Polyphenol supplement aids arthritis patients
clinical trials of Univestin, a polyphenol compound that is thought
to aid joint health and mobility.
The ingredient acts through both the cyclo-oxygenase (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) enzymes, which are involved in inflammation and pain. Both these enzymes are targeted by pharmaceuticals, such as Pfizer's Celebrex (celecoxib) and Abbott Laboratories' Zyflo (zileuton).
The results of the double-blind, placebo-controlled study indicated that daily supplementation with the product, a combination of flavonoids and flavans, provided significant relief of pain in patients with arthritis, said researchers speaking at the 1st International Conference on Polyphenols in Vichy, France last month.
Univestin was compared to both placebo and a standard dose of a prescription COX-2 inhibitor (200mg/day), with the primary efficacy measures being the relief of pain, stiffness and impaired mobility at 30, 60 and 90 days.
At the highest dose tested (500mg/day), Univestin was more effective than the COX-2 inhibitor (given at a dose of 200mg/day) in achieving pain relief 30 days into the trial, a statistically-significant result (p=0.02).
Compared to placebo, Univestin provided significantly superior pain relief and improved mobility at all three timepoints, as well as improvements in stiffness at 30 and 90 days.
Unigen vice president of scientific affairs Dr Qi Jia said that Univestin is the only known natural product available that uses a proprietary blend of botanicals to block these two very important physiological pathways.
Polyphenols are major antioxidants commonly found in fruits, vegetables, cereals, legume seeds, chocolate and beverages such as tea, coffee or wine. These compounds possess anti-proliferative and enzyme-modulating activities that have been shown to naturally down-regulate damaging molecules associated with aging, including arthritis, osteoporosis, cardiovascular problems and neurodegenerative ailments such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
