Aim: Up to now there have been no human studies to evaluate the effect of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in
osteoarthritis patients; this study was designed to assess the effect of administration of sesame on clinical signs
and symptoms in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).
Methods: Fifty patients with knee OA referred to the only specialty and subspecialty orthopedic centers in the
north-west of Iran, were selected and divided into two groups, namely control and sesame groups. Twenty-five
patients in the control group received standard treatment while 25 patients in the sesame group received 40 g/day
sesame by oral administration during 2 months of the study along with standard drug therapy. The KOOS
Questionnaire, Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) tests were used for clinical assessments.
Results: There was significant difference in pain intensity between the two groups (P = 0.004) after treatment.
The mean score of the KOOS Questionnaire in both treatment and control groups was significantly increased
(P = 0.001 and P = 0.001, respectively) compared with baseline. The mean score of the TUG Questionnaire in
both treatment and control groups was significantly decreased (P = 0.001 and P = 0.001, respectively) compared
with baseline. There was significant difference in post-treatment scores of the KOOS Questionnaire
(P = 0.009) and TUG (P = 0.002) between the two groups.
Conclusions: The present study showed a positive effect of sesame in improving clinical signs and symptoms in
patients with knee OA and indicated the fact that sesame might be a viable adjunctive therapy in treating OA.