Overview
This discussion, led by two doctors, reviews current scientific knowledge and surgical options for cartilage regeneration, dispels myths about supplements, and addresses commonly marketed treatments with an evidence-based perspective.
What is Cartilage and Why Regenerate It?
- Cartilage is smooth, shiny tissue covering bone ends in joints to enable smooth movement.
- Damage to cartilage can result from arthritis or trauma, leading to pain and joint dysfunction.
- Unlike bone or skin, adult cartilage lacks the ability to heal or regenerate on its own.
Proven Surgical Techniques for Cartilage Repair
- Three minimally invasive surgical methods exist: microfracture, drilling, and abrasion arthroplasty.
- These procedures disrupt underlying bone to stimulate new tissue growth (fibrocartilage, not true articular cartilage).
- Fibrocartilage is functionally inferior to original cartilage, acting more like scar tissue or lower-grade material.
- Matrix-assisted cartilage implantation (e.g., MACI) involves lab-growing a patient’s cartilage cells and implanting them back to repair defects—most effective for small, focal lesions.
- Cartilage transplantation uses tissue from another body site (autograft) or a donor (allograft), typically as a patch, not true regeneration.
- All surgical methods aim to repair, not fully regenerate original cartilage properties.
Limitations of Non-Surgical Treatments and Supplements
- No supplements or foods have been clinically proven to regrow lost cartilage.
- Claims about supplements like MSM, chondroitin, shark cartilage, or turmeric for cartilage regrowth lack scientific basis.
- Some supplements may modestly reduce arthritis symptoms but do not restore lost cartilage.
Stem Cell and PRP Therapies
- Laboratory studies can coax stem cells into forming cartilage-like tissue, but this tissue lacks proper mechanical properties and fails in practice.
- Injecting stem cells or fat cells into joints does not regenerate cartilage.
- PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections may reduce pain but do not restore cartilage.
Critical Appraisal of Marketing Claims
- Extraordinary claims (e.g., supplements regrowing cartilage) require strong evidence, which is currently lacking.
- Marketers may mislead by suggesting symptom improvement equals cartilage regrowth.
- The analogy: If a supplement can’t regrow a lost finger, it won’t regrow lost cartilage.
The Future of Cartilage Regeneration
- Regenerative medicine is an active research area with ongoing studies and dedicated regulatory oversight.
- Current evidence supports only surgical or transplantation-based approaches for cartilage repair.
- Patients should remain cautious and evidence-focused, hopeful for future scientific advances.
Recommendations / Advice
- Rely on proven surgical options for focal cartilage defects if clinically indicated.
- Critically evaluate claims of supplements or injections promising cartilage regrowth.
- Discuss with medical professionals before considering novel or marketed therapies.
- Prioritize evidence-based treatments and support ongoing research in regenerative medicine.
Questions / Follow-Ups
- What new research is being conducted on functional cartilage regeneration?
- Are there any upcoming clinical trials for advanced stem-cell therapies in humans?
- What are the long-term outcomes for patients receiving current surgical repair methods?