Combined chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine for painful knee osteoarthritis: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, non-inferiority trial versus celecoxib

Hochberg MC, Martel-Pelletier J, Monfort J, et al. · Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases

The combination was non-inferior to celecoxib: both arms cut WOMAC pain by roughly 50% at 6 months with comparable function gains.

Population

Knee OA patients with severe pain (MOVES trial, Europe)

Intervention

Chondroitin sulfate 1200 mg + glucosamine HCl 1500 mg daily for 6 months

Comparator

Celecoxib 200 mg/day (no placebo arm)

Limitations

No placebo arm, so both treatments could reflect regression to the mean; sponsored by Bioibérica, a chondroitin manufacturer.