Mineral rich algae with pine bark improved pain, physical function and analgesic use in mild-knee joint osteoarthritis, compared to Glucosamine: A randomized controlled pilot trial. (May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Heffernan, S.M.; McCarthy, C.; Eustace, S.; FitzPatrick, R.E.; Delahunt, E.; De Vito, G.
• Is Part Of: Complementary therapies in medicine. Volume 50(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Subjects: Lithothamnion -- Pain management -- Nutraceutical -- Seawater magnesium; Alternative medicine -- Periodicals; Complementary Therapies -- Periodicals; Médecines parallèles -- Périodiques; Thérapeutique -- Périodiques; Alternative medicine; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 615.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102349
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0965-2299

Abstract

Highlights: Nutraceuticals can be effective for improving osteoarthritis symptoms. Aq + was superior to Glu for improving pain and KOA symptoms. In females Aq + improved functional performance and was correlated with improvements in pain (r = −0.49; R 2 = 0.24). Aq + reduced ad libitum analgesic use by 72 %, compared to Glu. Abstract: Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterised by synovial joint pain, functional disability and affects ∼13 % of people worldwide, of which ∼16–27 % report Knee-OA (KOA). Glucosamine (Glu) is the most widely used nutraceutical treatment for OA despite a lack of scientific consensus, therefore alternative nutraceutical treatments are required. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Lithothamnion species, seawater-derived magnesium and pine bark (Aq + ) on pain, symptoms and improve physical function in symptomatic (sKOA), compared to Glu. Methods: 358 participants were screened. In a double-blinded crossover pilot-trial, sKOA participant (n = 30) were randomly assigned to either the Glu group (2000 mg day −1 ) or Aq + (3056 mg day −1 ) for 12 weeks (clinicaltrials.gov:NCT03106584). The Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score was used to assess subjective pain and symptoms. Timed-up-and-Go (TuG) and Six minute walking distance were used to assess functional change and analgesic use was recorded. Results: Aq + improved pain, with a large effect (P < 0.01, d' = 0.73, 95 %CI 0.201–1.265) and no change for Glu ( d' = 0.38, P = 0.06). Only Aq + improved pain (P < 0.05) for males ( d' = 0.91, 95 %CI 0.162–1.667) and females ( d' = 0.55, 95 %CI 0.210–1.299). In females, Aq + improved TuG by −7.02 % ( d' = 0.92, 95 %CI 1.699–0.141) while Glu worsened performance by 4.18 % (P = 0.04). Aq + reduced analgesia by 71.6 %, compared to Glu (P = 0.02; d' = 0.82, 95 %CI 1.524–0.123). Aq + was superior to Glu at improving pain, KOOS subscales, physical function and analgesia use in mild-sKOA. Given these data, Aq + should be considered as a supplementary treatment for early-stage-KOA and may have the potential to reduce use of pain medication, although larger replication studies are required.