Evidence map›Paper›PMID 11279783›Full record

SynthesisThe Cochrane database of systematic reviews2001

Herbal therapy for treating osteoarthritis.

C V Little, T Parsons

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 22 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
22citing papers in PubMed, 5 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

22 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Topical herbal therapies for treating osteoarthritis.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2013
    Pooled it
  4. The Hip and Knee Book: developing an active management booklet for hip and knee osteoarthritis.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2010
    Pooled it
  5. Guideline
  6. Trial
  7. Trial
  8. Review
  9. Review
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Qualitative Assessment of Patients Receiving Prolotherapy for Knee Osteoarthritis in a Multimethod Study.Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) · 2016
    Article
  16. Review
  17. Article
  18. Review
  19. Metabolic effects of avocado/soy unsaponifiables on articular chondrocytes.Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM · 2008
    Article
  20. Osteoarthritis: understanding the pathophysiology, genetics, and treatments.Journal of the National Medical Association · 2003
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

C V LittleInstitute of Health & Community Studies, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth House, Bournemouth University, 17 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK, BH1 3LG. clittle@bournemouth.ac.uk
T Parsons

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe increasing popularity of complementary and alternative medicine appears to be particularly evident amongst people with chronic disease. In the treatment of osteoarthritis, one therapy that has been identified as having potential benefit, is herbal medicine (phytotherapy).

objectivesTo determine the effectiveness of herbal therapies in treating osteoarthritis. SEARCH STRATEGY: Databases for mainstream and complementary medicine were searched using terms to include all forms of arthritis combined with herbal medicine. We searched the following electronic databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CISCOM, AMED, CINAHL, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CCTR), Cochrane Musculoskeletal specialized register, Dissertation Abstracts, BIDS ISI and the Cochrane Complementary Medicine Fields Specialized Register. We also searched the reference lists from retrieved trials. SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomized trials of herbal interventions in osteoarthritis, compared to placebo. Studies were included according to the a priori protocol and agreement between two reviewers who independently read each selected paper for content and for assessment of quality. Papers of any language were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data were extracted independently by the same two reviewers. MAIN

resultsFive studies (four different herbal interventions) met the review criteria. Two studies were suitable for data pooling. It was not possible to draw firm conclusions from the single studies but two studies of avocado/soybean unsaponifiables showed beneficial effects on functional index, pain, intake of NSAIDs and global evaluation. No serious side effects were reported. REVIEWER'S

conclusionsThe evidence for avocado-soybean unsaponifiables in the treatment of osteoarthritis is convincing but evidence for the other herbal interventions is insufficient to either recommend or discourage their use.

Indexed as

PhytotherapyChronic DiseaseHumansOsteoarthritisRandomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Identifiers

PMID11279783

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.