Glucosamine For Pain In Osteoarthritis: Why Do Trial Results Differ
| Effect |
Decrease |
| Trial Design |
Meta analysis |
| Trial Length |
n/a |
| Number of Subjects |
15 |
| Gender |
n/a |
Notes for this study:
Glucosamine hydrochloride failed to cause a significant protective effect in osteoarthritis, while evidence on sulfate (statistically significant of a low magnitude) was said to be confounded with industry influence. No publication bias reported
Glucosamine, Chondroitin Sulfate, And The Two In Combination For Painful Knee Osteoarthritis
| Effect |
None |
| Trial Design |
Double blind |
| Trial Length |
1-6 months |
| Number of Subjects |
1583 |
| Gender |
Both Genders |
| Age Range |
45-64, 65+ |
Notes for this study:
The GAIT trial noted that 1500mg Glucosamine in isolation failed to significantly influence a reduction of pain in persons with osteoarthritis over 6 months; combination therapy with Chondroitin was effective only in the cohort of persons with more pain at baseline
Double-blind Clinical Evaluation Of Oral Glucosamine Sulphate In The Basic Treatment Of Osteoarthrosis
| Effect |
Decrease |
| Trial Design |
Double blind |
| Trial Length |
1-6 months |
| Number of Subjects |
20 |
| Gender |
Both Genders |
| Age Range |
45-64 |
Notes for this study:
1,500mg Glucosamine sulfate daily over 6-8 weeks noted a reduction of pain associated with osteoarthritis when compared to placebo
A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial Of Glucosamine Sulphate As An Analgesic In Osteoarthritis Of The Knee
| Effect |
None |
| Trial Design |
Double blind |
| Trial Length |
1-6 months |
| Number of Subjects |
80 |
| Gender |
Both Genders |
| Age Range |
45-64, 65+ |
Notes for this study:
6 months of supplementation with 1500mg glucosamine sulfate was unable to outperform placebo.
Glucosamine Therapy For Treating Osteoarthritis
| Effect |
Decrease |
| Trial Design |
Meta analysis |
| Trial Length |
n/a |
| Number of Subjects |
16 |
| Gender |
n/a |
Notes for this study:
A cochrane analysis of 16 trials noted that glucosamine sulfate was superior to placebo in 12/13 trials using oral supplementation against placebo; the authors hinted of the possibility large influence from industry could influence the statistical results
Glucosamine Sulfate Use And Delay Of Progression Of Knee Osteoarthritis: A 3-year, Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Double-blind Study
| Effect |
Decrease |
| Trial Design |
Double blind |
| Trial Length |
6+ Months |
| Number of Subjects |
202 |
| Gender |
Both Genders |
| Age Range |
45-64, 65+ |
| Body Types |
Overweight, Average |
Notes for this study:
The progression of osteoarthritis associated with 1,500mg Glucosamine sulfate for 3 years appeared to be reduced as assessed by joint space loss relative to placebo and pain.
Effect Of Glucosamine Hydrochloride In The Treatment Of Pain Of Osteoarthritis Of The Knee
| Effect |
None |
| Trial Design |
Double blind |
| Trial Length |
1-6 months |
| Number of Subjects |
118 |
| Gender |
Both Genders |
| Age Range |
45-64 |
| Body Types |
Overweight |
Notes for this study:
Glucosamine hydrochloride at 1500mg daily was unable to outperform placebo during an 8 week placebo controlled study.
Randomized, Controlled Trial Of Glucosamine For Treating Osteoarthritis Of The Knee
| Effect |
None |
| Trial Design |
Double blind |
| Trial Length |
1-6 months |
| Number of Subjects |
98 |
| Gender |
Both Genders |
| Age Range |
30-44, 45-64, 65+ |
| Body Types |
Overweight, Average |
Notes for this study:
Glucosamine sulfate at 1,500mg for 2 months failed to significantly reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis
Glucosamine Sulfate In The Treatment Of Knee Osteoarthritis Symptoms: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study Using Acetaminophen As A Side Comparator
| Effect |
Decrease |
| Trial Design |
Double blind |
| Trial Length |
1-6 months |
| Number of Subjects |
318 |
| Gender |
Both Genders |
| Age Range |
45-64 |
| Body Types |
Overweight |
Notes for this study:
1,500mg Glucosamine had equal efficay to 3g acetominophen for reducing joint pain in persons with osteoarthritis; this trial (the GUIDE trial) may be influenced by a producer of Glucosamine supplemnetation
Ayurvedic Medicine Offers A Good Alternative To Glucosamine And Celecoxib In The Treatment Of Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized, Double-blind, Controlled Equivalence Drug Trial
| Effect |
Decrease |
| Trial Design |
Double blind |
| Trial Length |
1-6 months |
| Number of Subjects |
440 |
| Gender |
Both Genders |
| Age Range |
45-64, 65+ |
| Body Types |
Average |
Notes for this study:
In persons with osteoarthritis, 2g of Glucosamine appeared to be as effective as 200mg Celecoxib over 6 months in reducing joint pain.
Glucosamine Therapy For Treating Osteoarthritis
| Effect |
Decrease |
| Trial Design |
Meta analysis |
| Trial Length |
n/a |
| Number of Subjects |
20 |
| Gender |
n/a |
Notes for this study:
An updated (2005) Cochrane analysis of 20 trials on glucosamine sulfate found a significant protective effect of glucosamine treatment, with the test for publication bias not reaching significance and thought to be influenced by factors not involved with publication bias (effect sizes from smaller trials)
Effectiveness Of Glucosamine For Symptoms Of Knee Osteoarthritis: Results From An Internet-based Randomized Double-blind Controlled Trial
| Effect |
None |
| Trial Design |
Double blind |
| Trial Length |
1-6 months |
| Number of Subjects |
205 |
| Gender |
Both Genders |
| Age Range |
45-64, 65+ |
Notes for this study:
(Internet based study) Mostly glucosamine sulfate, although a switch to hydrochloride for 20% of the sample was needed, failed to outperform placebo in regards to symptoms of osteoarthritis and pain.
Long-term Effects Of Glucosamine Sulphate On Osteoarthritis Progression: A Randomised, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial
| Effect |
Decrease |
| Trial Design |
Double blind |
| Trial Length |
6+ Months |
| Number of Subjects |
212 |
| Gender |
Both Genders |
| Age Range |
45-64 |
| Body Types |
Overweight |
Notes for this study:
3 years of supplementation of 1500mg Glucosamine was associated with a reduced rate of joint space loss in persons with low grade osteoarthritis.
Randomised, Double-Blind, Parallel, Placebo-Controlled Study Of Oral Glucosamine, Methylsulfonylmethane And Their Combination In Osteoarthritis
| Effect |
Decrease |
| Trial Design |
Double blind |
| Trial Length |
1-6 months |
| Number of Subjects |
118 |
| Gender |
n/a |
| Age Range |
45-64 |
| Body Types |
Average |
Notes for this study:
1,500mg glucosamine sulfate outperformed placebo in reducing pain in persons with knee osteoarthritis, and was additive with supplemental MSM (another group tested the combination)
Comparable Clinical Outcomes Between Glucosamine Sulfate-potassium Chloride And Glucosamine Sulfate Sodium Chloride In Patients With Mild And Moderate Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized, Double-blind Study
| Effect |
Decrease |
| Trial Design |
Cohort |
| Trial Length |
2-4 Weeks |
| Number of Subjects |
90 |
| Gender |
Both Genders |
| Age Range |
45-64 |
Notes for this study:
Glucosamine Sulphate as either a potassium salt or a sodium chloride salt were both effective in reducing knee osteoarthritis, with no significant differences between the two. No placebo control group.
Structural And Symptomatic Efficacy Of Glucosamine And Chondroitin In Knee Osteoarthritis: A Comprehensive Meta-analysis
| Effect |
Decrease |
| Trial Design |
Meta analysis |
| Trial Length |
n/a |
| Number of Subjects |
15 |
| Gender |
n/a |
Notes for this study:
A meta-analysis of 15 studies (inclusive of glucosamine and combination therapy of glucosamine with chondroitin; 7 studies used glucosamine sulfate) noted a significant effect on all measured outcomes of glucosamine treatment. Funnel plot analysis failed to find evidence of publication bias, although it appeared to trend close (and was said to be from influence from smaller studies with more effect size)
The effects of milk protein concentrate on the symptoms of osteoarthritis in adults: an exploratory, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
| Effect |
Decrease |
| Trial Design |
doubleblind |
| Trial Length |
16months |
| Number of Subjects |
35 |
| Gender |
mixed |
Notes for this study:
A trial comparing the effects of milk protein on osteoarthritis using glucosamine as active control noted that, in a comparison of glucosamine to placebo, that glucosamine sulfate at 1,500mg was able to protect from osteoarthritis over 6 weeks
Glucosamine And Chondroitin For Treatment Of Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Quality Assessment And Meta-analysis
| Effect |
Decrease |
| Trial Design |
Meta analysis |
| Trial Length |
n/a |
| Number of Subjects |
5 |
| Gender |
n/a |
Notes for this study:
This meta-analysis was able to find a significant protective effect of glucosamine sulfate in 5 trials but also found publication bias present as assessed by funnel plot analysis
Effects Of Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Or Placebo In Patients With Osteoarthritis Of Hip Or Knee: Network Meta-analysis
| Effect |
Decrease |
| Trial Design |
Meta analysis |
| Trial Length |
n/a |
| Number of Subjects |
10 |
| Gender |
n/a |
Notes for this study:
A network meta-analysis on glucosamine sulfate found statistically significant pain relief, but deemed that the clinical significance of this pain relief was minimal.
