Medical Evidence
Beneficial Effect Of Cartilage Disease-Modifying
Agents Tested In Chondrocyte Cultures And A Rabbit Instability
Model Of Osteoarthrosis. L Lippiello, J Woodward,
R Karpman, T A Hammad. Phoenix, AZ, Edgewood, Md.
Background: Dietary supplements
of disease-modifying agents were tested separately and in combination
for their ability to retard progression of cartilage lesions in
a rabbit instability model of osteoarthritis. Surgical instability
(Hulth) was induced in 2-3 Kg NZW rabbits. Post-operatively, animals
were exercised for 1 hour 3 times per week. Group 1 controls (12)
were fed standard Teklad diet; group 2 (12), 3 (6) and 4 (6) had
diets supplemented with 2% by weight Cosamin DS*, and comparable
levels of chondroitin sulfate or glucosamine HCl respectively.
Animals were sacrificed at 16 weeks and the weight-bearing portion
of the medial condyles evaluated quantitatively with a modified
Mankin grading system using Safranin-O stained slides. The extent
and severity of lesions was measured as mm linear involvement
for each grade of severity using Image Pro software and a Polaroid
Slide Scanner. Lesions were grouped as mild (1-3), moderate (4-7)
or severe (>8). Statistical analysis utilized Student t-test and
Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results: Cosamin DS fed animals had no
severe lesions and a significant substantial reduction in the
extent of moderate lesions compared to controls (p<0.003). Chondroitin
sulfate and glucosamine-fed animals had less moderate and severe
tissue involvement than controls but not to the extent of the
Cosamin? DS group. No metabolic changes were noted in noninvolved
normal humeral cartilage nor was there any apparent organ pathology
upon necropsy. In vitro studies with isolated chondrocytes confirmed
a synergistic effect of glucosamine HCL + chondroitin sulfate
on stimulation of proteoglycan synthesis (p<0.04). The data suggests
that the disease-modifying effect of a mixture of glucosamine
HCL and chondroitin sulfate was synergistic and superior than
either agent alone insofar as stimulating proteoglycan synthesis
and retarding the development of cartilage lesions. *A combination
of glucosamine HCl and low molecular weight chondroitin sulfate.
Nutramax Laboratories, Edgewood, MD.
Disclosure: Study supported
by Nutramax Laboratories, Edgewood, Maryland Source: American
College of Rheumatology 1999 Annual Meeting, Boston, MAPresentation
Date: Monday, November 15, 1999
