The Glucosamine-study: The Effect of Glucosamine in Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain

Summary

Low back pain (LBP) is the most frequent cause of sick leave and disability pension, and degenerative and osteoarthritic (OA) changes is a significant cause of pain and disability. Some indications exist for symptomatic and possible cartilage-structurmodifying effect on knee- and hip-osteoarthritis with glucosamine sulphate (GS). The OA process in the lumbar spine is most likely to OA processes in knees and hips, hence GS could have comparable symptomatic and structural effect on lumbar OA. Study hypothesis: No difference in treatment effect exists between oral intake of GS- or placebo-capsules for patients' with chronic low back pain measured with Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire.

Timeline

Start

2006-12

Primary completion

2009-08

Completion

2010-11

Publications

• Results Wilkens P, Scheel IB, Grundnes O, Hellum C, Storheim K. Effect of glucosamine on pain-related disability in patients with chronic low back pain and degenerative lumbar osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2010 Jul 7;304(1):45-52. doi: 10.1001/jama.2010.893.
• Wilkens P, Storheim K, Scheel I, Berg L, Espeland A. No effect of 6-month intake of glucosamine sulfate on Modic changes or high intensity zones in the lumbar spine: sub-group analysis of a randomized controlled trial. J Negat Results Biomed. 2012 Aug 17;11:13. doi: 10.1186/1477-5751-11-13.
• Wilkens P, Scheel IB, Grundnes O, Hellum C, Storheim K. Prognostic factors of prolonged disability in patients with chronic low back pain and lumbar degeneration in primary care: a cohort study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2013 Jan 1;38(1):65-74. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e318263bb7b.

Drugs

Indications

No indication recorded.