It's a natural compound found in the cartilage of joints and is often sold as glucosamine sulfate or glucosamine hydrochloride. Health experts say its main perk is helping to regenerate cartilage ...

U.S. consumers spent $753 million in 2012 on supplements of glucosamine and chondroitin in an attempt to relieve pain and stiffness from arthritis, according to the Nutrition Business Journal.

While chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate both have well-documented, beneficial effects in patients with osteoarthritis, the exact molecular actions of these drugs are also unknown.