Long-term Evaluation of Glucosamine Sulphate - LEGS
Website: www.thegeorgeinstitute.org/LEGS
Background
Osteoarthritis is ranked as the leading health problem among older Australians. Glucosamine and chondroitin are used by many people with joint pain in the belief that these products will reduce their joint pain and benefit the joint cartilage. While regular use seems to provide many people with relief from joint pain, not all people with osteoarthritis seem to benefit. In addition, the long-term effects on cartilage loss and disease progression are still unknown.
Aims
To determine if glucosamine sulphate, with or without chondroitin sulphate can provide pain relief, improve function and limit or reduce structural disease progression (cartilage loss) in patients with osteoarthritis.
Methods
This will be a double-blind placebo-controlled randomised clinical trial conducted in general practice. Patients, with osteoarthritis of the knee, will be randomly allocated to glucosamine sulphate (1500mg daily) or matching placebo capsules as well as chondroitin sulphate (800mg daily) or matching placebo capsules for a period of two years.
Status/Results
Recruitment commenced in August 2007.
Institute Investigators:
- Marlene Fransen
- Stephen Jan
- Robyn Norton
- Mark Stevenson
Collaboration:
- Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (NSW Projects)
- Therapeutics Centre, St Vincents Hospital
- Departments of Rheumatology, St George Hospital and Royal North Shore Hospital
- Applied Clinical Anatomy Research Centre, University of London
- Alliance of NSW Divisions (GP)