Table 4.

Key findings: effect of glucosamine on function outcomes

Study	Risk-of-bias	Method of function assessment	Key findings	Notes
Wilkens et al30	Low	RMDQ	At baseline, mean RMDQ scores were 9.2 (95% CI 8.4 to 10.0) for glucosamine and 9.7 (95% CI 8.9 to 10.5) for the placebo group. At 6 months, the mean RMDQ score was the same for the glucosamine and placebo groups (5.0; 95% CI 4.2 to 5.8). No statistically significant difference in change between the groups found when assessed at 6 months and 1 year (p=0.72)	No significant difference between placebo and glucosamine
Tant et al31	High	RMDQ and ODI	Mean score on the ODI significantly improved from baseline at weeks 4, 8 and 12 in the glucosamine group (all p<0.001). In the control group no significant improvement in score until week 12 (p<0.001). At 12 weeks: significant difference in ODI score between the 2 groups (p=0.028) At baseline, mean RMDQ scores were 9.76 for glucosamine and 7.86 for placebo group. Mean RMDQ scores significantly improved from baseline at weeks 4, 8 and 12 in both groups (all p<0.001) but no significant between-group differences found	No significant difference between CT+glucosamine and CT for RMDQ but significant difference for ODI
Leffler et al32	Low	RMDQ	Back: Mean baseline RMDQ score was 6.9 with a mean change of −13.7% when medication was compared to placebo (p>0.06) No CI	No significance difference between placebo and glucosamine