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Randomized trials on the effectiveness of glucosamine and chondroitin for osteoarthritis (OA) have yielded mixed results; the largest trial showed no benefit for these agents, used alone or in combination for knee OA (JW Gen Med Feb 28 2006). Now, researchers have conducted a meta-analysis of 10 randomized controlled trials in which about 3800 patients (68% women; median age, 62) with OA of the hip or knee received glucosamine, chondroitin, both supplements, or placebo; all patients were evaluated for joint pain — and some for radiological progression of disease — during follow-ups that ranged from 1 to 36 months.
On a 10-cm visual analog pain scale, the difference in pain intensity (compared with placebo) was –0.4 cm for glucosamine, –0.3 c…