An interventional study of JointAlive™ and Placebo in Osteo Arthritis Knee, sponsored by Chenland Nutritionals Inc.. Completed at 1 site in Canada. Open to participants aged 40 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2022-12-23.
Sponsored by Chenland Nutritionals Inc. · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint disorder caused by wear and tear on the joint over time; as a result, the protective cartilage of the bone in the joint gradually wears down. The lifetime risk of developing OA in the knee, with symptoms such as pain, aching, and stiffness, is 40% in men and 47% in women. It is estimated that approximately 19% of Americans aged 45 and older are affected by knee OA. Knee OA accounts for 83% of the global burden caused by all OA types. Pain and stiffness in knees, a large weight-bearing joint, often leads to disability, which interferes with daily life activities and demands expensive medical treatments or care. Due to the limitations of current OA treatment methods, there is an increasing demand for effective and safer alternatives, such as natural health products with pain-relieving potential. The investigational product, JointAlive™, is a supplement designed to alleviate knee OA symptoms and to improve knee functionality. The present study will investigate the safety and efficacy of JointAlive™ in reducing knee OA symptoms and improving joint functionality in an otherwise healthy adult population with mild to moderate knee OA. JointAlive™ is a proprietary blend of Epimedium brevicornum Maxim leaves, Dioscorea nipponica Makino rhizome, Salvia miltoiorrhiza Bunge root and rhizome extracts
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint disorder caused by wear and tear on the joint over time; as a result, the protective cartilage of the bone in the joint gradually wears down. The lifetime risk of developing OA in the knee, with symptoms such as pain, aching, and stiffness, is 40% in men and 47% in women. It is estimated that approximately 19% of Americans aged 45 and older are affected by knee OA. Knee OA accounts for 83% of the global burden caused by all OA types. Pain and stiffness in knees, a large weight-bearing joint, often leads to disability, which interferes with daily life activities and demands expensive medical treatments or care. Losina et al. reported that in the United States, the average lifetime costs for symptomatic knee OA management is $12,400 USD, but the cost can be higher with knee surgeries for advanced OA. The economic burden is expected to continue increasing in the near future due to the aging population and increasing prevalence of obesity in many developed countries.
Although the exact etiology of OA is unknown, many risk factors are associated with the development of knee OA, such as obesity, repetitive use of joints, age, and previous knee injury or surgery. Multiple studies have shown a positive association between pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g. tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6) and OA development. Cytokine-induced nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation can stimulate articular chondrocyte catabolism and extracellular matrix degradation, leading to the breakdown of articular cartilage. The severity of cartilage disintegration and osteophyte (a bony outgrowth) formation can be identified radiographically and used for the Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grading scheme. A KL score of one (doubtful narrowing of the joint space with possible osteophyte formation) is considered possible OA, while a score of two (possible narrowing of joint space with definite osteophyte formation) or three (definite narrowing of joint space and moderate osteophyte formation) is considered as a definite/mild OA.
It is crucial to treat OA early, before it develops into more severe cases and causes mobility disability. The first step of OA treatment is exercise and/or physiotherapy, which has demonstrated long-term benefits but often difficult to maintain compliance. Once the pain is difficult to manage, over-the-counter medicines such as Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are introduced to provide relief. NSAIDs are effective in reducing pain, however, long-term usage requires medical supervision. Chronic NSAID use is associated with high incidence of adverse events such as upper gastrointestinal tract problems, kidney and liver injury, hypertension, and congestive heart failure. When the abovementioned treatments are ineffective, intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid, cortisol, or platelet rich plasma are applied and proven effective, but they can be costly and may cause reactive flares or infections at the injection site. Surgery serves as last resort; it is a successful treatment for advanced OA, but it is invasive and may increase risks of infection, bleeding, and deep vein thrombosis. Given the limitations of current OA treatment methods, there is an increasing demand for effective and safer alternatives, such as natural health products with pain-relieving potential.
The investigational product, JointAlive™, is a supplement designed to alleviate knee OA symptoms and to improve knee functionality. JointAlive™ contains extract from flowering plants that are endemic to China.The main bioactive component is icariin; a flavonoid glycoside demonstrating various antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. Numerous in vitro cell culture studies showed that icariin has the potential to suppress inflammatory pathways involved in OA. In rodent OA models, joint injection of icariin for 32 and 84 days was found to protect the articular cartilage from degeneration.
The present study will investigate the safety and efficacy of JointAlive™ in reducing knee OA symptoms and improving joint functionality in an otherwise healthy adult population with mild to moderate knee OA. Based on the previous studies conducted on the ingredients of this investigational product and their previous application in OA, participants identifying mild or moderate OA in a target knee will be investigated in this study. As OA is a secondary complication in sports injuries as well as a primary development during aging, an age range between 40-75 years will be considered for enrolment. The Kellgren-Lawrence grading scale will be used to confirm OA. As well, BMI cut offs between 18.5 and 29.9 kg/m2 will be considered to excluded those with complications due to obesity and the associated increase in concomitant medication use. To allow for pain relief, as this study involves a placebo group, a rescue medication will be provided. However, in order to ensure that the capture of pain in the target knee is unbiased, participants will be required to abstain from the rescue medication use for 48 hours prior to their clinic visits. Confounders due to medical history and concomitant medications will be ensured by several targeted exclusion criteria with the intent of decreasing potential confounders of the study results.
3,554 studies on the registry are indexed under Arthritis; 317 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 72 is below the median of 90 across 2,377 interventional studies indexed under Arthritis.
Browse Arthritis studies →Chenland Nutritionals Inc. is the lead sponsor of 2 studies on the registry; none are open to participants now.
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Female participant is not of child-bearing potential, defined as females who have undergone a sterilization procedure (e.g. hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, bilateral tubal ligation, complete endometrial ablation) or have been post-menopausal for at least 1 year prior to screening Or,
Females of child-bearing potential must have a negative baseline urine pregnancy test and agree to use a medically approved method of birth control for the duration of the study. All hormonal birth control must have been in use for a minimum of three months. Acceptable methods of birth control include:
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants on the following concurrent prescribed medications and/or treatments will be excluded during enrollment unless they have been taken off these therapies by their family physician. In the latter event, the frequency and route of administration of use and/or dosage may be considered by the QI on a case-by-case basis prior to recommending an appropriate washout or their enrollment in the study.
Dietary Supplement: Placebo
Dietary Supplement: JointAlive™
Combination herbal extract
Combination placebo product
Change in knee joint function: Pain
This will be determined by change in pain of the identified knee joint from baseline to 12-week post-supplementation between JointAlive™ and placebo, as assessed by Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain and stiffness scores. Questions are scored on a scale of 0-4, which correspond to: None (0), Mild (1), Moderate (2), Severe (3), and Extreme (4). The scores for each subscale are summed up, with a possible score range of 0-20 for Pain. The lowest number represents no pain while the highest number represent extreme pain or stiffness. These are then converted to the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcomes Score (KOOS) pain scores. KOOS scoring system ranges from 1-100, with 0 representing no pain and 100 being extreme pain.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change in knee joint function: Stiffness
This will be determined by change in stiffness of the identified knee joint from baseline to 12-week post-supplementation between JointAlive™ and placebo, as assessed by Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain and stiffness scores. Questions are scored on a scale of 0-4, which correspond to: None (0), Mild (1), Moderate (2), Severe (3), and Extreme (4). The scores for each subscale are summed up, with a possible 0-8 for Stiffness. The lowest number represents no pain or stiffness while the highest number represent extreme pain or stiffness. These are then converted to the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcomes Score (KOOS) pain scores. KOOS scoring system ranges from 1-100, with 0 representing no stiffness and 100 being extreme stiffness.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change in Pain
Change in pain of the identified knee joint from baseline to 6-week post-supplementation between JointAlive™ and placebo, as assessed by Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain and stiffness scores. Questions are scored on a scale of 0-4, which correspond to: None (0), Mild (1), Moderate (2), Severe (3), and Extreme (4). The scores for each subscale are summed up, with a possible score range of 0-20 for Pain. The lowest number represents no pain while the highest number represent extreme pain or stiffness. These are then converted to the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcomes Score (KOOS) pain scores. KOOS scoring system ranges from 1-100, with 0 representing no pain and 100 being extreme pain.
Time frame: 6 weeks
Change in Stiffness
Change in stiffness of the identified knee joint from baseline to 6-week post-supplementation between JointAlive™ and placebo, as assessed by Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain and stiffness scores. Questions are scored on a scale of 0-4, which correspond to: None (0), Mild (1), Moderate (2), Severe (3), and Extreme (4). The scores for each subscale are summed up, with a possible 0-8 for Stiffness. The lowest number represents no pain or stiffness while the highest number represent extreme pain or stiffness. These are then converted to the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcomes Score (KOOS) pain scores. KOOS scoring system ranges from 1-100, with 0 representing no stiffness and 100 being extreme stiffness.
Time frame: 6 weeks
Knee OA symptoms as assessed by KOOS symptoms score
KOOS Scores range from 0 to 100. A score of 0 indicates the worst possible knee symptoms and 100 indicates no knee symptoms.
Time frame: 6-12 weeks
Daily physical function as assessed by KOOS in function daily living score
The Scoring system ranges from 0 to 100, with 0 representing extreme problems and 100 representing no problems
Time frame: 6-12 weeks
Physical function in sports and recreational activities as assessed by KOOS function in sports and recreational activities score
The Scoring system ranges from 0 to 100, with 0 representing extreme problems with physical functions and 100 representing no problems
Time frame: 6-12 weeks
Current pain as assessed by Pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores
The Pain VAS questionnaire is a unidimensional measure of pain intensity. With the use of a ruler, the score is determined by measuring the distance (mm) on the 10-cm line between the "no pain" anchor and the patient's mark, providing a range of scores from 0-100 depending on pain intensity. A score of 0 represents no pain while a score of 100 represents extreme pain.
Time frame: 6-12 weeks
Quality of life as assessed by Short Form 36 (SF-36) Questionnaire and KOOS quality of life score
The Scoring system ranges from 0 to 100, with 0 representing poorest quality of life and 100 representing no problems
Time frame: 6-12 weeks
Knee joint range of motion (flexion and extension) as assessed by a knee goniometer
Time frame: 6-12 weeks
Serum level of C reactive protein (CRP)
Time frame: 6-12 weeks
Use of acetaminophen as a rescue medication as assessed by study diary
Time frame: 6-12 weeks
Incidence of pre-emergent and post-emergent adverse events
Time frame: 12 weeks
Blood pressure (BP)
Diastolic and systolic blood pressure (BP) after 6 and 12 weeks of supplementation with JointAlive™
Time frame: 12 weeks
Heart Rate
Heart rate (HR) after 6 and 12 weeks of supplementation with JointAlive™
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change alanine aminotransferase (ALT) after 12 weeks of supplementation with JointAlive™ compared to placebo.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change aspartate aminotransferase (AST) after 12 weeks of supplementation with JointAlive™ compared to placebo.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change alkaline phosphatase (ALP), after 12 weeks of supplementation with JointAlive™ compared to placebo.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change in total bilirubin after 12 weeks of supplementation with JointAlive™ compared to placebo.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change in total creatinine after 12 weeks of supplementation with JointAlive™ compared to placebo
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change in electrolytes (Na+, K+, Cl-) after 12 weeks of supplementation with JointAlive™ compared to placebo.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) after 12 weeks of supplementation with JointAlive™ compared to placebo
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change in white blood cell (WBC) count after 12 weeks of supplementation with JointAlive™ compared to placebo.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change in neutrophils after 12 weeks of supplementation with JointAlive™ compared to placebo.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change in lymphocytes after 12 weeks of supplementation with JointAlive™ compared to placebo.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change in monocytes after 12 weeks of supplementation with JointAlive™ compared to placebo.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change in eosinophils after 12 weeks of supplementation with JointAlive™ compared to placebo.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change in basophils after 12 weeks of supplementation with JointAlive™ compared to placebo.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change in red blood cell (RBC) count after 12 weeks of supplementation with JointAlive™ compared to placebo.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change in hemoglobin after 12 weeks of supplementation with JointAlive™ compared to placebo.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change in hematocrit after 12 weeks of supplementation with JointAlive™ compared to placebo.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change in platelet count after 12 weeks of supplementation with JointAlive™ compared to placebo.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change in mean corpuscular volume (MCV) after 12 weeks of supplementation with JointAlive™ compared to placebo.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change in mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) after 12 weeks of supplementation with JointAlive™ compared to placebo.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change in mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) after 12 weeks of supplementation with JointAlive™ compared to placebo.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change in red cell distribution width (RDW) after 12 weeks of supplementation with JointAlive™ compared to placebo.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change in mean platelet volume (MPV) after 12 weeks of supplementation with JointAlive™ compared to placebo.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Plan to share: No
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Chenland Nutritionals Inc.