title: Meriva®+Glucosamine versus Condroitin+Glucosamine in patients with knee osteoarthritis: an observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of physical disability and impaired quality of life. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the most used treatment for OA, but they are frequently associated to adverse events. Alternative therapies are under investigation for the treatment of OA. Meriva® is a lecithin delivery form of curcumin, a powerful promoter of anti-oxidant response studied in a number of conditions related to chronic inflammation and pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  This 4-month observational study, conducted in a 'real-life' scenario, compares the association of Meriva and glucosamine (n=63) with chondroitin sulphate+glucosamine (n=61) in 124 patients with grade 1-2 OA of the knee.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients treated with Meriva+glucosamine had significantly higher Karnofsky Index and WOMAC score (both in the physical and emotional domains), compared to those in the chondroitin+glucosamine group. Noteworthy, the walking distance at the treadmill test after 1 month was also significantly higher in the meriva+glucosamine group; this advantage was sustained until the end of the study. Although the need for concomitant drugs and medical attention decreased in both groups, this reduction was more evident for patients treated with Meriva+glucosamine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, the results of this study shows that the 4-month administration of the association of Meriva and glucosamine can result in a faster onset of action and improved outcomes than the administration of an association of chondroitin sulphate and glucosamine in patients with OA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Irvine 3 Labs, Circulation Sciences, Chieti-Pescara University, Italy. cardres@abol.it.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Belcaro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dugall
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luzzi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ledda
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pellegrini
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Cesarone
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hosoi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Errichi
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003474:Curcumin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005944:Glucosamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D003474:Curcumin; D005944:Glucosamine