Objectives: Glucosamine has been safely used to relieve osteoarthritis. The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate the effect of glucosamine sulfate in combination with current disease modifying therapy on the prevention of progression of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).
Methods: A phase II double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial conducted between February and October 2007 included 97 patients with confirmed RRMS aged 17-55 years. They were randomly allocated to receive 6 months of treatment with either oral glucosamine sulfate (1000 mg/day) or placebo combined with disease-modifying therapy. Response to treatment was assessed at 6 months. Primary and secondary outcome measures were number of relapse and changes in mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS).
Results: In 46 patients treated with glucosamine sulfate, mean (SD) relapse rate decreased from 1.1 (0.7) at baseline to 0.4 (0.5) at the end of study period (P<0.05). In the 51 patients treated with placebo, the mean (SD) relapse rate did not change. After 6 months, 63.0% of patients receiving glucosamine sulfate remained relapse-free compared to 54.9% of those given placebo (P>0.05). Average EDSS at the end of trial did not differ between groups (mean difference: -0.1; 95% CI: -0.5-0.2).
Discussion: Adding glucosamine sulfate to routine disease modifying-therapy had no significant effect on relapse rate or disease progression during the treatment period. A larger phase-III multicenter study of glucosamine sulfate in RRMS is warranted to more assess the efficacy of this intervention.