TITLE:
Flexofytol, a Purified Curcumin Extract, in Fibromyalgia and Gout: A Retrospective Study
AUTHORS:
Thierry Appelboom, Christian Mélot MsciBiost
KEYWORDS:
Curcumin; Fibromyalgia; Gout
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Rheumatology and Autoimmune Diseases,
Vol.3 No.2,
May
24,
2013
ABSTRACT: Flexofytol is a recently-purified curcumin extract administered as a food supplement with the indication for being “able to improve musculoskeletal flexibility and preserve articular function”. It is now marketed in Belgium, frequently used with success in daily clinical practice according to pharmacists, and also prescribed by general practitioners and rheumatologists for various painful conditions. The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the potential efficacy of the compound in fibromyalgia and gout from our practice from 2011-2012. Accordingly, the medical files of 116 patients (83 with a follow-up of 1 to 12 months) with fibromyalgia or gout who were treated with Flexofytol were analysed to determine whether they had benefited from this therapy or had experienced undesirable effects. Flexofytol provided a benefit in acute gout crisis and fibromyalgia. Interestingly, the clinical improvement was rapid (within 24 - 48 h), with good efficacy in gout. The benefit of Flexofytol was on different manifestations of pain rather than on the sleep disorders of fibromyalgia. Except for some occasional difficulties with tablet swallowing and transient diarrhoea, the treatment was well tolerated. In conclusion, Flexofytol appears to be an alternative to conventional treatment for fibromyalgia and gout.