A Placebo-Controlled Study of Collagen Hydrolysate in Subjects With Knee Osteoarthritis (OA)

This is a single-site, double-blind, pilot study to evaluate the sensitivity of MRI to detect cartilage structure and composition in subjects taking daily oral collagen hydrolysate (a nutritional supplement) or placebo for 48 weeks. 30 subjects will be randomized to collagen hydrolysate or placebo (1:1 ratio). The goal is to evaluate, by MRI, knee cartilage and structure in all subjects. The primary functional outcome measure will be the WOMAC questionnaire and the primary pathological outcome measure will be knee cartilage structure and composition as measurements done by MRI imaging. Subjects will have contrast dGEMRIC MRIs done at Study Weeks -1, 24 and 48.

Inclusion criteria

• age > 49 years
• chronic knee discomfort based on the affirmative response to the question "During the past 6 months, have you had any pain in the knee more than half the days of the month ?"
• WOMAC pain subscale score ≥ 1
• tibiofemoral or patellofemoral osteoarthritis on anteroposterior weight-bearing semi-flexed or lateral knee radiographs with at least one osteophyte and no significant joint-space-narrowing
• clinical examination confirming knee pain or discomfort referable to the knee joint
• prepared to refrain from use of glucosamine, chondroitin, sAME and doxycycline
• stable medication and/or supplement use

Exclusion criteria

• use of glucosamine, chondroitin, diacerein or doxycycline within 14 weeks prior to randomization
• serious medical conditions or impairments that, in the view of the investigator, would obstruct their participation in the trial
• individuals who are expected not to comply with the study protocol
• plan to permanently relocate from the region during the trial period
• planned knee arthroplasty in the study knee
• active pathology of confounding origin which may cause pain, extending to the knee
• pregnancy
• any contra-indication to having an MRI scan