Effect of Glucosamine for Knee Osteoarthritis

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of glucosamine sulfate in the treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a double blind, randomized controlled trial design, patients with clinical and radiographic evidence of knee osteoarthritis were recruited into 3 groups, The glucosamine group of 43 patients was treated with glucosamine 550mg capsule and the placebo group of 27 patients with rice powder 250mg and lactose 250mg capsule, three times daily for 12 weeks. The NSAID group of 26 patients was treated with etodolac(lodine(R) 200mg capsule three times daily for 6 weeks. Clinical and radiographic change was evaluated by assessing the Lysholm knee score, pain score, passive range of knee motion, deformity of the knees, Kellgren-Lawrence radiographic scale and width of the tibio- femoral joint space in weight bearing radiography. RESULTS: In the glucosamine group, significant improvement was found in Lysholm knee score since 6 weeks of treatment and in pain score since 9 weeks compared with the placebo group, but not in radiographic indices. In the NSAID group, both Lysholm knee score and pain score were significantly improved than other groups since 3 weeks of treatment. In both glucosamine and NSAID groups, significant improvement was not found in passive range of motion and deformity of the knees. CONCLUSION: The effect of glucosamine was lower and slower than NSAlD in the treatment of the patients with knee osteoarthritis and improvement of Lysholm knee score was expected with long-term use of glucosamine over 6 weeks and pain-relief over 9 weeks.