![Osteoarthritis: glucosamine and chondroitin deemed ineffective by a new study](https://img.passeportsante.net/1000x526/2014-03-24/i44751-arthrose-la-glucosamine-et-la-chondroitine-jugees-inefficaces-par-une-nouvelle-etude.jpg)
September 20, 2010 – Glucosamine and chondroitin are ineffective in relieving pain associated with osteoarthritis, according to the authors of a new study1.
In the article published by the British Medical Journal, a team of Swiss, British and Danish researchers report having analyzed the results of 10 clinical trials against placebo, carried out on 3,803 patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee or hip. Their results showed that the relief provided by glucosamine or chondroitin in these trials compared to placebo was not clinically significant and could just as well be due to chance.
Pharmacist Jean-Yves Dionne, an expert in natural products, says he is surprised at the conclusion that researchers draw from these results. “It is true that the clinical effects observed are generally not fabulous in the trials carried out with these two supplements, but it must be emphasized that they are no less than those obtained with pain relievers or pain relievers. synthetic anti-inflammatory drugs. “
These two classes of classic drugs, commonly prescribed to patients with osteoarthritis, do not get better results. The conclusions of a clinical trial2 recent reports that even celecoxib (Celebrex®), a new generation nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug considered to be among the most effective, does not pass the bar of “proven clinical efficacy” in relieving pain associated with osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is an incurable chronic degenerative disease. Classic medical protocols recommend the use of analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain. In recent years, a growing number of health professionals have also recommended glucosamine and chondroitin, separately or in combination. In Europe, sales of these natural supplements have climbed by around 60% in recent years.
Pierre Lefrançois – PasseportSanté.net
1. Wandel S, Jûni P, et al. Effects of glucosamine, chondroitin, or placebo in patients with osteoarthritis of hip or knee: network meta-analysis. BMJ. 2010 Sep 16; 341: c4675. doi: 10.1136 / bmj.c4675.
2. Sawitzke AD, Shi H, et al. Clinical efficacy and safety of glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate, their combination, celecoxib or placebo taken to treat osteoarthritis of the knee: 2-year results from GAIT. Ann Rheum Dis. 2010 Aug; 69 (8): 1459-64.