Joint Health Study

Auburn University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Effect of Drug

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Calcium Fructoborate; Dietary Supplement: Placebo

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05438979

22-151 CFB

Details and patient eligibility

About

Natural dietary health supplements that may improve quality of life by relieving joint discomfort have been of increasing interest. Recent studies have demonstrated promising effects of one such supplement - calcium fructoborate (CFB). Preliminary evidence suggests that CFB may reduce joint discomfort, however, few well-powered studies have been conducted to assess the true effects of this supplement. In this study, conducted virtually, we will examine changes in joint discomfort over a 90 day period. Participants will be randomized to receive either 216mg CFB or placebo (i.e., 216mg microcellulose) to take every day for the study period.

Full description

There has been increasing interest in natural dietary supplements other than glucosamine and/or chondroitin that may support healthy joints. Recent studies have demonstrated promising effects of calcium fructoborate (CFB), a generally-recognized-as-safe (GRAS) material and a key active ingredient in several commercially popular joint supplements, due to its potential to acutely as well as chronically improve symptoms of joint discomfort, possibly due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Clinical trials have demonstrated converging evidence that CFB improves joint health outcomes, but inadequate sample size has been a limiting factor of most studies to date, especially in terms of sub-domain and/or sub-group analyses within common joint pain/health inventories such as the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) and McGill Pain Questionnaire assessment tools. Here, we propose a higher N (N > 300) study to examine the long-term effects of a daily 216mg morning dose of CFB on measures of pain, discomfort, and quality of life. CFB has been marketed and consumed at this dosage for over 17 years with over 5 billion servings having been provided to people with no reported adverse events. Most recently, the European Food Safety Authority has deemed CFB safe for the adult population (excluding pregnant and lactating women due to lack of data) at levels up to 220mg/day (3.14mg/kg bodyweight per day). Participants will be randomized to receive either 216mg CFB or placebo (i.e., 216mg microcellulose) to take every day for 90 days. On the first, 5th, 14th, 21st, 28th, 60th, and 90th days, participants will take a check-in questionnaire via Qualtrics. The survey will be composed of questionnaires that broadly cover joint pain, activities of daily living, sleep, and general well-being. Compliance checks will be administered daily via the participant's smartphone using the application MetricWire. This study will be conducted in a double-blind fashion, such that the experimental team and the participants are unaware of group assignment (216mg CFB vs. placebo). Blinding information will be held by the study sponsor, VDF FutureCeuticals, Inc. Group assignment will be determined by stratified permuted block (a form of covariate-adaptive randomization) to equal group sizes, and equal distribution of males/females in each group

Enrollment: 300 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 40 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Between 40-65 years of age;
2. Self-reported or medically diagnosed knee joint pain for > 3 months (chronic);
3. Diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the knee;
4. No diagnosed psychiatric or neurological condition;
5. Not taking antibiotics;
6. Not taking any other joint health supplement
7. Not taking prescription medications for OA or joint discomfort for the last 3 months
8. No use of NSAIDS or other pain relievers for two (2) weeks prior to enrollment in the study and who are willing to make best efforts to refrain from use of same throughout the study
9. Has reliable internet service;
10. Some computer literacy;
11. Has a smartphone; and
12. Has a laptop, desktop computer, or iPad.

Exclusion criteria

1. <40 or >65 years of age;
2. Does not have osteoarthritis of the knee;
3. Diabetes or other metabolic disorders;
4. Inflammatory and/or infectious health conditions;

6. Participants medically diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis; 7) Participants with cardiovascular diseases; 8) Participants with liver and/or kidney problems; 9) Participants who are pregnant; 10) Health conditions that would prevent the participant from successfully completing the study (i.e., motor control conditions such as Parkinson's; psychiatric conditions such as ADHD); 11) Use of antibiotics 1 month prior to the enrollment in the study; 12) Physician prescribed use of pharmaceutical medications for OA or joint discomfort within 3 months prior to enrollment in this study; 13) Any joint injury in the 6-months prior to the enrollment in the clinical trial; 14) Unreliable or no internet access/service; 15) Unable to use a smartphone or lacking the computer literacy needed to complete the study 16) No laptop, desktop, or iPad that would allow for the completion of the study tasks.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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300 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Placebo

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

The placebo will be a simple microcellulose, which is generally-recognized-as-safe (GRAS) and commonly used in food products.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Placebo

Calcium Fructoborate

Active Comparator group

Description:

Calcium Fructoborate (CFB), is a proprietary, safe generally-recognized-as-safe (GRAS) supplement. The only content of the supplement is CFB - there are no excipients, binders, or flow agents, nor are there any other materials. 216mg of CFB will be administered daily for 90 days.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Calcium Fructoborate