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In a recent U.S. study, glucosamine hydrochloride was no better than placebo for treatment of painful knee osteoarthritis. Now, investigators in Spain and Portugal present results of a manufacturer-supported study of the more widely used glucosamine preparation — glucosamine sulfate.
In this double-blind, randomized trial, 318 patients with knee osteoarthritis received glucosamine sulfate (1500 mg once daily), acetaminophen (1 g three times daily), or placebo. At baseline, the mean score on the 24-point Lequesne index was 11, indicating moderate pain and limitation of function. At 6 months, mean scores decreased by 3.1, 2.7, and 1.9 points in the glucosamine, acetaminophen, and placebo groups, respectively. The difference between glucosamine…