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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2019 Aug 29;11(9):2027.
doi: 10.3390/nu11092027.

Effectiveness of Non-Animal Chondroitin Sulfate Supplementation in the Treatment of Moderate Knee Osteoarthritis in a Group of Overweight Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study

Mariangela Rondanelli  1   2 , Valentina Braschi  3 , Clara Gasparri  4 , Mara Nichetti  3 , Milena Anna Faliva  3 , Gabriella Peroni  3 , Maurizio Naso  3 , Giancarlo Iannello  5 , Daniele Spadaccini  3 , Niccolò Miraglia  6 , Pietro Putignano  7 , Tariq A Alalwan  8 , Simone Perna  9
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effectiveness of Non-Animal Chondroitin Sulfate Supplementation in the Treatment of Moderate Knee Osteoarthritis in a Group of Overweight Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study

Mariangela Rondanelli et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis in the world and is characterized by pain, various disabilities and loss of quality of life. Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is recommended as first-line therapy. CS of non-animal origin is of great interest for safety and sustainability reasons. This study aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects, anti-pain and ability-enhancement of a short-term supplementation with non-animal CS in overweight subjects with OA. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study, 60 overweight adults with symptomatic OA were allocated to consume 600 mg of non-animal CS (n = 30) or a placebo (n = 30) daily for 12 consecutive weeks. The assessment of knee-pain, quality of life, related inflammation markers and body composition was performed at 0, 4 and 12 weeks. The Tegner Lysholm Knee Scoring (TLKS) scale of the experimental group showed a statistically significant increase (+10.64 points; confidence interval (95% confidence interval (CI) 5.57; 15.70; p < 0.01), while the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score decreased (-12.24 points; CI 95% -16.01; -8.38; p < 0.01). The results also showed a decrease in the C-reactive protein (CRP) level (-0.14 mg/dL, CI 95% -0.26; -0.04; p < 0.01) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) level (-5.01 mm/h, CI 95% -9.18; -0.84, p < 0.01) as well as the visual analogue scale (VAS) score in both knees. In conclusion, this pilot study demonstrates the effectiveness of non-animal CS supplementation in overweight subjects with knee OA in improving knee function, pain and inflammation markers.

Keywords: inflammation; knee osteoarthritis; non-animal chondroitin sulfate; obesity; overweight; pain.

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Conflict of interest statement

N.M. is an employee of Gnosis by Lesaffre, while P.P. has received consultancy fees from Gnosis SpA. The company was not involved in analysis, data collection, or in the writing of the manuscript. Gnosis SpA reviewed and approved the manuscript before submission. No potential conflict of interest was reported by the other authors.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Visual analogue scale (VAS) of left and right knee. In both knees the VAS differences between groups are statistically significant over time (p < 0.05).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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