Chondroitin for Pain in Osteoarthritis
Authors: David T. Felson
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2007)

Editorials17 April 2007Chondroitin for Pain in OsteoarthritisDavid T. Felson, MD, MPHDavid T. Felson, MD, MPHFrom Boston University and Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-146-8-200704170-00014 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Frequent knee pain affects about 25% of adults (1), at least half of whom have osteoarthritis (2). Persons with knee and other joint pain often take over-the-counter nutritional supplements available in grocery stores, in drug stores, or online for treatment of their joint pain. The most popular supplement is a pill containing a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin. The demand for the chondroitin component of this pill alone constitutes a $1 billion-per-year market in the United States.The primary pathology of osteoarthritis is loss of hyaline articular cartilage. Chondroitin sulfate, a glycosaminoglycan, is a constituent of a large macromolecule in ...References1. Peat G, McCarney R, Croft P. Knee pain and osteoarthritis in older adults: a review of community burden and current use of primary health care. Ann Rheum Dis. 2001;60:91-7. [PMID: 11156538] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Hannan MT, Felson DT, Pincus T. Analysis of the discordance between radiographic changes and knee pain in osteoarthritis of the knee. J Rheumatol. 2000;27:1513-7. [PMID: 10852280] MedlineGoogle Scholar3. Ronca F, Palmieri L, Panicucci P, Ronca G. Anti-inflammatory activity of chondroitin sulfate. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 1998; 6 Suppl A 14-21. [PMID: 9743814] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Hill CL, Gale DG, Chaisson CE, Skinner K, Kazis L, Gale ME, et al. 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N Engl J Med. 2006;354:795-808. [PMID: 16495392] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. Reichenbach S, Sterchi R, Scherer M, Trelle S, Bürgi E, Bürgi U, et al. Meta-analysis: chondroitin for osteoarthritis of the knee or hip. Ann Intern Med. 2007;146:580-90. LinkGoogle Scholar10. Engels EA, Schmid CH, Terrin N, Olkin I, Lau J. Heterogeneity and statistical significance in meta-analysis: an empirical study of 125 meta-analyses. Stat Med. 2000;19:1707-28. [PMID: 10861773] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar11. Petitti DB. Approaches to heterogeneity in meta-analysis. Stat Med. 2001;20:3625-33. [PMID: 11746342] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar12. Lau J, Ioannidis JP, Schmid CH. Summing up evidence: one answer is not always enough. Lancet. 1998;351:123-7. [PMID: 9439507] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: David T. Felson, MD, MPHAffiliations: From Boston University and Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.Grant Support: Dr. Felson is supported by National Institutes of Health grant AR 47785.Disclosures: Grants received: Merck & Co. Corresponding Author: David T. Felson, MD, MPH, Clinical Epidemiology, A203, Boston University School of Medicine, 80 East Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118; e-mail, jendez@bu.edu. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoMeta-analysis: Chondroitin for Osteoarthritis of the Knee or Hip Stephan Reichenbach , Rebekka Sterchi , Martin Scherer , Sven Trelle , Elizabeth Bürgi , Ulrich Bürgi , Paul A. Dieppe , and Peter Jüni Metrics Cited byTherapeutic potential of nanotechnology-based approaches in osteoarthritisTreatment modalities for hip and knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review of safetyReplyEffects of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Supplementation on Knee Osteoarthritis: An Analysis With Marginal Structural ModelsMethodologic challenges in studying risk factors for progression of knee osteoarthritisStructure-modifying effects of chondroitin sulfate in knee osteoarthritis: an updated meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials of 2-year durationThe rate of decline of joint space width in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials of chondroitin sulfateUsing Evidence in Pain Practice: Part II: Interpreting and Applying Systematic Reviews and Clinical Practice GuidelinesReplyIs treatment with chondroitin efficacious for osteoarthritis? 17 April 2007Volume 146, Issue 8Page: 611-612KeywordsArthralgiaCartilageChondroitinDrugsInflammationIntent to treat analysisKneesOsteoarthritisSequence analysisSulfates ePublished: 17 April 2007 Issue Published: 17 April 2007 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2007 by American College of Physicians. 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