Karallief clinical findings: Easy Climb potentially fast-acting herbal solution to long-term osteoarthritis

10 Mar 2021 --- Nutraceutical company Karallief has revealed clinical evidence that its herbal ingredient formula Karallief Easy Climb could be a fast-acting natural solution for joint discomfort.

Published in the International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, the study found that Karallief Easy Climb improves osteoarthritis (OA) symptoms and mobility in as little as 30 days.

Furthermore, it performed similarly well as herbal extracts with glucosamine, a long-time staple ingredient in the joint health sector.

Test subjects supplementing with Easy Climb showed a 71 percent decrease in discomfort scores compared to a 49 percent score for a placebo group. Furthermore, there was a 16 percent increase in the number of sit-stand repetitions versus the placebo group (8 percent).

“The synergistic effect of combining the ingredients in the blend is clear,” Krishna Rajendran, CEO of Karallief, tells NutritionInsight. 

“We have spent a lot of time and effort in finding the synergy, not just between the different herbal extracts, but also between specific active compounds in the different extracts.”

Filling the gaps in lacking clinical evidence
The research addresses supplement manufacturers, distributors and consumers’ skepticism surrounding the effectiveness of herbal ingredients for joint support. Lacking clinically backed findings remains a challenge, says Rajendran.

“Rigorous clinical study research takes significant upfront time, money, and expertise to conduct, and most companies do not wish to, or cannot invest so much effort upfront.”

Click to EnlargeThe study found Karallief Easy Climb improves joint health and mobility in as little as 30 days.Karallief Easy Climb was tested over 120 days in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study on participants experiencing age-related knee concerns. 

Twice daily, two groups of 40 participants each received 500 mg of Easy Climb or Easy Climb combined with prawn-extracted glucosamine, respectively. A third group with 40 other subjects served as a placebo control group. 

The glucosamine and Easy Climb groups contributed to a statistically significant increase in joint space width in tibio-femoral joint (23 and 25 percent, respectively) compared to placebo (11 percent), as seen in x-rays.

Physiological changes possible
Notably, the authors found that the knee mobility improvements could be due to supplement’s effects in reducing inflammation and initiating tissue repair. 

“The increase in the joint space width seen is an interesting finding. This suggests that, beyond pain reduction, some physiological changes could be contributing to the improvement experienced by the patient,” the researchers explain. 

They suggest the physiological changes could include connective tissue repair or regeneration, as well as increased secretion of lubricating synovial fluid or changes in synovial fluid characteristics.

“Such physiology changes could indicate that [Easy Climb and Easy Climb with glucosamine] may help address the root cause of the OA and help in rebuilding the joint. This would be a substantial improvement over commonly used joint supplements today which focus on reducing pain rather than addressing the root cause.” 

The study authors encourage future studies to examine these potential physiological changes and suggest Easy Climb could be “a promising proactive supplement” for maintaining joint health in younger populations who have not yet developed OA.

Pushing glucosamine off its podium?
This research contributes to the growing debate on the effectiveness of glucosamine. NutritionInsight recently discussed the joint health ingredient’s potentially waning prominence in a mobility sector roundtable.

Click to Enlarge“We agree that glucosamine and chondroitin are not as popular as they once were,” notes Rajendran.“We agree that glucosamine and chondroitin are not as popular as they once were. Our market research shows that the large daily dosage that needs to be taken may cause side effects in some people,” says Rajendran.

Other obstacles surrounding glucosamine are its large size, making capsules hard to swallow, and its shellfish derivation. 

“This causes issues for people with shellfish allergies and also makes the product unacceptable to vegetarians/vegans. For all these reasons, we believe that people are looking for an entirely plant-based product at a lower dosage, that is safe and effective.”

A synergistic blend
Key to the Easy Climb formula is the synergy of combining standardized herbal extract ingredients in specific ratios. 

“[Karallief’s scientists] subsequently developed a unique and effective multi-ingredient formula based on this synergy for supporting healthy joints, including cartilage, tendons and bones,” says Rajendran.

The joint health formula is vegan and Non-GMO Project verified. Made with a 1 g daily blend of standardized herbal ingredients, the formula includes balloon vine extract, five-leaved chaste tree, Boswellia serrata, bamboo, sweet orange and turmeric.

Karallief Easy Climb is a patent-pending herbal formula available in powdered form to provide potency and long-term shelf life. Powders lend the most flexibility to formulators, according to Karallief, making it easy to add to vitamins, supplements, protein powders and beverages. 

By Anni Schleicher

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