The study was small, with only five participants. Nevertheless, executives of Nutramax Laboratories Consumer Care, Inc., were pleased when their six-week open label study found that Cosamin ASU was effective in reducing concentrations of serum and urine biomarkers associated with joint discomfort and cartilage breakdown. Cosamin ASU is the company’s advanced joint health formulation which is available at retailers across the U.S.
Researchers at the University of Missouri conducted the study. They found that Cosamin ASU may be associated with improvements in measures of function and quality of life. James Cook, M.D., principle study investigator and Director, University of Missouri Comparative Orthopaedic Laboratory, Mizzou BioJoint Center, said, “This is the first study to show that serum and urine biomarkers can effectively detect improvements in a comprehensive spectrum of validated clinical outcome measures of pain, function and quality of life in patients receiving Cosamin ASU.”
According to the company’s press release, Cosamin ASU is a combination of glucosamine hydrochloride (FCHG49), chondroitin sulfate (TRH122), avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (NMX1000 ASU), 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-boswellic acid (AKBA) (QUIKLOX), and decaffeinated green tea extract.
Throughout the study period, investigators collected, processed, and analyzed blood and urine from the five patients using a multiplexed proprietary panel of biomarkers.
Researchers claimed that all serum and urine biomarkers evaluated showed measured changes in concentrations over the study period with statistically significant differences noted for serum PGE2, MMP1, GRO, IL8, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and urine PGE2, MMP2, MMP3, GRO and IL8. The researchers said that these are markers that are associated with joint discomfort and cartilage breakdown.
“This comprehensive pilot analysis provides us with additional support of the efficacy of Cosamin ASU for promoting joint health, ” said Brian Cornblatt, M.D., medical director of Nutramax Laboratories Consumer Care, Inc. “Using biomarkers to assess our products in the human clinical trial setting allows us to translate our in vitro findings. For years we have studied the effects of our novel formulations on well-recognized tissue culture models. To see these same biomarkers associated with joint discomfort and cartilage breakdown decrease significantly in a clinical trial setting is reassuring as we carefully seek to develop our products backed by sound and robust science.”
