Taking a daily pill of hyaluronic acid for a year doesn't seem to slow down the worsening of knee arthritis on X-rays, no matter how old you are or which group you were in during the study.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (0)

0

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No supporting evidence found

Contradicting (1)

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54

Oral Administration of Polymer Hyaluronic Acid Alleviates Symptoms of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study over a 12-Month Period

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2012

The study checked if HA pills made knee pain better, not if they stopped the knee from getting more damaged on X-rays. So we can't say if the claim about joint damage is right or wrong.

Gold Standard Evidence Needed

According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.

Source Study

Oral Administration of Polymer Hyaluronic Acid Alleviates Symptoms of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study over a 12-Month Period

Score: 54

DOI: 10.1100/2012/167928

Similar Assertions

A study found that older Japanese adults with knee arthritis who took a specific type of hyaluronic acid pill and did daily thigh exercises felt better in their daily activities for the first 4 months, but the improvement went away after that—and people over 70 didn’t benefit at all.

54

0

73%

For older adults over 70 with knee arthritis, taking a daily hyaluronic acid pill and doing leg exercises didn’t make their knee pain or stiffness any better than taking a sugar pill over a year.

0

54

70%

Taking a daily pill of hyaluronic acid for a year doesn't seem to help people with knee arthritis avoid needing more pain meds or shots in the knee, compared to taking a sugar pill.

54

0

70%