SAN FRANCISCO ─ Chondroitin sulfate is superior to celecoxib in the reduction of long-term progression of structural changes in knee osteoarthritis, and both treatments were equal in the reduction of the symptoms of osteoarthritis, according to a study presented here at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting.
The double-blind, randomized, controlled, multicenter study was conducted during a 24-month period in which researchers observed and treated 194 patients with symptomatic primary knee osteoarthritis (OA) with either 1,200 mg/day of chondroitin sulfate or 200 mg/day of celecoxib, according to Nutramax press release.
Three MRIs were performed during the study time period to evaluate disease progression. Validated questionnaires also were used to assess symptoms, according to the press release. 
Researchers found patients with OA treated with chondroitin sulfate (n = 97) had a reduction in cartilage volume loss at 12 months (P = 0.017) and 24 months in the medial tibiofemoral compartment (P = 0.013), and global knee at 12 months (P = 0.034) and 24 months (P = 0.054) compared with those treated with celecoxib (n = 97), as noted in the abstract.