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S-Asenosyl-L-Methionine vs Placebo for Osteoarthritis of the Hands

S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine (SAMe) vs Placebo for Discomfort and Functional Limitations Associated With Osteoarthritis of the Hands: a Pilot Study

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05363020
Acronym
SAMe
Enrollment
40
Registered
2022-05-05
Start date
2022-08-17
Completion date
2025-04-11
Last updated
2025-07-16

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Osteoarthritis Hand

Keywords

SAMe, S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine

Brief summary

The primary objective of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of evaluating SAMe tolerability, analgesic benefits, and daily functional improvement in patients with osteoarthritis of the hands compared to placebo. The secondary objective of this study is to generate preliminary data on discomfort, function, quality of life in patients with osteoarthritis of the hands when taking SAMe compared to placebo.

Detailed description

At week 0, all patients giving written informed consent and meeting eligibility requirements will be randomized in a double-blind manner (participant and investigator) in a 1:1 ratio to SAMe (400mg orally, twice daily) or placebo (400mg, twice daily) for 8 weeks. Followed by a one week wash out period followed by another 8 weeks of SAMe (400mg, twice daily) or placebo (400mg, twice daily) for 8 weeks (whichever was not given during the first 8 week period). Participants will complete weekly surveys during the entire study regarding hand discomfort, functional limitations and side effects

Interventions

DRUGS-Adenosyl-L-Methionine (Sam-E)

400 mg capsule

DRUGPlacebo

400 mg identically appearing placebo

Sponsors

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
40 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Current primary care provider within the Dartmouth Health system * Office visit at Dartmouth Health in the past 3 years * Participants must be 40 or older at the time of signing the informed consent * Participants have discomfort or functional limitations of one or both hands AND either: 1. Objective findings of at least one hand meeting diagnostic criteria based on the American College of Rheumatology (ACR)\* or 2. Existing radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis as judged by a radiologist * Patients taking OTC or prescription analgesics who are willing to stop their current analgesics for two weeks prior to study entry and remain off those medications over the course of the study * \*Objective inclusion criteria (see poster schematic) Swelling or deformity of 2 of the following ten joints: the 2nd and 3rd distal interphalangeal (DIP) of each hand, the 2nd and 3rd proximal interphalangeal (PIP) of each hand, and the 1st carpometacarpal joints of both hands.

Exclusion criteria

* Patients taking prescription medications other than NSAIDs for their OA who are unable to stop their medication * Patients with diagnoses of arthritis from conditions other than OA * Patients whose symptomatic joint is an artificial joint * Patients with Bipolar Disorder * Patients taking any of the following medications at study entry OR starting any of these medications during the study period: 1. daily opioids (including tramadol or buprenorphine) 2. gabapentin or pregabalin 3. prednisone 4. Prescription NSAIDs that they are unable to stop or topical diclofenac 5. SNRI drugs (Effexor, Cymbalta, Fetzima, Pristiq) * The participant has a condition or is in a situation which, in the investigator's opinion, may put the participant at significant risk, may confound the study results, or may interfere significantly with the participant's participation in the study

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Determine the effect of SAMe supplements on hand discomfort relative to placebo, as measured by the change in discomfort scores over time on a visual analog scaleWeekly for 17 weeksScores range from 0-10, 0 being no discomfort and 10 being maximum discomfort

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Determine the effect of SAMe supplementation on quality of life measures regarding hand arthritis, as measured by DASH (Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand) survey responses done weekly for 17 weeksWeekly for 17 weeksSurvey using descriptors of disability and function ranging from no disability to complete disability with 3 other levels of disability in between done weekly for 17 weeks
Determine tolerability of SAMe supplementation compared to placebo, as measured by a survey of 14 common symptoms one may experience from a supplementWeekly for 17 weeks14 symptoms queried for occurrence over the week ranging from Not at All to Very Much with three additional options in between

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026