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# Glucosamine/Chondroitin supplements prevent colorectal cancer
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/glucosamine_chondroitin_supplements_1103160250/
- Published: 2016-11-04T15:44:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:33:34.000Z
- Description: A Harvard study drawing on the Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study found taking glucosamine with chondroitin was linked to about 23% lower colorectal cancer risk, while glucosamine alone was not. How the supplements might protect is unknown.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Supplements, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

Friday Nov. 03, 2016 (foodconsumer.org) -- Early epidemiologic studies have indicated that supplementation with glucosamine and chondroitin may help lower risk of colorectal cancer. A new study conducted by researchers at Harvard University confirms the protective effect of the supplements against colorectal cancer.

The association of use of glucosamine with reduced risk for colorectal cancer is found pretty much the same in both cohorts, that is, use of glucosamine without chondroitin isn't associated with risk of colorectal cancer while use of both glucosamine and chondroitin is linked to about 23% reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer.

The association between use of glucosamine and chondroitin and risk of colorectal cancer remains unaffected by other factors such as gender, aspirin use, body mass index and physical activity.

The apparent protective effect of the combo supplements is comparable for both colon cancer and rectal cancer. It is unknown how these non-vitamin, non-mineral supplements could help protect against colorectal cancer. [Chondroitin is a component of cartilage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chondroitin%5Fsulfate?ref=foodconsumer.org), which may be important to prevent cancer or aggression of cancer.

The data for the current study come from two prospective cohorts, the Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study.

[*Elizabeth D. Kantor, Xuehong Zhang, Kana Wu, Lisa B. Signorello, Andrew T. Chan, Charles S. Fuchs, Edward L. Giovannucci, Use of glucosamine and chondroitin supplements in relation to risk of colorectal cancer: Results from the Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals follow-up study, International Journal of Cancer, Volume 139, Issue 9, 01 November 2016, Pages 1949–1957*](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ijc.30250/full?ref=foodconsumer.org)

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