Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, a condition in which with age, the usually smooth cartilage becomes damaged from the constant wear and tear causing joint degradation. The primary symptoms of the disease are severe pain or stiffness in the joints as well as sharp aches in the muscles and ligaments girdling it. Rheumatoid is another common type of arthritis that affects mostly the younger population. It is an autoimmune condition, in which the immune system invades and weakens the joints' lining. The situation leads to joints inflammation, which causes stiffness, swelling, and pain.

Other studies such as the Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT), have found that the supplements do not alleviate pain any better than a placebo. The study also showed that the supplements had no joint structure impact that would slow down the progression of arthritis.

Another major study published in the New England Journal of Medicine inferred that the relief an individual gets from using the supplements depends on how severe the pain is. Those with moderate pain did not see much gain while those with more severe pain experienced reasonable relief.