Glucosamine, chondroitin, or placebo for osteoarthritis of hip or knee

Glucosamine, chondroitin, or placebo for osteoarthritis of hip or knee

Article Type: Reviews of effectiveness From: Clinical Governance: An International Journal, Volume 16, Issue 1 International Journal, Volume 16, Issue 1

Wandel, S., Juni, P., Tendal, B., Nuesch, E., Villiger, P.M., Welton, N.J., Reichenbach, S. and Trelle, S.Effects of glucosamine, chondroitin, or placebo in patients with osteoarthritis of hip or knee: network meta-analysisBMJ2010Vol. 341c4675

This review concluded that chondroitin or glucosamine, alone or in combination, did not have a clinically relevant effect on perceived joint pain or on joint space narrowing. This was a well-conducted piece of research and the authors’ conclusions seem appropriate. However, uncertainties regarding indirect rather than head-to-head comparisons should be borne in mind.To read these abstracts in full, visit the DARE database at: www.crd.york.ac.uk/crdweb/