Journal Article

Glucosamine, Chondroitin Sulfate, and the Two in Combination for Painful Knee Osteoarthritis

Schumacher, H. Ralph, Molitor, Jerry A, Sawitzke, Allen D, Bradley, John D, Schnitzer, Thomas J, Yocum, David E, Lane, Nancy E, Moskowitz, Roland W, Furst, Daniel E, Wolfe, Frederick, Shi, Helen, Oddis, Chester V, Williams, H. James, Weisman, Michael H, Brandt, Kenneth D, Clegg, Daniel O, Bingham, Clifton O, Cush, John J, O'Dell, James R, Hooper, Michele M, Harris, Crystal L, Klein, Marguerite A, Jackson, Christopher G, Reda, Domenic J, Moreland, Larry W

2006

Overview

In this 24-week trial, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate were not more effective, alone or in combination, than placebo in controlling pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. In secondary analyses, however, in the subgroup of patients with moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis, those given both glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate were more likely than those given placebo to have a decrease in pain (79 percent vs. 54 percent). In this trial, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate were not more effective, alone or in combination, than placebo in controlling pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Osteoarthritis is the most common of the arthritides, affecting at least 20 million Americans, a number that is expected to double over the next two decades. 1 , 2 Currently available medical therapies primarily address the treatment of joint pain in patients with osteoarthritis. 3 Analgesics as well as traditional and cyclooxygenase-2–selective nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have suboptimal effectiveness, 4 , 5 and there is some question about their safety, especially in the light of recent reports of increased cardiovascular risk. 6 – 8 The dietary supplements glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate have been advocated, especially in the lay media, as safe and effective options for the management . . .

• Publisher: Massachusetts Medical Society
• Subject: Analgesics / Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - adverse effects / Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - therapeutic use / Arthritis / Biological and medical sciences / Celecoxib / Chondroitin Sulfates - adverse effects / Chondroitin Sulfates - therapeutic use / Diseases of the osteoarticular system / Double-Blind Method / Drug Therapy, Combination / Female / General aspects / Glucosamine - adverse effects / Glucosamine - therapeutic use / Humans / Male / Medical research / Medical sciences / Middle Aged / Osteoarthritis / Osteoarthritis, Knee - classification / Osteoarthritis, Knee - complications / Osteoarthritis, Knee - drug therapy / Pain / Pain - classification / Pain - drug therapy / Pain - etiology / Pain Measurement / Pyrazoles - adverse effects / Pyrazoles - therapeutic use / Severity of Illness Index / Studies / Sulfonamides - adverse effects / Sulfonamides - therapeutic use / Treatment Outcome