In January, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study on inflammation will be published by the Australian Center for Complementary Medicine Education and Research (ACCMER).
The human trial, conducted by Phillip Cheras, Ph.D., showed an average 25 percent reduction in inflammation in subjects' joints and a broad spectrum anti-inflammatory response with benefits ranging from bones to cardiovascular health. Actives in the study were administered high triterpene shea nut extract (FlexNow) over a 3-month period, which reduced critical inflammatory markers including CTX-II, IL-6, TNF-alpha and CRP. Reduced CTX-II indicates cartilage protection; less TNF-alpha translates as benefits for joints and muscles; IL-6 is associated with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, diabetes and prostate cancer; C-reactive protein is a marker for cardiovascular disease.
The abstract of the article found here states: "Extracts from the seed of the African shea tree
Vitellaria paradoxa
C.F. Gaertn have been used traditionally for the treatment of arthritic
conditions. However, little is known about the mechanisms by which
benefit is conferred. This single-site, 15-week randomized,
double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled study examined a range of
biomarkers in 89 patients with osteoarthritis of the knees and/or hips
to determine potential modes of action of SheaFlex70
TM, a triterpene-rich extract of
Vitellaria paradoxa.
In the group of participants with levels of osteoarthritis biomarkers
in the upper quartile at baseline, there were significant decreases in
inflammation and cartilage breakdown and trend level decreases in bone
remodeling in the SheaFlex70
TM group versus placebo between commencement and completion of the study. Inflammation marker TNF-alpha fell 23.9%
vs 6% (treatment
vs placebo). Cartilage degradation marker CTX-II fell 28.7%
vs an increase of 17.6% (treatment
vs placebo). This marker also showed significant falls across the entire study group, 10.6%
vs an increase of 11.6%, (treatment
vs placebo). Osteocalcin levels fell 9.2% (treatment)
vs 1.2%, ns (placebo) (treatment
vs placebo). These findings indicate that in patients with the highest levels of osteoarthritis biomarkers, SheaFlex70
TM demonstrated multiple beneficial activities consistent with slowing the disease process."
