Aortic glycosaminoglycans and mucopolysaccharides such as mesoglycan are used to treat diseases of blood vessels, joints, and cartilage

Initially, mesoglycan and other mucopolysaccharides were only available through injections. They are now available in oral form.

Gastrointestinal discomfort and nausea are side effects sometimes reported. With intramuscular injections of mesoglycan, injection site reactions may occur.

Mesoglycan is a mucopolysaccharide complex that is extracted from calf aorta or synthetically created and taken in pill or capsule form as a dietary supplement. Mucopolysaccharides are long molecular chains of sugar.

There is some evidence that mucopolysaccharides and the related aortic glycosaminoglycans may slow the development of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) by lowering cholesterol levels