Medical Evidence
Oral Glucosamine Sulphate in the Management
of Arthrosis: Report on a Multi-Centre Open Investigation in Portugal
Macario Joao Tapadinhas, Italo Croce Rivera and Angelo A. Bignamini
Orthopedic Service, Principal Military Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal,
and *Institute of Biological Chemistry, University of Pavia, Pavia,
Italy Pharmatherapeutica, (1982), 3, 157
Summary: An open study was
carried out by 252 doctors throughout Portugal to assess the effectiveness
and tolerability of oral glucosamine sulphate in the treatment
of arthrosis. Patients received 1.5 g daily in 3 divided doses
over a mean period of 50 + 14 days. The results from 1,208 patients
were analyzed and showed that the symptoms of pain at rest, on
standing and on exercise and limited active and passive movements
improved steadily through the treatment period. The improvement
obtained lasted for a period of 6 to 12 weeks after the end of
treatment. Objective therapeutic efficacy was rated by the doctors
as "good" in 59% of patients, and "sufficient" in a further 36%.
These results were significantly better than those obtained with
previous treatments (except for injectable glucosamine in the
same patients. Sex, age, localization of arthrosis, concomitant
illnesses or concomitant treatments did not influence the frequency
of responders to treatment. Oral glucosamine was fully tolerated
by 86% of patients, a significantly larger proportion than that
reported with other previous treatments and approached only by
injectable glucosamine. The onset of possible side effects was
significantly related to pre-existing gastrointestinal disorders
and related treatments, and to concomitant diuretic treatment.
Source: Pharmatherapeutica.
Vol. 3, No. 3, 1982