A double blind, randomized, placebo controlled clinical study evaluates the early efficacy of aflapin in subjects with osteoarthritis of knee

Vishal AA, et al

Published in International Journal of Medical Sciences

Methodology

Double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial of Aflapin 100 mg daily for 30 days in knee osteoarthritis, with WOMAC subscales, VAS pain and Lequesne functional index at days 5, 15 and 30.

Key Findings

In 60 adults with knee osteoarthritis, Aflapin (a standardised Boswellia serrata extract, 100 mg/day) significantly reduced WOMAC pain, stiffness and function scores and visual analogue pain versus placebo, with statistically significant improvement detectable as early as day 5 and sustained to day 30.

Conclusions

A low-dose standardised Boswellia extract produced rapid, clinically meaningful relief of knee osteoarthritis symptoms over 30 days, though the trial is small and manufacturer-funded.

Limitations

Small single-centre sample, only 30 days of follow-up with no structural or long-term data, subjective symptom endpoints, and the study was funded and conducted with involvement from the extract manufacturer.