Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Glucosamine Discontinuation Trial in Knee Osteoarthritis
Description:
Glucosamine is widely promoted in books and advertising as a treatment for knee osteoarthritis. This has resulted in the wide-spread use of glucosamine. However, it is not known whether glucosamine is effective for the treatment of pain in persons with knee osteoarthritis. In this study, we evaluated the effect of discontinuation of glucosamine sulfate (GS) on pain and the ability to do activities in persons with osteoarthritis of the knee, who had at least moderate improvement of their OA pain with prior glucosamine use. If glucosamine has a beneficial effect on knee pain, then stopping the glucosamine should cause a flare of pain.
Methodology:
137 subjects with knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to receive glucosamine or placebo (inactive substance) tablets, in other words, they were either maintained on glucosamine or withdrawn from glucosamine. All subjects were followed regularly for a flare of knee symptoms or until 6 months had elapsed.
Results:
The following results were presented at the American College of Rheumatology meeting in New Orleans, October 2002. There was no difference between the percentage of subjects who flared in the placebo and glucosamine groups – 42% flared in the placebo group and 45% flared in the glucosamine group. In addition, the time for the development of a flare and the severity of flare were not different in the 2 groups.
Impact For People With Arthritis:
The results from this study show that there is no evidence of benefit from the continued use of glucosamine, even in subjects who have previously improved on glucosamine.
Time Frame:
This study was conducted from 1998 to 2001.
Funding:
Mary Pack Research Fund
Publications / Presentations
- Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Glucosamine Discontinuation Trial in Knee Osteoarthritis. Arthrits & Rheumatism Vol. 51, No. 5, October 15, 2004 , pp 738-745
Project Team Members:
Principal Investigator
Jolanda Cibere MD, PhD
Research Scientist, ARC
Co-Investigators
John Esdaile MD, MPH, FRCPC
Scientific Director, ARC
Jacek Kopec MD, PhD
Research Scientist, ARC
Joel Singer
University of British Columbia
Anona Thorne
University of British Columbia