Rapid Decrease in Dextrose Concentration After Intra-Articular Knee Injection: Implications for Mechanism of Action of Dextrose Prolotherapy.

Background: D-glucose (dextrose) is used as a 5000-25,000 mg% solution in the injection-based pain therapy known as dextrose prolotherapy (DPT). The number of peer-reviewed clinical trials supporting its use is growing. However, the mechanism of action is unknown, limiting further research.