Combined Treatment With Chondroitin Sulfate and Glucosamine Sulfate Shows No Superiority Over Placebo for Reduction of Joint Pain and Functional Impairment in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Six-Month Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Roman-Blas JA, Castañeda S, Sánchez-Pernaute O, et al. · Arthritis & Rheumatology

The combination was not superior to placebo; placebo patients actually reported a larger mean reduction in global pain VAS (about -20 mm vs -12 mm), and the trial was stopped for futility.

Population

Knee OA patients with moderate-to-severe pain, Spain

Intervention

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

Comparator

Placebo

Limitations

Stopped early; modest n. Notably investigator-initiated rather than manufacturer-run.