinical dosage is small.
With the continuous expansion of new functions and applications of chondroitin sulfate, its application scope is also gradually expanding. In recent years, the demand for chondroitin sulfate in the international market has rapidly increased. In Europe, chondroitin sulfate has been used as a prescription drug for the treatment of osteoarthritis for 20 to 30 years. According to IMS data, from 2005 to 2009, the total sales of chondroitin sulfate finished products in Europe continued to grow, with sales reaching $340 million in 2009 (see Table 1).
In addition to being used as a drug, a large amount of chondroitin sulfate is used as a supplementary product to improve joint disease. For example, as a dietary supplement, it has been popular in the United States for many years. In addition, its application has also expanded to the field of food and beverage.
There are 21 million patients with osteoarthritis in the United States, and the incidence rate will continue to rise. Currently, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are mainly used in clinical practice, but their side effects cannot be underestimated. So, people are gradually focusing their research interest on cartilage protectants, which may repair joints and delay their gradual degradation. Chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine are the first two natural compounds proposed.
