TITLE:
Relief of osteoarthritis with a herbal-amino acid supplement: A randomized double-blind placebo controlled trial
AUTHORS:
Mark J.S. Miller, Ross Butler
KEYWORDS:
Osteoarthritis; Dietary Supplement; Cat’S Claw; L-Leucine; Boswellia Serrata; Maca; Uncaria Tomentosa; Lepidium Meyenii; Inflammation; Cartilage; Flexibility; Pain; Quality of Life; Stiffness; Arthritis; Nutraceutical; Natural Product
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology,
Vol.3 No.4A,
August
24,
2012
ABSTRACT: A redox active medicinal plant and L-leucine mixture (HLM) was investigated in subjects with established osteoarthritis of the knee in a multi-center, rando- m-ized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial. A total of 96 subjects with osteoarthritis were enrolled and randomized to either placebo (n = 38) or HLM treatment group (n = 38). The HLM group re- ceived a combination of Uncaria tomentosa (300 mg), Boswellia serrata (200 mg), Lepidium meyenii (1000 mg) and L-Leucine (700 mg) given as 3 capsules once a day. The placebo group received matching capsules with carboxymethylcellulose. The treatment period was 8 weeks, with assessments made at days 7, 14, 28 and 56. The primary outcome was reduction in total WOMAC score. VAS pain, tolerability, investigator assessments, use of rescue medication (acetominophen), and safety assessments of vital signs and laboratory assessments were included. Subject randomization was effective for age, gender and disease severity. In the placebo group 32/38 subjects completed the trial and for HLM 35/38. WOMAC scores (pain, stiffness, physical performance and total) steadily declined over the course of the 8 week study in both groups, but the magnitude was significantly greater for HLM (P