Gencor’s Levagen+ proves effective in joint pain relief in latest study

03 May 2021 --- Gencor’s joint pain ingredient Levagen+ has been proven effective in reducing discomfort and improving quality of life in a recent study. 

Researchers from three Australian institutes assessed the efficacy of dispersible palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) – the defining ingredient in Levagen+ – for alleviating joint pain in adults.

The results, now published in the International Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences, show that after ten days of consuming PEA, participants experienced continued reduction in pain compared to a placebo group. 

“We are thrilled with the results of this study that further validates the potent effects of Levagen+ and suggests that PEA may be a safe and beneficial treatment for individuals with joint health related concerns,” remarks Chase Shryoc, vice president of sales & business development for Gencor. 

“With its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, along with its ability to influence the endocannabinoid system, Levagen+ PEA can play a critical role in supporting joint function.”

Levagen+’s dispersion technology makes it applicable in effervescent tablets, RTD shots, functional foods, functional beverages and gummies.

Despite strong placebo effects, the study found Levagon+ reduces joint pain more.Fighting inflammation 
A commonality of all joint pain is inflammation due to the local release of proinflammatory cytokines, notes the study. The most prevalent therapy to combat joint pain is over-the-counter pain-relieving medications, including paracetamol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and opioids. 

The reliance on such products can result in unwanted gastric, renal and hepatic effects and may lead to the development of medication tolerance and dependency. 

The analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of PEA have been widely researched and are known to down-regulate multiple proinflammatory and nociceptive pathways. 

This latest study aimed to assess the effectiveness of PEA for reducing general joint pain and improving quality of life compared to a placebo.  

Evaluating bioavailability and efficacy
A randomized, double-blinded placebo-controlled study investigated the efficacy of PEA compared to placebo on joint pain over two weeks. 

The study was conducted in Australia on 80 otherwise healthy adults aged between 25 and 70 years old experiencing joint pain. 

Participants in the PEA group consumed 175 mg of Levagen+ twice daily (morning and night) with water. Levagen+ contains PEA with LipiSperse, a cold water dispersion technology and has been shown to increase the absorption of PEA. 

The placebo group consumed maltodextrin on the same dosing regimen as the PEA group.

Both groups reported an early reduction in VAS (visual analog scale) pain scores compared to baseline values until approximately day ten. 

On day ten, the scores plateaued and increased in the placebo group while continuing to decrease in the PEA group, demonstrating the efficacy of PEA at reducing joint discomfort compared to placebo over the 14-day study period. 

The study also validated the bioavailability effects of dispersible PEA vs. standard PEA by utilizing a lower dose (350 mg) compared to 600 mg dose of standard PEA that was used in previous trials to study PEA’s benefits for joint health. 

Bone and joint health 
Last year, Innova Market Insights reported that bone and joint health claims are increasingly being applied to various products, with a growth of 16 percent globally between 2015 and 2019. 

The fastest-growing categories for bone and joint health claims include Baby & Toddlers, Sports Nutrition, Hot Drinks, Dairy & Non-Dairy and Snacks.

Edited by Louis Gore-Langton

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