Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Alone or in combination, the supplements do not reduce joint pain or limit joint-space narrowing.
Introduction
Randomized trials on the effectiveness of glucosamine and chondroitin for osteoarthritis (OA) have yielded mixed results; the largest trial showed no benefit for these agents, used alone or in combination for knee OA (JW Gen Med Mar 15 2006, p. 45, and N Engl J Med 2006; 354:795). Now, researchers have conducted a meta-analysis of 10 randomized controlled trials in which about 3800 patients (68% women; median age, 62) with OA of the hip or knee received glucosamine, chondroitin, both supplements, or placebo; all patients were evaluated for joint pain — and some for radiological progression of disease — during follow-ups that ranged from 1 to 36 months.
On a 10-cm visual analog pain scale, the difference in pain intensity (compared with placebo) was –0.4 cm for glucosamine, –0.3 cm for chondroitin, and –0.5 cm for the combination. These results were of borderline statistical significance, but they did not approach the researchers' prespecified minimally important clinical difference of 0.9 cm. Six trials contributed data on radiological joint-space narrowing. Glucosamine, chondroitin, and the combination had no effect on joint-space narrowing. The supplements, either alone or in combination, however, caused no reported adverse effects
Journal Watch. 2010;30(21) © 2010 Massachusetts Medical Society
Cite this: Glucosamine and Chondroitin, for Hip or Knee Osteoarthritis - Medscape - Nov 01, 2010.
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