The dietary supplement Cyplexinol® alleviates joint pain in men and women
Background and aim: Joint pain afflicts millions of adults worldwide. The effect of a Bone Morphogenetic Protein Complex on joint pain is assessed in this study.
Methods: We compared the impact of a dietary supplement protein complex (Cyplexinol®) and placebo in 18 men and women (aged 43±10 years) with self-reported joint pain. Subjects were randomly assigned to each condition, consumed twice daily for 14 days (900 mg per day). Subjects completed questionnaires (e.g., WOMAC and subjective pain using a visual analog scale [VAS]) at the start and end of each treatment phase. Blood samples were analyzed for bone morphogenic protein (BMP), alkaline phosphatase, and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, IL-1β, and TGF-β). Blood was also collected on days 1 and 15 to determine the acute impact of treatment on these measures.
Results: Pain and discomfort scores improved (p≤0.05) for subjects following use of Cyplexinol® but not placebo. Improvements were noted for WOMAC pain (p=0.05), stiffness (p=0.039), and total pain (p=0.026), as well as VAS pain (p=0.015), recreational activity interference (p=0.023), mood interference (p=0.012), and total pain (p=0.024). A trend was noted for WOMAC physical function (p=0.052). An approximate 50% increase in BMP5 was noted following Cyplexinol® (p=0.01), with a similar increase noted for placebo (p=0.022). A near doubling in TGF-β (p=0.001) was noted for Cyplexinol®. No other changes of significance were noted across time, nor were any differences noted in cytokines following acute intake of the conditions (p>0.05).
Conclusions: Cyplexinol® can alleviate joint pain in middle-aged men and women, while elevating BMP5. Cyplexinol® does not influence cytokines, at least within a short two-week supplementation period or within the two-hour post-ingestion period.
Relevance for Patients: Individuals suffering with joint pain in the knee and/or hip may benefit from daily use of Cyplexinol®, as we observed decreased pain and stiffness following treatment.
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