Long-Term Effects of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate on the Progression of Structural Changes in Knee Osteoarthritis: Six-Year Followup Data From the Osteoarthritis Initiative
This study was prepared using an Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) public-use data set, and its contents do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of the OAI Study Investigators, the NIH, or the private funding partners of the OAI.
The OAI is a public-private partnership comprised of 5 contracts (N01-AR-2-2258, N01-AR-2-2259, N01-AR-2-2260, N01-AR-2-2261, and N01-AR-2-2262) funded by the NIH, a branch of the Department of Health and Human Services, and conducted by the OAI investigators. Private funding partners include Merck Research Laboratories, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, GlaxoSmithKline, and Pfizer. Private sector funding for the OAI is managed by the Foundation for the NIH. Study conception was supported by grants from Bioibérica (Barcelona, Spain), the Osteoarthritis Research Unit and the Chair in Osteoarthritis of the University of Montreal (Montreal, Quebec, Canada).
Dr. Raynauld has received consultant fees from ArthroLab, Inc. (more than $10,000). Dr. Pelletier has received consultant fees from Bioibérica (more than $10,000) and is a shareholder in ArthroLab, Inc. Dr. Martel-Pelletier has received consultant fees from Bioibérica (more than $10,000) and is a shareholder in ArthroLab, Inc.
Abstract
Objective
To examine the long-term (6-year) effect of combined glucosamine (Glu) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) treatment on cartilage volume in knee osteoarthritis (OA).
Methods
Participants were from the Osteoarthritis Initiative progression and incidence subcohorts, had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the target knee at baseline and 6 years, joint space width >1 mm, and data available on Glu/CS consumption (n = 1,593). They were stratified into 2 main groups based on whether or not they had medial meniscal extrusion at baseline. The group with meniscal extrusion (n = 429) was further stratified into subgroups based on exposure or no exposure to Glu/CS as follows: not exposed, 1 year, 2–3 years, and 4–6 years. Cartilage volume was assessed using fully automated quantitative MRI technology.
Results
The Jonckheere-Terpstra trend test indicated that treatment with Glu/CS significantly reduced the cartilage volume loss in the global knee, associated with the lateral compartment. Multivariate analysis further demonstrated that the extent of the treatment's positive effect was related to exposure time to treatment, the protective effect at 6 years being significant in participants exposed to ≥2 years of treatment.
Conclusion
These findings provide future support for the long-term protective structure-modifying effects of Glu/CS treatment in knee OA subjects.
