Comparative Effectiveness of Nutritional Supplements in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Network Meta-Analysis

Zhang Y, Gui Y, Adams R, Farragher J, Itsiopoulos C, Bow K, Cai M, Han J · Nutrients

Places curcumin against its competitors. Only Boswellia separated from placebo on WOMAC pain (MD 10.58) and stiffness (MD 9.47); on WOMAC function krill oil (14.01), Boswellia (14.00), curcumin (9.96) and collagen (9.42) did, and on VAS pain Boswellia (17.26), collagen (16.65), curcumin (12.34, 95% CI 1.59 to 23.34) and ginger (11.89). By SUCRA curcumin ranked second for WOMAC pain, seventh for stiffness and third for function and VAS. Seven studies reported intervention-related adverse events, all mild.

Population

39 RCTs (42 studies) of seven supplements in knee osteoarthritis

Intervention

Eggshell membrane, vitamin D, boswellia, curcumin, ginger, krill oil or collagen

Comparator

Placebo, compared indirectly

Limitations

Indirect comparison across trials with different dosages and formulations, and curcumin's WOMAC pain and stiffness estimates did not reach significance against placebo; the authors call for standardised dosing and long-term data before the rankings are relied on. No conflicts declared, and the paper states it received no external funding.