Open, Observational, Single-Arm, Multicenter Study Assessing the Effectiveness of a Dietary Supplement Containing Hydrolyzed Collagen, Chondroitin Sulfate, and Glucosamine for Osteoarthritis Pain Reduction

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is an age-related degenerative joint disease with a great impact on patients’ well-being and quality of life. This is an observational, open, single-arm multicenter study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a nutritional supplement in patients with knee and/or hip OA. A total of 186 patients were recruited from Spanish centers and received a supplement containing hydrolyzed collagen (3000 mg), chondroitin sulfate (800 mg), glucosamine sulfate (700 mg), turmeric extract (250 mg) and devil’s claw (150 mg), once daily during 6 months. The primary outcome was the patients’ self-perceived pain in the affected joints measured with a visual analogue scale (VAS). Secondary outcome was the patient’s functioning, measured with the Lequesne Functional Index and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC). Participants showed a significant reduction in self-perceived pain after 3 (mean reduction ± standard deviation, 1.99 ± 1.05) and 6 months (3.57 ± 1.39) of treatment (p < 0.0001 in both comparisons). Lequesne Functional Index score was significantly reduced at 3 months (3.86 ± 2.94) and at 6 months (6.73 ± 4.30) of treatment (p < 0.0001 in both comparisons). The WOMAC index was also significantly reduced after 3 (14.24 ± 10.04) and 6 months (26.43 ± 17.35) of treatment (p < 0.0001 in both comparisons). Significant reductions in WOMAC subdomains (p < 0.0001 in all comparisons) were observed. No severe adverse events were reported during the study. The main results arising from this study show that this nutritional supplementation can improve OA-related symptoms and physical function with a good safety profile in patients with hip and/or knee OA.

Keywords:

• chondroitin sulfates
• Harpagophytum
• dietary supplements
• glucosamine
• hip osteoarthritis
• integrative medicine
• knee osteoarthritis
• turmeric extract

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to Jemina Moreto and Francesc Miras, both from Trialance, for providing medical writing and statistical analysis support, respectively.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Jordi Puigdellívol Grifell

Jordi Puigdellivol Grifell, MD, is an orthopedic Surgeon and specialist in sports medicine in CIMETIR-Althaia, Manresa. He is medical staff of FC Barcelona.

Carme Comellas Berenguer

Carme Comellas Berenguer, MD, is a specialist in orthopedic surgery, traumatology, and sports medicine.

Gilbert Steinbacher

Gilbert Steinbacher, MD, is a specialist in orthopedic surgery and traumatology, specialized in prosthetic and arthroscopic surgery, who carries out his professional activity for private health insurance companies and in the Catalan mutual association for soccer players.

Tomislav Kranjcec

Tomislav Kranjcec, MD, is a specialist in orthopedic surgery and traumatology who is also the head of the Diagonal Clinic Rehabilitation Service.

Pedro Álvarez Díaz

Pedro Álvarez Díaz, MD, PhD, is a specialist in orthopedic surgery and traumatology who carries out his clinical activity in the Instituto Cugat of the Hospital Quirón of Barcelona.

Antoni López Pujol

Antoni López Pujol, MD, is a physician specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation and he works at the University Hospital of Igualada.

Asunción Acosta Pereira

Asunción Acosta Pereira, MD, is a specialist in rheumatology.

Maximiliano Sánchez Martos

Maximiliano Sanchez Martos, MD, is an orthopedic and trauma surgeon specializing in arthroscopic surgery and minimally invasive shoulder and knee surgery. He currently works as an orthopedic surgeon specializing in shoulder and as a specialist in arthroscopic surgery.

José Reyes Fernández Velázquez

José Reyes Fernández Velázquez, MD, is a specialist in orthopedic surgery and traumatology, who combines his private practice with his work at Hospital Universitario Vírgen del Rocío.

Miguel Ángel Esparza Pagán

Miguel Ángel Esparza Pagán, MD, is a specialist in orthopedic surgery and traumatology.

Víctor Lainez Romo

Víctor Lainez Romo, MD, is a specialist in orthopedic surgery and traumatology.

Luis Payán Martín

Luis Payán Martín, MD, is a specialist in orthopedic surgery and traumatology and who also works for the Mutualitat Catalana de Futbolistes of Barcelona.

Jordi Giménez Gonzalo

Jordi Giménez Gonzalo, MD, is a specialist in orthopedic surgery and traumatology.

Christian Carreras Vidal

Christian Carreras Vidal, MD, is specialist in physical education and sports medicine.

José David Sulbarán

José David Sulbarán, MD, is specialist in orthopedic surgery and traumatology.

Jaume Oliveras Riera

Jaume Oliveras Riera, MD, is a specialist in orthopedic surgery and traumatology.