Source: Contraception  |  Posted 8 years ago

A topical cream containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate effectively relieves pain caused by knee osteoarthritis, Australian researchers report.

Investigators from RMIT University in Bundoora and Monash University in Clayton, Victoria say improvement is evident within four weeks.

Sixty three patients were randomised to receive either the glucosamine and chondroitin cream or a placebo. Application during the eight-week study period was as required. Three measures were used to assess efficacy: a visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the Short Form-36 questionnaire.

After the eight weeks, VAS scores demonstrated there was a greater reduction in pain in patients using topical glucosamine/chondroitin cream. The mean change was - 3.4 cm for treated patients and -1.6 cm for placebo patients.

From baseline to four weeks, the difference in mean reduction between the active treatment patients and the placebo patients was 1.2. After eight weeks, the mean reduction between the two groups was 1.8.