Effects of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Supplementation in Women With Knee Osteoarthritis Participating in an Exercise and Weight Loss Program

The study was conducted as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in a university research setting. Participants with physician diagnosed OA participated in a 14-week fitness and weight loss program that consisted of moderately hypo-energetic higher protein or higher carbohydrate diets. Participants were also randomly assigned to ingest in a double-blind and randomized manner either a placebo or a commercially available dietary supplement containing glucosamine and chondroitin. Outcome measures were assessed at 0, 10, and 14 weeks of training, dieting, and supplementation.

Inclusion criteria

• General entrance criteria included being a female with physician diagnosed OA between the ages of 18-70 years with a body mass index (BMI) > 27 kg/m2 and no recent participation in a diet or exercise program.

Exclusion criteria

• Subjects were not allowed to participate in this study if they: 1.) were pregnant, became pregnant, or had a desire for pregnancy; 2.) had any metabolic disorder including known electrolyte abnormalities, heart disease, arrhythmias, diabetes, thyroid disease, or hypogonadism; 3.) had a history of hypertension, hepatorenal, musculoskeletal, autoimmune, or neurological disease; were taking thyroid, hyperlipidemic, hypoglycemic, anti-hypertensive, or androgenic medications; 4.) had taken ergogenic levels of nutritional supplements that may affect muscle mass (e.g., creatine, HMB), anabolic/catabolic hormone levels (e.g., DHEA), or weight loss supplements (e.g., thermogenics) within three months prior to the start of the study; 5.) were ingesting any anti-inflammatory products two weeks before the start of the study or additional products during the study; 6.) reported any unusual adverse events associated with this study in which the supervising physician recommended removal from the study; 7.) had significant injury or surgery to the lower extremity or spine within the last six months; 8.) did not indicate a minimal amount of perceived pain and physical function limitation on inventories used in the study; 9.) had severe arthritis that required surgery and greatly limited functionality (inability to perform lunge); or, 10.) had arthritis that required the current use of physiotherapy modalities.