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Chapter 7: Problem 13

Treatment with chondroitin and glucosamine is offered as one popular remedy for arthritis pain. Suggest an argument for the efficacy of this treatment, and then comment on its validity, based on what you know of polysaccharide chemistry.

Short Answer

Expert verified
A possible argument for the efficacy of chondroitin and glucosamine treatment for arthritis pain is that they play crucial roles in maintaining joint health; therefore, their administration might support cartilage health. However, from a polysaccharide chemistry point of view, supporting this claim is complex since the body's biochemical mechanisms are not fully known. Although some studies found a modest relief of pain, others did not.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the Composition of Chondroitin and Glucosamine

Chondroitin and glucosamine are both naturally occurring compounds found in the body. Chondroitin is a derivative of a mucopolysaccharide and is a major component of cartilage, which contributes to its elasticity. Glucosamine is an amino sugar and precursor of glycosaminoglycans, important for maintaining joint health.
02

Argument for Efficacy

Their efficacy in arthritis treatment is attributed to their role in joint health. It is hypothesized that oral administration of chondroitin and glucosamine can increase the production or slow the breakdown of cartilage, thus relieving pain and improving the function in patients with osteoarthritis.
03

Validity of the Argument Based on Polysaccharide Chemistry

From a polysaccharide chemistry perspective, the argument is consistent with the known properties of these compounds. However, substantial evidence regarding their effectiveness is mixed. Some scientific studies have found that chondroitin and glucosamine supplements can provide modest relief of pain, while others have not. Therefore, while the polysaccharide nature of chondroitin and glucosamine theoretically suggests they could have an effect on cartilage health, this doesn't definitively mean they are effective arthritis treatments. The exact biochemical mechanisms in the body are complex and not yet fully understood.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

(Integrates with Chapters 5 and 6 .) Human hemoglobin can react with sugars in the blood (usually glucose) to form covalent adducts. The \(a\) -amino groups of N-terminal valine in the Hb \(\beta\) -subunits react with the \(C-1\) (aldehyde) carbons of monosaccharides to form aldimine adducts, which rearrange to form very stable ketoamine products. Quantitation of this "glycated hemoglobin" is important clinically, especially for diabetic individuals. Suggest at least three methods by which glycated Hb could be separated from normal Hb and quantitated.

What properties of hyaluronate, chondroitin sulfate, and keratan sulfate make them ideal components of cartilage?

A 0.2 -g sample of amylopectin was analyzed to determine the fraction of the total glucose residues that are branch points in the structure. The sample was exhaustively methylated and then digested, yielding \(50 \mu \mathrm{mol}\) of 2,3 -dimethylglucose and \(0.4 \mu \mathrm{mol}\) of 1,2,3,6 tetramethylglucose. a. What fraction of the total residues are branch points? b. How many reducing ends does this sample of amylopectin have?

Prolonged exposure of amylopectin to starch phosphorylase yields a substance called a limit dextrin. Describe the chemical composition of limit dextrins, and draw a mechanism for the enzymecatalyzed reaction that can begin the breakdown of a limit dextrin.

(Integrates with Chapters \(4,5, \text { and } 23 .)\) The caloric content of protein and carbohydrate are quite similar, at approximately 16 to \(17 \mathrm{kJ} / \mathrm{g},\) whereas that of fat is much higher, at \(38 \mathrm{kJ} / \mathrm{g}\). Discuss the chemical basis for the similarity of the values for carbohydrate and for protein.
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