Nutrition supplementation combined with exercise versus exercise alone in treating knee osteoarthritis: a double-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

This article investigates the effectiveness of a formula nutrition supplementation—containing glucosamine sulphate, chondroitin sulphate, calcium carbonate, rhizoma drynariae, and casein phosphopeptides—combined with supervised exercise versus exercise alone in treating knee osteoarthritis (OA). In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving 65 participants aged 40–75 with knee OA, the group receiving nutrition supplementation plus exercise showed earlier and greater improvements in symptoms measured by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), particularly in stiffness and overall scores, compared to the exercise-only group. Secondary outcomes indicated enhanced muscle strength and faster pain relief in the combined group, although no significant differences were found in serum biomarkers related to cartilage metabolism. The study concludes that nutrition supplementation plus exercise is a more efficient strategy for managing knee OA, with a generally safe profile but recommends monitoring liver function during supplementation.