Review: glucosamine is more effective than selected non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and placebo for reducing pain and more effective than placebo for improving function in patients with osteoarthritis
QUESTION: Is glucosamine effective for reducing pain and improving function in patients with osteoarthritis?
Data sources
Published and unpublished studies were identified by searching Medline (1966 to November 1999), the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (to November 1999), and Current Contents (1998–9); searching bibliographies of retrieved papers; and by contacting authors and content experts.
Study selection
English language studies were included if they were single or double blind, randomised controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness or toxicity of glucosamine for osteoarthritis, evaluated ≥1 outcome measure in response to treatment, and included patients ≥18 years of age with a diagnosis of primary or secondary osteoarthritis at any site. Only studies with suitable quantitative data for pooling were included in the meta-analysis.
Data extraction
Data were extracted on patient characteristics, methods, details about the intervention and control (type of treatment, dose, method of …
