---
title: "Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM (with OptiMSM) — Evidence,… | Magellan"
description: "Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM (with OptiMSM) — Glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) are naturally occurring compounds combined…"
url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/p/218.md"
canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/p/218.html"
html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/p/218.html"
type: "product"
section: "Nutraceuticals & Cellular Energizers"
evidence_grade: "Moderate evidence"
evidence_tier: "moderate"
citations: 22
product_id: 218
price_usd: 32.99
updated: 2026-09-02
author: "Gabriel Radu, DO"
author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765."
publisher: "Magellan Longevity"
content_format: "markdown"
license: "Educational content — not medical advice"
---

# Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM (with OptiMSM)

[Home](https://magellanlongevity.com/) › [Nutraceuticals & Cellular Energizers](https://magellanlongevity.com/c/1.md) › Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM (with OptiMSM)

**HTML version:** https://magellanlongevity.com/p/218.html · **In the Magellan app:** https://magellanlongevity.com/#/product/218

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Product | Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM (with OptiMSM) |
| Category | [Nutraceuticals & Cellular Energizers](https://magellanlongevity.com/c/1.md) |
| Evidence grade | Moderate evidence (B) |
| Peer-reviewed citations | 22 |
| Typical listed price | $32.99 (check the live price) |
| Where to buy | [Search Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Glucosamine%20Chondroitin%20MSM%20%28with%20OptiMSM%29&tag=magellanlong-20) |
| Catalog ID | 218 |

## What it is

Glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) are naturally occurring compounds combined in joint-health supplements aimed at osteoarthritis. Glucosamine is an amino sugar and chondroitin sulfate a glycosaminoglycan, both structural building blocks of articular cartilage, while MSM (dimethyl sulfone) is an organosulfur compound with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In cartilage biology, chondroitin sulfate increases type II collagen and proteoglycan synthesis in chondrocytes and reduces pro-inflammatory factors and proteases. Glucosamine and chondroitin are classed together as symptomatic slow-acting drugs for osteoarthritis (SYSADOAs).

## Its role in longevity

The evidence for glucosamine and chondroitin in human osteoarthritis is genuinely mixed. The landmark GAIT trial found the pair no better than placebo overall but possibly helpful in the subgroup with moderate-to-severe knee pain, and the MOVES trial found the combination non-inferior to celecoxib; meta-analyses conflict, with chondroitin and glucosamine sulfate showing structure-modifying effects on joint-space narrowing while some high-quality reviews judge the pair ineffective or of unclear clinical importance, and major guidelines remain split (OARSI and the American College of Rheumatology advise against them, while Europe's ESCEO recommends pharmaceutical-grade formulations). Small trials of adding MSM are encouraging — in one 12-week randomized trial the glucosamine–MSM combination reduced pain and swelling more than either agent alone. Large cohort studies link regular use to lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, though at least one well-adjusted NHANES analysis found no such association and all of these are observational. This evidence describes the individual compounds and their combinations as studied in the literature, not this specific commercial product.

## Evidence grade: Moderate evidence

- **What the grade means:** Curated grade based on the human and mechanistic evidence for this compound.
- **Dose used in studies:** The GAIT (Clegg 2006) and MOVES trials used glucosamine HCl 500 mg three times daily (1,500 mg/day) plus chondroitin sulfate 400 mg three times daily (1,200 mg/day); combo products often add 1,000–3,000 mg/day MSM.
- **Dose from food:** Not meaningfully food-derived: bone broth and cartilage supply some glucosamine and chondroitin but in variable, unstandardized amounts far below the studied doses, and dietary MSM is only trace.
- **What this grade does not say:** Moderate evidence for knee-osteoarthritis symptom relief, strongest for pharmaceutical-grade products and moderate-to-severe pain; small trials suggest MSM adds benefit. Major guidelines disagree (OARSI and ACR advise against, ESCEO recommends prescription-grade). Mortality signals are observational and likely confounded.

## Where it comes from without a bottle

Food, exercise and behaviour routes to the same pathway, each with its citation.

| Natural source | How it works | Citation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bone broth & connective-tissue foods | Long-simmered bones, tendons and cartilage give up glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate - the two joint components in this blend. A US cohort linked regular glucosamine/chondroitin intake to lower mortality. | Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine 2020 [PMID 33219063](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33219063/) |
| Sulfur-rich foods (for the MSM) | Garlic, onions, cruciferous vegetables and eggs are rich in organic sulfur, the building block MSM supplies. Trials of MSM itself show modest joint-symptom relief. | Nutrients 2023 [PMID 37447322](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37447322/) |

### What those papers actually say

1. **Bone broth & connective-tissue foods**
   Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine 2020 · [PMID 33219063](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33219063/) · [DOI 10.3122/jabfm.2020.06.200110](https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2020.06.200110)

   > Regular intake of glucosamine/chondroitin is associated with lower all-cause and CVD mortality in a national US cohort

2. **Sulfur-rich foods (for the MSM)**
   Nutrients 2023 · [PMID 37447322](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37447322/) · [DOI 10.3390/nu15132995](https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15132995)

   > MSM oral consumption improved both knee and systemic health conditions in healthy participants who experienced mild pain in the knee joint.

## In the news

- **Do glucosamine and chondroitin supplements actually work for arthritis?** — Harvard Health 2022 [Read it](https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-latest-on-glucosaminechondroitin-supplements-2016101710391)
  > Yet a number of past studies have come to mixed conclusions; some small studies, most looking at osteoarthritis of the knee, found that people felt modestly better taking glucosamine and/or chondroitin, but at least as many have found no benefit.
- **Glucosamine may reduce overall death rates as effectively as regular exercise, says WVU study** — WVU Today 2020 [Read it](https://wvutoday.wvu.edu/stories/2020/12/01/glucosamine-may-reduce-overall-death-rates-as-effectively-as-regular-exercise-says-wvu-study)
  > the researchers found that taking glucosamine/chondroitin every day for a year or longer was associated with a 39 percent reduction in all-cause mortality.
- **Glucosamine supplements could lower risk of cardiovascular disease** — Tulane News 2019 [Read it](https://news.tulane.edu/pr/glucosamine-supplements-could-lower-risk-cardiovascular-disease)
  > The researchers found that glucosamine use was associated with a 15% lower risk of total CVD events, and a 9% to 22% lower risk of CHD, stroke, and CVD death compared with no use.

## The research

Peer-reviewed studies on the active compound. Quotes are verbatim from the cited abstract. Research describes the active mechanism and is not a claim about this specific product.

### Cited studies

1. **Combined chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine for painful knee osteoarthritis: a non-inferiority trial versus celecoxib (MOVES)**
   Ann Rheum Dis 2015 · [PMID 25589511](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25589511/) · [DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-206792](https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-206792)

   > Chondroitin sulfate plus glucosamine matched celecoxib, cutting WOMAC pain ~50% at 6 months with a good safety profile.

2. **Chondroitin for osteoarthritis (Cochrane systematic review of 43 trials)**
   Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2015 · [PMID 25629804](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25629804/) · [DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD005614.pub2](https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD005614.pub2)

   > Chondroitin (alone or with glucosamine) was better than placebo for osteoarthritis pain in short-term trials, with a lower risk of serious adverse events.

3. **Glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and the two in combination for painful knee osteoarthritis (GAIT)**
   N Engl J Med 2006 · [PMID 16495392](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16495392/) · [DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa052771](https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa052771)

   > For patients with moderate-to-severe knee pain, the glucosamine–chondroitin combination produced a significantly higher response than placebo (79.2% vs 54.3%, P=0.002).

4. **Efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in osteoarthritis pain of the knee: a pilot clinical trial**
   Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2006 · [PMID 16309928](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16309928/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.joca.2005.10.003](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2005.10.003)

   > Compared to placebo, MSM produced significant decreases in WOMAC pain and physical function impairment (P<0.05).

5. **Effectiveness and safety of glucosamine and chondroitin for the treatment of osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.**
   J Orthop Surg Res 2018 · [PMID 29980200](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29980200/) · [DOI 10.1186/s13018-018-0871-5](https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-018-0871-5)

   > Given the effectiveness of these symptomatic slow-acting drugs, oral chondroitin is more effective than placebo on relieving pain and improving physical function.

6. **Efficacy and safety of the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin for knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.**
   Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 2023 · [PMID 35024906](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35024906/) · [DOI 10.1007/s00402-021-04326-9](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-021-04326-9)

   > Our study confirmed that the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin is effective and superior to other treatments in knee osteoarthritis to a certain extent.

7. **Comparison of Glucosamine-Chondroitin Sulfate with and without Methylsulfonylmethane in Grade I-II Knee Osteoarthritis: A Double Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.**
   Acta Med Indones 2017 · [PMID 28790224](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28790224/)

   > combination of glucosamine-chondroitinsulfate-methylsulfonylmethane showed clinical benefit for patients with knee OAK ellgren-Lawrence grade I-II compared with GC and placebo.

8. **Evaluation of efficacy and safety of glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and their combination regimen in the management of knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.**
   Inflammopharmacology 2024 · [PMID 38581640](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38581640/) · [DOI 10.1007/s10787-024-01460-9](https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-024-01460-9)

   > In the meta-analysis, CS showed a significant reduction in pain intensity, and improved physical function compared to the placebo; GS showed a significant reduction in tibiofemoral joint space narrowing.

9. **Comparative Efficacy of Glucosamine-Based Combination Therapies in Alleviating Knee Osteoarthritis Pain: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.**
   J Clin Med 2024 · [PMID 39685902](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39685902/) · [DOI 10.3390/jcm13237444](https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13237444)

   > Glucosamine with omega-3 (G + omega-3, SMD -2.59 [95% CI -4.42 to -0.75], moderate quality) and glucosamine with ibuprofen (G + ibuprofen, SMD -2.27 [95% CI -3.73 to -0.82], moderate quality) significantly reduced overall pain compared to placebo.

10. **Association of Pharmacological Treatments With Long-term Pain Control in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis**
    JAMA 2018 · [PMID 30575881](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30575881/) · [DOI 10.1001/jama.2018.19319](https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.19319)

    > Associations with decreases in pain were found for glucosamine sulfate (SMD −0.29; 95% CrI −0.49 to −0.09); the association with pain improvement remained significant for glucosamine sulfate when trials at high risk of bias were excluded.

11. **Structure-modifying effects of chondroitin sulfate in knee osteoarthritis: an updated meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials of 2-year duration.**
    Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2010 · [PMID 20399895](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20399895/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.joca.2010.02.016](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2010.02.016)

    > These results demonstrate that chondroitin sulfate is effective for reducing the rate of decline in minimum joint space width in patients with knee OA.

12. **Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate as therapeutic agents for knee and hip osteoarthritis.**
    Drugs Aging 2007 · [PMID 17658908](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17658908/) · [DOI 10.2165/00002512-200724070-00005](https://doi.org/10.2165/00002512-200724070-00005)

    > On the basis of the results of recent randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses, we can conclude that glucosamine sulfate (but not glucosamine hydrochloride) and chondroitin sulfate have small-to-moderate symptomatic efficacy in OA, although this is still debated.

13. **Symptom and structure modification in osteoarthritis with pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin sulfate: what's the evidence?**
    Curr Med Res Opin 2013 · [PMID 23186102](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23186102/) · [DOI 10.1185/03007995.2012.753430](https://doi.org/10.1185/03007995.2012.753430)

    > It increases type II collagen and proteoglycan synthesis in human articular chondrocytes and is able to reduce the production of some pro-inflammatory factors and proteases, to reduce the cellular death process, and improve the anabolic/catabolic balance of the extracellular cartilage matrix (ECM).

14. **[Use of ARTRA MSM FORTE in patients with knee osteoarthritis: Results of a randomized open-label comparative study of the efficacy and tolerability of the drug].**
    Ter Arkh 2015 · [PMID 26978418](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26978418/) · [DOI 10.17116/terarkh2015871249-54](https://doi.org/10.17116/terarkh2015871249-54)

    > Analysis of the results showed a significant decrease in pain on VAS in both groups. Reduced pain intensity was observed by the end of the first month of therapy and remained throughout the follow-up.

15. **Effect of a glucosamine-based combination supplement containing chondroitin sulfate and antioxidant micronutrients in subjects with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: A pilot study.**
    Exp Ther Med 2011 · [PMID 22977594](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22977594/) · [DOI 10.3892/etm.2011.298](https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2011.298)

    > the tested glucosamine-based combination supplement is likely to have a beneficial effect on pain and other symptoms associated with knee OA.

16. **Associations of regular glucosamine use with all-cause and cause-specific mortality: a large prospective cohort study**
    Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2020 · [PMID 32253185](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32253185/)

    > Regular glucosamine use was associated with significantly lower all-cause, cardiovascular, cancer, respiratory and digestive mortality (all-cause HR 0.73).

17. **Glucosamine/Chondroitin and Mortality in a US NHANES Cohort**
    Frontiers in Pharmacology 2020 · [PMID 33219063](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33219063/)

    > Glucosamine/chondroitin use was associated with reduced all-cause mortality in a nationally representative U.S. cohort.

18. **Glucosamine and Chondroitin Use and Mortality Among Adults in the United States from 1999 to 2014.**
    J Integr Complement Med 2023 · [PMID 36971848](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36971848/) · [DOI 10.1089/jicm.2022.0783](https://doi.org/10.1089/jicm.2022.0783)

    > Despite glucosamine and chondroitin use appearing to be inversely associated with mortality in the minimally adjusted models, no association was observed in multivariable models (glucosamine: HR = 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.86-1.21, chondroitin: HR = 1.04, 95% CI: 0.87-1.25).

19. **Dietary supplements for treating osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis**
    Br J Sports Med 2018 · [PMID 29018060](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29018060/) · [DOI 10.1136/bjsports-2016-097333](https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2016-097333)

    > Of 20 supplements investigated in 69 studies, seven demonstrated large and clinically important effects for [osteoarthritis] pain reduction at short term.

20. **OARSI guidelines for the non-surgical management of knee osteoarthritis.**
    Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2014 · [PMID 24462672](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24462672/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.joca.2014.01.003](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2014.01.003)

    > Treatments of uncertain appropriateness for specific clinical sub-phenotypes included acupuncture, avocado soybean unsaponfiables, chondroitin, crutches, diacerein, glucosamine, intra-articular hyaluronic acid, opioids (oral and transdermal), rosehip, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and ultrasound.

21. **Randomised, Double-Blind, Parallel, Placebo-Controlled Study of Oral Glucosamine, Methylsulfonylmethane and their Combination in Osteoarthritis.**
    Clinical drug investigation 2004 · [PMID 17516722](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17516722/)

    > In 118 patients, glucosamine and MSM each beat placebo, and the combination reduced pain and swelling most (pain index 1.7 to 0.36, p<0.001) over 12 weeks.

22. **Methylsulfonylmethane: Applications and Safety of a Novel Dietary Supplement.**
    Nutrients 2017 · [PMID 28300758](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28300758/)

    > Review of MSM's mechanisms (sulfur donor, NF-kB inhibition, antioxidant effects) and safety: GRAS status, well tolerated up to about 6 g/day with mild GI effects.

## Where to buy

[Search Amazon for Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM (with OptiMSM)](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Glucosamine%20Chondroitin%20MSM%20%28with%20OptiMSM%29&tag=magellanlong-20) — affiliate search link.

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## Scope and disclosures

Educational information, not medical advice. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication.

Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases.

Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).