Evidence map›Paper›PMID 11279782›Full record

SynthesisThe Cochrane database of systematic reviews2001

Glucosamine therapy for treating osteoarthritis.

T E Towheed, T P Anastassiades, B Shea, J Houpt, V Welch, M C Hochberg

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2001. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 32 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
32citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

32 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 103 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Chondroitin for osteoarthritis.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2015
    Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Guideline
  4. Trial
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Review
  8. Review
  9. Article
  10. The effects of glucosamine sulfate on intervertebral disc annulus fibrosus cells in vitro.The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society · 2015
    Article
  11. Review
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Review
  15. Experimental pharmacology of glucosamine sulfate.International journal of rheumatology · 2011
    Article
  16. Article
  17. Review
  18. Managing osteoarthritis of the knee.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2004
    Article
  19. The use of glucosamine therapy in osteoarthritis.Current pain and headache reports · 2004
    Review
  20. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

T E TowheedMedicine, Community Health and Epidemiology, Queen's University, Room 2066 Etherington Hall, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7L 3N6. tt5@post.queensu.ca
T P Anastassiades
B Shea
J Houpt
V Welch
M C Hochberg
Queen's University · CAUniversity of Maryland, College Park · USUniversity of Ottawa · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOsteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, and it is often associated with significant disability and an impaired quality of life.

objectivesTo review all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effectiveness and toxicity of glucosamine in osteoarthritis (OA). SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and Current Contents up to November 1999, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register. We also wrote letters to content experts, and hand searched reference lists of identified RCTs and pertinent review articles. SELECTION CRITERIA: Relevant studies met the following criteria: 1) RCTs evaluating the effectiveness and safety of glucosamine in OA, 2) Both placebo based and comparative studies were eligible, 3) Both single blinded and double-blinded studies were eligible. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data abstraction was performed independently by two investigators and the results were compared for degree of agreement. Gotzsche's method and a validated tool (Jadad 1995) were used to score the quality of the RCTs. Continuous outcome measures were pooled using standardized mean differences. Dichotomous outcome measures were pooled using Peto Odds Ratios. MAIN

resultsCollectively, the 16 identified RCTs provided evidence that glucosamine is both effective and safe in OA. In the 13 RCTs in which glucosamine was compared to placebo, glucosamine was found to be superior in all RCTs, except one. In the four RCTs in which glucosamine was compared to an NSAID, glucosamine was superior in two, and equivalent in two. REVIEWER'S

conclusionsFurther research is necessary to confirm the long term effectiveness and toxicity of glucosamine therapy in OA. Most of the trials reviewed only evaluated the Rotta preparation of glucosamine sulfate. It is not known whether different glucosamine preparations prepared by different manufacturers are equally effective in the therapy of OA.

Indexed as

Double-Blind MethodGlucosamineHumansOsteoarthritisRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicSingle-Blind MethodGlucosamine

Identifiers

PMID11279782
OpenAlexW4242975728

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.