Randomized, controlled, clinical study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulphate in combination with physical therapy (HIRO+kinesitherapy) versus physical therapy alone in patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee

D. Munarolo, F. De Lazzari, N. Giordan
MED SPORT, 64:159-71, 2011

Aim. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate are high molecular weight polysaccharides (glycosaminoglycans), which are among the essential constituent components of articular cartilage. In vitro, glucosamine has been shown to alter the metabolism of chondrocytes and play an immunoregulatory function, an action that could reduce inflammation. Chondroitin sulphate in physiological conditions, contributes to the elasticity of cartilage and inhibits its degradation by enzymes such as elastase and hyaluronidase. The combined use of glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate could have a synergistic role in reducing the symptoms and slowing down the advance of joint damage in osteoarthritis patients. Based on these assumptions, we have studied the effectiveness and tolerance of the association of glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulphate in improving pain symptoms and joint function in patients affected by osteoarthritis of the knee.
Methods. A single site, randomized, prospective, controlled study, was conducted for a duration of 24 weeks, to assess the safety and efficacy of taking glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate, for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA). Sixty patients, with knee OA (documented by X-ray), were divided randomly into two treatment groups. In GROUP A patients were treated with a cycle of 3 weeks of laser therapy and a cycle of 24 weeks of kinesitherapy, while in GROUP B the same treatment protocol was associated with the administration of three capsules per day of the association of lucosamine h drochloride and chondroitin sul hate.