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Clinical Trial
. 2000 Feb;172(2):91-4.
doi: 10.1136/ewjm.172.2.91.

Randomized, controlled trial of glucosamine for treating osteoarthritis of the knee

J P Rindone  1 , D Hiller, E Collacott, N Nordhaugen, G Arriola
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Randomized, controlled trial of glucosamine for treating osteoarthritis of the knee

J P Rindone et al. West J Med. 2000 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of glucosamine in reducing pain from osteoarthritis of the knee.

Design: Randomized, double-blind parallel trial of glucosamine 500 mg three times daily or a placebo for 2 months.

Setting: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Prescott, AZ.

Participants: Ninety-eight patients aged 34 to 81 being treated for osteoarthritis of the knee.

Main outcome measures: Pain intensity both at rest and while walking as assessed by a visual analog scale at baseline and after 30 and 60 days of treatment.

Results: Forty-nine patients were randomly allocated to each group. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in scores on the visual analog scale at 30 days for resting (mean [SD] score placebo group 3.5 [2.7] vs 3.3 [2.4] glucosamine group, P = 0.66) or walking (5.1 [2.6] vs 5.3 [2.4], P = 0.69); there was also no difference at 60 days for resting (3.4 [2.5] vs 3.2 [2.5], P = 0.81) or walking (4.9 [2.2] vs 4.9 [2.8], P = 0.90). There was also no statistical difference between groups in the mean change from baseline in scores on the visual analog scale (mean [SD] change for walking at 60 days placebo group -1.5 [2.5] vs glucosamine group -1.4 [3.0], P = 0.77). Two participants taking glucosamine and 4 taking placebo withdrew from the study due to adverse side effects (P = 0.67).

Conclusion: Glucosamine was no better than placebo in reducing pain from osteoarthritis of the knee in this group of patients.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of changes in scores of pain intensity at rest (60-day visit), as measured by a visual analog scale (VAS) among patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. A score of 0 indicates 11no discomfort” and 10 indicates “severe discomfort.”
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of changes in scores of pain intensity while walking (60-day visit), as measured by a visual analog scale (VAS) among patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. A score of 0 indicates “no discomfort” and 10 indicates “severe discomfort.”
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References

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