Approaches to therapy of the metabolic phenotype of osteoarthritis: efficacy of a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate supplemented with undenatured type 2 collagen, B vitamins, gingerol, and ascorbic acid
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Objective : to evaluate the efficacy of the nutraceutical Teraflex Ultra, a combination of glucosamine (G, 1500 mg), chondroitin sulfate (CS, 1000 mg), undenatured type 2 collagen (UC-2, 40 mg), a B-vitamin complex, vitamin C (100 mg), and ginger root extract (300 mg), in patients with the metabolic phenotype of knee osteoarthritis (OA). Material and methods . This prospective randomized study included 29 women aged 40–75 years with a definite diagnosis of knee OA stage I–III according to Kellgren–Lawrence (established in accordance with the ACR classification criteria) and metabolic syndrome, pain on walking ≥ 40 mm on the visual analog scale (VAS), who provided informed consent. Mean age was 62.4±6.9 years. Median baseline VAS pain was 63 [54; 75] mm. All patients received the nutraceutical Teraflex Ultra orally, 2 capsules twice daily for 6 months; the subsequent 3 months constituted the follow-up period with assessment of the carryover effect. Study duration was 9 months. Results and discussion . The study results demonstrated a statistically significant clinical effect of the nutraceutical in patients with metabolic knee OA during the 6-month treatment course and the subsequent follow-up period. After 1 month of treatment, a significant (p<0.01) reduction in pain on walking in the analyzed knee according to VAS was observed; it persisted throughout the treatment period and 3 months after completion. A reduction of pain to <40 mm on VAS after 1 month of therapy was achieved in 48.3% of patients, after 3 months in 66.7%, and after 6 months in 81.5%. During follow-up, in most patients (77.7%) VAS pain remained <40 mm. Treatment was associated with significant improvement in all WOMAC parameters: decreased pain (baseline 246 [159; 320] mm; 1 month 173.5 [116; 199] mm; 3 months 119 [70; 186] mm; 6 months 84 [48; 157] mm; 9 months 73 [42; 106] mm; p<0.01 for all comparisons vs baseline); decreased stiffness (baseline 101 [63; 129] mm; 1 month 69.5 [36.5; 90] mm; 3 months 46 [23; 85] mm; 6 months 36 [19; 74] mm; 9 months 24 [15; 51] mm; p<0.01 for all comparisons vs baseline); decreased functional limitation (baseline 932 [610; 1085] mm; 1 month 660.5 [459; 767] mm; 3 months 463 [323; 748] mm; 6 months 309 [211; 559] mm; 9 months 265 [189; 440] mm; p<0.01 for all comparisons vs baseline). In all patients during the 6 months of treatment and the followup period, significant improvement in KOOS scores (p<0.01), quality of life according to EQ-5D, and patient global health assessment by VAS (p<0.01) was observed. As a result of therapy, most patients discontinued regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Conclusion . In patients with the metabolic phenotype of OA, the nutraceutical Teraflex Ultra (a combination of CS, G, UC-2, B vitamins, vitamin C, and ginger root extract) demonstrated a significant clinical effect accompanied by reduced pain, improved joint function and quality of life, and decreased need for NSAIDs.
Source: Modern Rheumatology Journal
Language: Russian
Subfield: Rheumatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7165777136