Medical Evidence
Glucosamine Sulphate for the Management
of Arthrosis: A Controlled Clinical Investigation G.
Crolle, M.D., and E. DâEste, M.D. Hospital "G.B. Guistinian",
1st Medical Division, Venice, Italy
Summary: A new preparation
of pure glucosamine sulphate, in injectable and oral form, was
investigated in a controlled clinical trial in patients with osteoarthrosis.
Two groups of 15 in-patients received either 400 mg glucosamine
sulphate daily (12 by the intramuscular and 3 by the intra-articular
route) for 7 days, followed by 2 weeks at 1.5 g daily of oral
glucosamine sulphate in 3 divided doses, or an intramuscular injection
daily of a piperazine/chlorbutanol combination for 7 days, followed
by oral placebo during the following 2 weeks. Semi-quantitative
scoring of pain at rest and during active and passive movements,
of restricted function and, where possible, of walking time over
20 metres, were taken as therapeutic activity indices, and tested
before and after 1 and 3 weeks of treatment. Patients were positively
questioned daily for possible intolerance symptoms. Laboratory
tests were recorded before and after treatment.
Results: With both initial
parenteral treatments, each symptom significantly improved, with
a trend for faster and greater recovery with glucosamine, mainly
in restricted function. During the maintenance period, a further
significant improvement was recorded in the group receiving glucosamine,
whereas with placebo the symptom scores rose to almost the pre-treatment
levels. A similar pattern was shown in the measurement of walking
speed. Clinical and biological tolerance were excellent with both
treatments. No drug-related complaints were recorded, nor signs
of interference in other illnesses or interactions with other
drug treatments. It is suggested that injectable and/or oral treatment
with pure glucosamine sulphate should be considered for the basic
therapy of primary or secondary osteoarthrosis, mainly because
it restores articular function to a certain extent.
Source: Current Medical Research
and Opinion. Vol. 7, No. 2, 1980