Tier 3 — preclinical

The effects of an oral preparation containing hyaluronic acid (Oralvisc) on obese knee osteoarthritis patients determined by pain, function, bradykinin, leptin, inflammatory cytokines, and heavy water analyses

F R Nelson, R A Zvirbulis, B Zonca, K W Li, S M Turner, M Pasierb, P Wilton, D Martinez-Puig, W Wu
Rheumatology International 2015 35(1):43-52

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 24899570
DOI
10.1007/s00296-014-3047-6

Study snapshot

DesignRandomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Model40 overweight/obese adults with knee osteoarthritis
Samplen=40
InterventionOralvisc 80 mg/day, approximately 56 mg/day HA plus other glycosaminoglycans, versus placebo
Duration3 months
EndpointsVAS pain; WOMAC pain and function; Inflammatory cytokines; Bradykinin; Leptin; Synovial-fluid glycosaminoglycan turnover

What the study showed, in plain terms

This three-month randomized trial tested Oralvisc, an oral preparation containing hyaluronic acid plus other glycosaminoglycans, in 40 overweight or obese adults with knee osteoarthritis.

Pain and function improved and several inflammatory markers decreased in the active-product group; synovial-fluid analyses also suggested altered HA turnover.

Because Oralvisc is a mixture rather than isolated HA, the study belongs in the supportive combination-evidence tier and should not be used to claim that HA alone caused every observed effect.

Key findings

  • Pain and function outcomes improved in the active-product group.
  • Several inflammatory cytokines, leptin and bradykinin decreased in serum or synovial fluid.
  • Heavy-water analysis indicated decreased synovial-fluid HA turnover.

What this study can and cannot tell us

  • Small sample of 40 participants.
  • Intervention included other glycosaminoglycans, preventing HA-specific attribution.
  • Population was limited to overweight or obese adults with OA.

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Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction Dr. Amr Yasser, PhDCardiometabolic, Musculoskeletal, Gut & Bioavailability Dr. Abdulla Mostafa, PhDCellular Senescence, Neurological, Mitochondrial & Brain-Ageing Biology