Investigating the Additive Effects of Loxacon® Food Supplement Capsules in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis. A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled, Crossover, Follow-Up, Three-Arm Study

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common locomotor diseases, with a steadily increasing prevalence and incidence. Loxacon (R) is a food supplement capsule containing vitamins, minerals, and herbal extracts with Boswellia serrata extract and Harpagophytum procumbens extract as its two main active components. The study involved 88 patients at 4 sites. The 88 patients were divided into 3 groups. The first group received physical therapy and Loxacon (R) capsules for 5 weeks, while the second group (30 patients) received physical therapy only for 5 weeks, and the third group (30 patients) received physical therapy and placebo capsules for 5 weeks. After 5 weeks, physical therapy was discontinued in all three groups and all groups continued Loxacon (R) capsules exclusively for an additional 60 days. Physical therapy had been carried out by a standard protocol over 5 weeks. Investigated parameters included Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) testing, European Quality of Life (EQ-5D-5L) quality of life test and the Range of Motion (ROM). Among the 4 visual analogue scale (VAS) values investigated from WOMAC, significant change was seen for functionality in all three groups; however, the extent of change was twice as large in the physical therapy + Loxacon (R) group at Visit 2 in comparison with the other two groups. In the physical therapy + placebo group, improvement was seen only at the 3rd visit when they were also receiving Loxacon (R) capsules. The most pronounced difference was seen in the minimum clinically important difference index, calculated from the quality of life-VAS, where those taking Loxacon (R) capsules had a chance 3 times as high to obtain clinical improvement versus the other two groups. Our study confirmed that a combination of boswellic acid and harpagosides is beneficial as an additional therapy in knee OA.