UNDENATURED COLLAGEN TYPE II FOR THE TREATMENT OF OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE KNEE.

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that undenatured type II collagen (UC-II) relieves pain, quality of life, and joint function in women aged from 60 to 80 years with knee osteoarthritis.

METHODS

53 patients in the UC-II treatment group (for 90 days) and 52 in the control group (without UC-II) were evaluated at 1, 30, and 90 days regarding health-related quality of life, pain, and function with questionnaires, anthropometric data, alignment, range of motion, and radiographic analysis.

RESULTS

Quality of life increased significantly in the Physical domain in the treatment vs control group. Also, there was a difference between the first and the last evaluation on the pain visual analog scale (-3.8 ± 1.8 versus -1.3 ± 2.0) and on the WOMAC score (-9.5 ± 11.9 versus -1.3 ± 11.1). No variation in the temporal evolution of the Mental domain was found.

CONCLUSION

Pain, joint stiffness, and quality of life (Physical domain) improved with the inclusion of UC-II for 90 days to the therapeutic toolbox for knee osteoarthritis in individuals aged 60 to 80 years. Level of evidence II, Comparative Prospective Study.