Evaluating the efficacy of oral collagen in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: A meta-analysis

Abstract

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is one of the most common musculoskeletal diseases today. However, the effectiveness of collagen supplementation in the treatment of KOA remains controversial. This meta-analysis aims to examine the efficacy of collagen preparations on KOA symptoms. Method: The meta-analysis was conducted on 3 databases: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were selected for analysis regarding the benefits of oral collagen supplementation, using the Visual analog scale (VAS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Medical quality was extracted and evaluated. Results: There were 13 studies with a total of 1708 patients, including 934 patients in the intervention group and 774 patients in the placebo group. Oral collagen significantly reduced WOMAC (MD=-3.11; 95% CI: -8.06-1.84; p<0.01), and VAS scores (MD=-0.44; 95% CI: -3.23-2.34; p<0.01). Conclusions: Oral collagen supplementation is effective for KOA patients, helping to improve both WOMAC and VAS scores clinically. Further research is needed to evaluate the long-term effectiveness and cost of collagen therapy for patients.