Chondroitin As Good As Celebrex For Knees

What to take for knee osteoarthritis; chondroitin, Celebrex, or both?  Now comes a study of patients in five European countries that suggests that chondroitin sulfate works just as well as Celebrex for the treatment of pain and joint function affected by osteoarthritis. Science Daily reports that 604 patients from five European countries with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to one of three daily treatments and then monitored for 6 months. In one group, 199 patients were given one 800 mg tablet of chondroitin sulfate and one 200 g tablet of fake celecoxib (Celebrex); in the second group 200 patients were given one dummy chondroitin sulfate tablet and one capsule of celecoxib; and in the third group 205 patients were given two dummy tablets. The researchers found that pain and joint function improved significantly with all three treatments as early as day 30, but the reductions in pain and improvements in joint function were significantly greater after 6 and 3 months, respectively, in patients treated with either chondroitin sulfate or celecoxib. Joint function improved more quickly in patients taking celecoxib, but there were no overall differences in the effectiveness of either active treatment. In the end, the researchers concluded The researchers found that a daily dose of 800 mg of pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin sulfate is better than a dummy product and as good as celecoxib in reducing pain and improving joint function in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.