Effect of MSM on Knee Osteoarthritis
Author Information
Author(s): Debbi Eytan, Agar Gabriel, Fichman Gil, Ziv Yaron Bar, Kardosh Rami, Halperin Nahum, Elbaz Avi, Beer Yiftah, Debi Ronen
Primary Institution: Department of Orthopedics, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
Hypothesis
The study aimed to determine the efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in treating patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Conclusion
Patients with osteoarthritis of the knee taking MSM for 12 weeks showed an improvement in pain and physical function, although these improvements are small and may not be clinically significant.
Supporting Evidence
- MSM showed significant improvement in WOMAC physical function and total score compared to placebo.
- VAS for pain showed a significant reduction in the MSM group.
- The study was randomized and double-blind, enhancing the reliability of the results.
Takeaway
This study looked at whether a supplement called MSM helps people with knee pain from arthritis. It found that while there were some improvements, they were small.
Methodology
A randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial with 49 participants assigned to receive either MSM or a placebo for 12 weeks.
Potential Biases
Baseline differences in gender, BMI, and ALF scores between groups may introduce bias.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and was conducted at a single site, which limits generalizability.
Participant Demographics
49 participants aged 45-90 years, with a mean age of 68.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.04 for WOMAC physical function, p = 0.03 for WOMAC total score, p = 0.05 for VAS pain.
Confidence Interval
[4.3, 25.0] for WOMAC physical function, [5.1, 24.9] for WOMAC total score, [-0.9, 2.4] for VAS pain.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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