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Study: Chondroitin and glucosamine not superior to placebo for knee OA
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A combination of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate did not demonstrate superiority to placebo in a trial of patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.
A group of 164 patients with symptomatic Kellgren-Lawrence grade II or III knee osteoarthritis were recruited into a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Patients were excluded in the presence of obesity, additional arthritic conditions or other comorbid conditions that could hinder treatment.
Patients from nine rheumatology center and from one orthopedic surgery center in Spain were randomly assigned to receive either 1,200-mg chondroitin sulfate plus 1,500-mg glucosamine sulfate or placebo in a single, daily dose for 6 months. Patients were assessed according to a VAS for pain and global assessment, the use of rescue medication (acetaminophen), WOMAC scores and its pain and function subsets.
Patients who received chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate had a lower rate of improvements in pain on a VAS compared to patients who received placebo in the modified, intent-to-treat population but not compared to patients in the per-protocol group. Similar improvements in WOMAC scores were observed in both placebo and treatment groups. No significant differences were observed between the treatment and placebo groups for secondary outcomes.
Dropout rates in the glucosamine and chondroitin group were slightly higher compared to the placebo group and were mostly based on adverse events, such as gastrointestinal complaints and abdominal discomfort, which the researchers suggested could contribute to the perception of pain on a VAS. - by Shirley Pulawski
Disclosure: The researchers report the trial was funded by Tedec Meiji Farma SA, Madrid.
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