Does regular consumption of glucosamine/chondroitin affect overall and cardiovascular (CVD) mortality in US adults?
Glucosamine + Chondroitin, a survey study in 16,686 participants (Frontiers in Pharmacology 2020, PMID 33219063) — during a median follow-up of 107 months, there were 3366 total deaths (20.17%), with 674 (20.02%) attributed to CVD. The study design was observational, which means it cannot establish a causal link between glucosamine/chondroitin intake and reduced mortality.
Source: Frontiers in Pharmacology 2020, PMID 33219063 ↗ · Research map · How Magellan grades evidence · evidence confidence: high
Frontiers in Pharmacology · 2020 · PMID 33219063 · DOI 10.3122/jabfm.2020.06.200110
Regular use of glucosamine/chondroitin supplements is associated with a lower risk of death from all causes and cardiovascular disease in US adults.
The question
Does regular consumption of glucosamine/chondroitin affect overall and cardiovascular (CVD) mortality in US adults?
What they tested
Previous studies suggest an association between glucosamine/chondroitin intake and mortality, leading to the hypothesis that regular consumption may be linked to lower mortality rates in a national US sample.
How they did it
This study analyzed combined data from 16,686 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2010, linked with the 2015 Public-use Linked Mortality File. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association between glucosamine/chondroitin use and all-cause and CVD mortality.
What they found
During a median follow-up of 107 months, there were 3366 total deaths (20.17%), with 674 (20.02%) attributed to CVD. Participants taking glucosamine/chondroitin for a year or longer (3.94% of the sample) showed a 39% reduction in all-cause mortality (HR = 0.61) and a 65% reduction in CVD mortality (HR = 0.35) after adjusting for age. After further adjustment for age, sex, race, education, smoking status, and physical activity, the association remained significant, with a 27% reduction in all-cause mortality (HR = 0.73) and a 58% reduction in CVD mortality (HR = 0.42).
| All-Cause Mortality (Age-Adjusted) | 39 | |
|---|---|---|
| CVD Mortality (Age-Adjusted) | 65 | |
| All-Cause Mortality (Multivariable-Adjusted) | 27 | |
| CVD Mortality (Multivariable-Adjusted) | 58 |
Percentage reduction in mortality risk associated with regular glucosamine/chondroitin intake, adjusted for various factors.
What it means
Regular intake of glucosamine/chondroitin is associated with lower all-cause and CVD mortality in a national US cohort. These findings are consistent with previous studies in other populations.
Limitations
The study design was observational, which means it cannot establish a causal link between glucosamine/chondroitin intake and reduced mortality. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.
The paper at a glance
| Title | Glucosamine/Chondroitin and Mortality in a US NHANES Cohort |
|---|---|
| Journal | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
| Year | 2020 |
| PMID | 33219063 ↗ |
| DOI | 10.3122/jabfm.2020.06.200110 ↗ |
| Topic | General aging biology & healthspan |
Read the source: PubMed record (authors, abstract, full citation) ↗ · Publisher via doi.org ↗
Where Magellan uses this paper
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Glucosamine + Chondroitin (+ MSM)
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;
D-Glucosamine
Evidence on glucosamine for aging-related joint health is genuinely mixed: in the landmark 3-year randomized trial of prescription crystalline glucosamine sulfate (n=212), placebo patients lost significant knee joint space (−0.31 mm) while glucosamine patients did not (−0.06 mm), with symptoms improving on…
D-Glucosamine sulfate is a salt of glucosamine, an amino monosaccharide the body synthesizes from…
Osteo Bi-Flex Triple Strength is an oral joint-health supplement whose principal ingredients are…
Glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) are naturally occurring compounds…
Research describes the compound or intervention studied. It is not a claim about any specific product.
Molecules & mechanisms in this paper
Each of these is named in the paper’s own words above. Open the monograph for the full mechanism and its other citations.
Cite this page
These citations point at this summary. To cite the original paper with its full author list, use the PubMed record or doi.org.
Magellan Longevity. (2026). Does regular consumption of glucosamine/chondroitin affect overall and cardiovascular (CVD) mortality in US adults? [Plain-English summary of Frontiers in Pharmacology 2020, PMID 33219063, DOI 10.3122/jabfm.2020.06.200110]. Magellan Longevity. https://magellanlongevity.com/study/glu_nhanes.html@misc{magellan_glu_nhanes,
title = {Does regular consumption of glucosamine/chondroitin affect overall and cardiovascular (CVD) mortality in US adults?},
author = {{Magellan Longevity}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://magellanlongevity.com/study/glu_nhanes.html}},
note = {Plain-English summary of PubMed PMID 33219063; DOI 10.3122/jabfm.2020.06.200110; Frontiers in Pharmacology 2020. Reviewed by Gabriel Radu, DO},
urldate = {2026-08-11}
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- Genetically predicted glucosamine and longevity: A Mendelian randomization studyMendelian Randomization Analysis · 2022 · PMID 35623867
- Efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in osteoarthritis pain of the kneeOsteoarthritis Cartilage · 2006 · PMID 16309928
- The Additive Effects of Creatine Supplementation and Exercise Training in an Aging PopulationJ Geriatr Phys Ther · 2020 · PMID 30762623
- Resistance training with blood flow restriction on muscle strength and hypertrophy in arthritisPLoS One · 2021 · PMID 34758045
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