Glucosamine (Glu) v placebo (pl) or selected non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in patients with osteoarthritis*
| Outcomes | Comparison | Number of studies (number of patients) | Standardised mean difference (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Abbreviations defined in glossary; RBI, NNT, and CI calculated from data in article. Outcomes were analysed using either a random (†) or fixed (‡) effects model.§Not significant. | ||||
| Pain | Glu v NSAIDs | 3 (292) | 0.86 (0.58 to 1.14)‡ | |
| Glu v pl | 7 (471) | 1.40 (0.65 to 2.14)† | ||
| Function | Glu v NSAIDs | 2 (364) | 0.32 (−0.28 to 0.92)†§ | |
| Glu v pl | 3 (563) | 0.63 (−0.04 to 1.29)†§ | ||
| Weighted event rates (number of studies) | RBI (95% CI) | NNT (CI) | ||
| Glu v pl | 51.8% v 34.2% (2) | 52% (20 to 91)‡ | 6 (4 to 13)‡ | |