title: [Efficacy and safety evaluation of glucosamine hydrochloride in the treatment of osteoarthritis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of glucosamine hydrochloride for the treatment of osteoarthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multi-central, randomized, controlled clinical trial of glucosamine hydrochloride comparing glucosamine sulfate for the treatment of osteoarthritis was performed. One hundred and forty-three patients suffering from knee or hip osteoarthritis were randomized into study (glucosamine hydrochloride) or control (glucosamine sulfate) group. Patients in study group orally took glucosamine hydrochloride 2 times daily for 6 weeks, each time 1 capsule, and those in control group took glucosamine sulfate 3 times daily for 6 weeks also, each time 2 capsules.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The symptomatic improvement of joint pain at walking, at rest and stiffness after 6 week treatment with glucosamine hydrochloride was better than those with glucosamine sulfate. The results had significant difference (P < 0.05). Total effective rates of patients with glucosamine hydrochloride was 75.4% and 60.6% with glucosamine sulfate, but no statistical difference. The results suggested both glucosamine had the considerable efficacy in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Three cases in study group and 2 in control group reported mild adverse events. No severe adverse events (SAE) was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Glucosamine hydrochloride is as effective and safe as glucosamine sulfate for the treatment of osteoarthritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Medical College, Shanghai 200025, China. weibin@medmail.com.cn
authors.forename: Wei-bin
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Cheng-yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Jian-min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhi-ping
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xiao-liang
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005944:Glucosamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005944:Glucosamine