Natreon antioxidant provides relief for joint issues in healthy overweight subjects: study

23 Oct 2017 --- Ayurvedic products company Natreon’s AyuFlex significantly improved joint mobility, comfort and functional capacity in healthy overweight subjects. This is according to a study into AyuFlex, the clinically studied and standardized aqueous extract of the fruits of Terminalia chebula, recently published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. AyuFlex is a potent antioxidant and previous studies have noted the efficacy of AyuFlex for modulating inflammation and oxidative stress, the Natreon press release notes.

Significant improvements in scores
The study by Lopez et al., conducted at The Center for Applied Health Sciences in Ohio, was a 14-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 105 healthy overweight men and women (ages 35 to 70) with knee discomfort associated with exercise.

Subjects were randomized to receive AyuFlex 500 mg per day, AyuFlex 1,000 mg per day or placebo. AyuFlex supplementation resulted in significant improvements in mWOMAC scores used to measure osteoarthritic pain, distance covered in the six-minute walk test and various Visual Analog Scale (VAS) subscales for pain.

A significant reduction of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) was observed in the AyuFlex 500 mg/day group relative to placebo. This is a biochemical marker of connective tissue integrity and cartilage matrix turnover. This finding is consistent with a decrease in the net degradation of joint cartilage matrix molecules. Data from this study also suggest that the benefits of AyuFlex may extend beyond knee joints to include overall/whole-body joint and spine health.

“This study represents a thorough effort to explore the potential of AyuFlex (aqueous extract of Terminalia chebula) dietary supplementation to augment joint health and function in a healthy population,” says Hector L. Lopez, Chief Medical Officer and Partner, The Center for Applied Health Sciences, LLC and Co-Founder of Supplement Safety Solutions, LLC.

“The study design included a randomized, placebo-controlled trial with placebo lead-in period, rigorous exclusion/inclusion criteria, validated outcome measures and markers of joint health, mobility and functional capacity and was well powered with [105 subjects] and two dose groups,” Dr. Lopez continues.

“Taken together, these parameters lead to high-quality, reliable and clean data that can be interpreted with substantial validity,” adds Dr. Lopez. “Natreon should be commended for the considerable investment in such science that provides brands, consumers, healthcare providers and all stakeholders with reliable data to make evidence-based dietary supplement recommendations.”

The subject of bone health supplementation was explored in detail by NutritionInsight in a special report back in May. Vitamin D’s activation pathway in bone health has recently been uncovered, while vitamin K, and particularly vitamin K2, have also been linked to improved bone health by studies.