The purpose of this contract is to conduct a study to determine the efficacy of glucosamine and glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate in knee osteoarthritis. This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study consisting of four arms: (1) patients taking glucosamine alone, (2) patients taking chondroitin sulfate alone, (3) patients taking glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate together, and (4) patients taking a placebo. Patients will be evaluated at monthly intervals for 16 weeks and closely monitored for improvement of their osteoarthritis as well as for any possible adverse reactions to the agents. Medical evaluations and x-rays will be used to document the patients' diagnoses. The primary outcome will be measured as improvement in pain. Improvement in function will be included as a secondary outcome. An ancillary study to determine the effects of the agents on joint structure is also included as an option.
| Colbert, Robert A; Deodhar, Atul A; Fox, David et al. (2009) Entheses and bones in spondyloarthritis: 2008 Annual Research and Education Meeting of the Spondyloarthritis Research and Therapy Network (SPARTAN). J Rheumatol 36:1527-31 |
| Sawitzke, Allen D; Shi, Helen; Finco, Martha F et al. (2008) The effect of glucosamine and/or chondroitin sulfate on the progression of knee osteoarthritis: a report from the glucosamine/chondroitin arthritis intervention trial. Arthritis Rheum 58:3183-91 |
