Effect of an oral complementary medicine combination for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Yuan S, Liu X, Bracken K, Christensen R, Deveza LA, Collins S, Harnett JE, McLachlan AJ, Robbins S, Venkatesha V, Bowden JL, Hunter DJ · Osteoarthritis and Cartilage

Both arms improved about 20 mm on the 100 mm pain VAS and the between-group difference was 0.16 mm (95% CI -6.81 to 7.12). The authors conclude the evidence does not support the combination.

Population

Adults aged 40+ with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 or above, Australia (ATLAS trial, ACTRN12623000380695)

Intervention

Daily combination of curcumin 500 mg, piperine 5 mg, Boswellia serrata 250 mg, pine bark extract 100 mg and MSM 1500 mg for 12 weeks

Comparator

Placebo

Limitations

A five-ingredient combination, so a null result cannot be attributed to any single component, and curcumin was given as 500 mg with piperine rather than as an absorption-enhanced formulation. n=84 with a wide equivalence margin. Independent academic trial (Sydney/Kolling).