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Effects of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine in adult patients with Kaschin–Beck disease

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Abstract

The purpose is to investigate the effects of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine on adult patients with Kaschin–Beck disease (KBD). A total of 80 patients, aged over 40 years, were randomized into two groups receiving either 1,600 mg oral mixture of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine or placebo twice daily for 8 months. Posteroanterior radiographs of bilateral knee in full extension were taken at enrollment and after 8 months. Mean joint-space width of the assigned six points on the tibiofemoral joint compartment was measured by a graduated magnifying lens. The mean joint space decreased significantly in the placebo group (4.3 ± 1.09 versus 4.1 ± 1.07 mm, P < 0.0001) after 8 months and was unchanged in the experimental group (P = 0.51). There was no statistical significance in the mean joint space between two groups at baseline and follow-up (P = 0.65 and P = 0.84, respectively). But the overall mean change in joint space was significant between the two groups (P < 0.0001). Knee joint space of the experimental group narrowed slowly compared to the control group. Therefore, chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine might play a protective role in preserving articular cartilage and provide evidence for therapeutic drugs in adult patients with KBD.

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Acknowledgements

Yaxu Zhang is supported by a grant from China Scholarship Council (2006102755).

We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of senior fellow Li De’an and Ben Gao, Key Lab on Etiological Epidemiology, Harbin Medical University, in data collection and management of subjects. We also thank Yabuli village hospital for their assistance in participant recruitment.

Disclosures

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Lab on Etiological Epidemiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China

    Ya-xu Zhang

  2. Division of Chronic Disease Control and Prevention, Heilongjiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 40 Youfang Street, Xiangfang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150030, China

    Ya-xu Zhang

  3. Institute of Kaschin–Beck Disease, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China

    Wei Dong, Hui Liu & Jian-bai Yang

  4. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia

    Flavia Cicuttini & Maximilian de Courten

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  1. Ya-xu Zhang
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  2. Wei Dong
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  3. Hui Liu
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  4. Flavia Cicuttini
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  5. Maximilian de Courten
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  6. Jian-bai Yang
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Correspondence to Ya-xu Zhang.

Additional information

Trial registration number: ChiCTR-TRC-00000140

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Zhang, Yx., Dong, W., Liu, H. et al. Effects of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine in adult patients with Kaschin–Beck disease. Clin Rheumatol 29, 357–362 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-009-1311-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-009-1311-z

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