07.07.10
Glucosamine proved to be ineffective in relieving lower back pain, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted at Oslo University Hospital Outpatient Clinic, Oslo, Norway, with 250 patients older than 25 years of age with chronic low back pain (LBP) (greater than 6 months) and degenerative lumbar osteoarthritis (OA).
Subjects received 1500 mg of oral glucosamine (n = 125) or placebo (n = 125) dairly for 6 months, with assessment of effect after the 6-month intervention period and at 1 year (6 months postintervention).
The primary outcome was pain-related disability measured with the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). Secondary outcomes were numerical scores from pain-rating scales of patients at rest and during activity, and the quality-of-life EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) instrument. Data collection occurred during the intervention period at baseline, 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months, and again 6 months following the intervention at 1 year. Group differences were analyzed using linear mixed models analysis.
At baseline, mean RMDQ scores were 9.2 for glucosamine and 9.7 for the placebo group. At 6 months, the mean RMDQ score was the same for the glucosamine and placebo groups (5.0). At 1 year, the mean RMDQ scores were 4.8 for glucosamine and 5.5 for the placebo group. No statistically significant difference in change between groups was found when assessed after the 6-month intervention period and at 1 year.