Evidence supporting the use of: Cartilage
For the health condition: Spinal Disks
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2
Cartilage, particularly in the form of supplements such as bovine cartilage, shark cartilage, or undenatured type II collagen, has been explored for supporting spinal disk health due to the structural similarities between articular cartilage and the fibrocartilaginous tissue of intervertebral disks. Scientifically, the rationale is that oral supplementation may provide building blocks (like collagen and glycosaminoglycans) to help maintain or restore disk integrity, reduce inflammation, or slow degeneration. However, the clinical evidence supporting these claims is limited and mixed.
Most studies evaluating cartilage supplements focus on joint disorders such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, with only a handful examining spinal disks specifically. Some small clinical trials and animal studies have suggested that certain forms of collagen or cartilage extracts can modestly reduce pain or improve mobility in subjects with back pain, but these studies often lack rigorous controls, have small sample sizes, or are not directly focused on spinal disk regeneration or repair. Systematic reviews and guidelines generally find insufficient high-quality evidence to recommend cartilage supplements as a standard treatment for spinal disk problems. Thus, while there is some scientific rationale and preliminary research, robust clinical validation is lacking, and the overall level of evidence is low.
In summary, while the use of cartilage to support spinal disks has a scientific basis and some early supporting data, current evidence does not strongly validate its efficacy, and more high-quality research is needed.
Other ingredients used for Spinal Disks
cartilagecollagen
curcumin
omega-3 fatty acids
vitamin C
Chymopapain
Products containing cartilage
Pure Encapsulations
Joint Complex
Pure Encapsulations
Joint Complex
Metagenics
OsteoVantiv®
Metagenics
Ostera®