Oral type II collagen treatment in early rheumatoid arthritis. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial

Sieper J, Kary S, Sörensen H, Alten R, Braun J, Zink A, Mitchison NA · Arthritis and Rheumatism

The first failure to replicate Trentham. Verbatim: 'There were no significant difference between the 3 groups in terms of response to treatment.' Responder counts were numerically higher on collagen (7 and 6 vs 4) but did not separate statistically. The authors conclude only a minority respond.

Population

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis of 3 years' duration or less

Intervention

Oral bovine type II collagen at 1 mg/day or 10 mg/day for 12 weeks

Comparator

Placebo

Limitations

Thirty patients per arm is underpowered for a modest effect, so this is a failure to demonstrate rather than a demonstration of absence.