Glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate did not improve pain in osteoarthritis of the knee

Clegg DO, Reda DJ, Harris CL, et al . Glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and the two in combination for painful knee osteoarthritis. N Engl J Med 2006;354:795–808. [OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3][Web of Science][4] Q In patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, are glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate, or both more effective than placebo for relief of pain? Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★★☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★☆☆ Rheumatology ★★★★★★☆ Physical medicine & rehabilitation ★★★★★★★ ### ![Graphic][5] Design randomised placebo controlled trial. (Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial [GAIT]). ### ![Graphic][6] Allocation unclear allocation concealment.* ### ![Graphic][7] Blinding blinded (clinicians and patients).* ### ![Graphic][8] Follow-up period 6 months. ### ![Graphic][9] Setting 16 clinical centres in the US. ### ![Graphic][10] Patients 1583 patients ⩾40 years of age (mean age 59 y, 54% women) who had knee pain for ⩾6 months and on most days of the previous month; radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis; score 125–400 on the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC); and American Rheumatism Association functional class … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DNew%2BEngland%2BJournal%2Bof%2BMedicine%26rft.stitle%253DNEJM%26rft.issn%253D0028-4793%26rft.aulast%253DClegg%26rft.auinit1%253DD.%2BO.%26rft.volume%253D354%26rft.issue%253D8%26rft.spage%253D795%26rft.epage%253D808%26rft.atitle%253DGlucosamine%252C%2Bchondroitin%2Bsulfate%252C%2Band%2Bthe%2Btwo%2Bin%2Bcombination%2Bfor%2Bpainful%2Bknee%2Bosteoarthritis.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1056%252FNEJMoa052771%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F16495392%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1056/NEJMoa052771&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=16495392&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmed%2F11%2F4%2F115.atom [4]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=000235456200004&link_type=ISI [5]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif [6]: /embed/inline-graphic-2.gif [7]: /embed/inline-graphic-3.gif [8]: /embed/inline-graphic-4.gif [9]: /embed/inline-graphic-5.gif [10]: /embed/inline-graphic-6.gif