Revue du rhumatisme (English ed.)
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Efficacy and safety of avocado/soybean unsaponifiables in the treatment of symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee and hip. A prospective, multicenter, three-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
One of the objectives of symptomatic slow-acting drugs for osteoarthritis is to reduce the need for drugs with a less favorable safety profile, mainly analgesics and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). We conducted a three-month, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial to evaluate the efficacy of avocado/soybean unsaponifiables in terms of NSAID use reduction. Patients with primary femorotibial or hip osteoarthritis (OA) (ACR criteria and Kellgren-Lawrence radiological stage IB, II, or III) of at least six months' duration with regular pain for more than three months requiring therapy with NSAID (visual analog scale score > or = 25 mm and Lequesne's index on therapy > or = 4) were given one capsule per day of avocado/soybean unsaponifiables or a placebo for three months. ⋯ Overall patient ratings were significantly better in the active drug group (P < 0.01). Safety was oggd in both groups. After six weeks, avocado/soybean unsaponifiables reduced the need for NSAID in patients with lower limb OA.