DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) and knee osteoarthritis
What 3 graded rows on dmso (dimethyl sulfoxide) agree on for knee osteoarthritis, and where they differ. Counted side by side, never averaged.
Consensus finder Rows from the DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) page, reviewed Oct 21, 2026 How it decides
What the rows agree on
Each block and row is one graded row from the DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) page, with its PubMed record.
Your question
DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) and knee osteoarthritis
3 rows · 1,704 peopleMostly no difference: 2 of 3 rows, and most of the people. 1 had mixed results.
- CGrade C× 1
- ∅No effect× 2
- Rows
- 3
- Trials
- 6
- People
- 1,704
- Pooled reviews may count some twice
What the rows share
From the rowsThe best-graded row, grade C, is a systematic review of 681 people (2008) and reported mixed results. 2 rows are graded No effect, our grade for adequately powered trials that found no effect.
The rows run from 248 to 775 people, published from 2004 to 2009: 1 pooled review and 2 single studies.
The rows
2 no difference · 1 mixed- ∅No effectKnee osteoarthritis pain and function with DMSO alone (45.5% vehicle) · No difference
RCT · n 775 · 2009 · Adults with radiologically confirmed, symptomatic primary knee osteoarthritis (five-arm trial)
40 drops on the knee four times daily · 12 weeks
No significant difference between the DMSO vehicle and placebo; diclofenac in the same DMSO vehicle beat both for pain, physical function and overall health.
Row on the DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) page · PubMed 19380203 (opens PubMed)
- ∅No effectKnee osteoarthritis pain with DMSO alone (vehicle) vs a low-DMSO placebo · No difference
RCT · n 248 · 2004 · Men and women in southern Ontario with primary knee osteoarthritis and at least moderate pain
Applied to the painful knee (three-arm trial) · 4 weeks
WOMAC pain fell 2.5 points with the DMSO vehicle and 2.5 with the placebo; diclofenac in the DMSO carrier lowered it 3.9 points, more than either.
Row on the DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) page · PubMed 15313991 (opens PubMed)
- CGrade CKnee osteoarthritis pain in older DMSO trials (systematic review) · Mixed
Systematic review, 4 studies · n 681 · 2008 · People with knee osteoarthritis in 4 randomized DMSO trials (297 on active DMSO)
As given in each trial · Varied by trial
Two of the four DMSO trials reported significantly better pain outcomes than comparators, but poor methodology (possible unblinding, questionable dose and duration) meant no definitive conclusion could be drawn.
Row on the DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) page · PubMed 18417375 (opens PubMed)