More evidence that glucosamine and chondroitin are ineffective

It would have been nice if glucosamine and chondroitin proved to be effective agents for promoting repair of joint cartilage in osteoarthritis, but we have more research published in the British Medical Journal in which they fail to show objective benefits. The authors set out to...

"...determine the effect of glucosamine, chondroitin, or the two in combination on joint pain and on radiological progression of disease in osteoarthritis of the hip or knee."

They combined data from 10 trials on 3803 patients by network meta-analysis that graded pain intensity and changes in the minimal width of joint space. In order to be included each trial had to be large scale, including more than 200 patients, randomised and controlled; with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip that directly compared glucosamine, chondroitin, or their combination with placebo. What conclusion emerged when all the numbers were crunched?

"Compared with placebo, glucosamine, chondroitin, and their combination do not reduce joint pain or have an impact on narrowing of joint space."

In the face of this and an earlier study showing similar results it is difficult to justify the recommendation of glucosamine or chondroitin for osteoarthritis. The authors' observations included an interesting note. Though differences in pain and width of joint space all failed to cross the boundary of the 'minimal clinically important difference'...

"Industry independent trials showed smaller effects than commercially funded trials."