Endpoint

Radiographic joint-space narrowing

CAT:outcome/radiographic-joint-space-narrowingreported in mm3 findings from 2 compounds

What moved it

3 findings · 2 compounds · 1 null · by evidence strength

Compound	Direction	Findings	Strongest evidence
chondroitin sulfate	down	2	Evidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.
glucosamine	no effect	1	Evidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.

Reported to move it

2 findings

chondroitin sulfate — decreases
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.Findingreplicated ×1
“These results demonstrate that chondroitin sulfate is effective for reducing the rate of decline in minimum joint space width in patients with OA of the knee.”
Quoted verbatim from The 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 sulfate ..
Study

meta-analysis
Population

patients with OA of the knee
The 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 sulfate .2008PMID:18826751Permalink
chondroitin sulfate — decreases
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.Findingreplicated ×1
“These results demonstrate that chondroitin sulfate is effective for reducing the rate of decline in minimum joint space width in patients with knee OA.”
Quoted verbatim from Structure-modifying effects of chondroitin sulfate in knee osteoarthritis: an updated meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials of 2-year duration..
Study

meta-analysis
Population

patients with knee osteoarthritis; updated meta-analysis pooling three placebo-controlled RCTs of 2-year duration
Structure-modifying effects of chondroitin sulfate in knee osteoarthritis: an updated meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials of 2-year duration.2010PMID:20399895Permalink

Measured, no effect detected

1 finding

glucosamine — no detected effect on
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.FindingNull result
“Glucosamine sulfate did not show a significant effect versus controls on minimum JSN over the first year of treatment (SMD 0.078, 95% CI -0.116 to -0.273, P = 0.429).”
Quoted verbatim from Effect of glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate on the osteoarthritis progression: a meta-analysis..
Study

meta-analysis
Dose

glucosamine sulfate
Population

Knee osteoarthritis patients, glucosamine sulfate arm, first year of treatment
Effect 0.078 standardised mean difference, 95% CI -0.273 to -0.116
Effect of glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate on the osteoarthritis progression: a meta-analysis.2010PMID:19544061Permalink

How it is measured

Reduction over a stated interval in the minimum radiographic distance between the femoral and tibial articular surfaces on standardised weight-bearing knee radiographs, reported as the amount of narrowing.

Sources cited

3 papers

Subject: radiographic joint-space narrowing
Findings: 3
Papers: 3