Patients with OA on current treatment options still inevitably progress to a more severe stage becoming candidates for total joint replacement. The cornerstones of OA management in the early stage include exercises, weight loss, education—complemented by topical or oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and nutraceuticals like Undenatured type II collagen and Aflapin®. Both Undenatured type II collagen and Aflapin® offer great promise in OA management by targeting both the immune and mechanical pathways respectively. This review focusses on the role of mechanical and immune pathways in the pathogenesis of OA and the impact of the combination of Undenatured type-II collagen and Aflapin® in targeting these pathways thus improving the clinical outcomes.
Undenatured type II collagen (UC-II®) is a nutritional supplement derived from chicken sternum cartilage. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of UC-II® for knee osteoarthritis (OA) pain and associated symptoms compared to placebo and to glucosamine hydrochloride plus chondroitin sulfate (GC).
Aflapin® is a novel synergistic composition derived from Boswellia serrata gum resin (Indian Patent Application No. 2229/CHE/2008). Aflapin® is more efficacious as an anti-inflammatory agent compared to the existing Boswellia products, 5-Loxin® and traditional 65% Boswellia extract. A 30-day, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted to validate the efficacy of Aflapin® in the management of clinical symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee (Clinical trial registration number: ISRCTN69643551). Sixty eligible OA subjects selected through screening were included in the study. The subjects received either 100 mg (n=30) of Aflapin® or placebo (n=30) daily for 30 days.
Joint-related stress models have been used in the past to induce a standardized load on physical structures, allowing researchers to observe changes in perceived stress on joints as accurately as possible in healthy individuals. Previous studies support the efficacy of UC-II® undenatured type II collagen (‘‘undenatured collagen’’) supplementation in maintaining joint health. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of undenatured collagen on knee flexibility in healthy subjects who experience activity-related joint discomfort (ArJD).