Effectiveness of Cucumber Extract on Joint Pain

Launched by JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY · Jan 30, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the effectiveness of a cucumber extract called Q-ActinTM in reducing joint pain. It aims to see how daily use of this supplement compares to a placebo (a non-active treatment) over eight weeks for adults who have experienced mild to moderate joint pain for at least three months. Researchers are particularly interested in how it affects joint stiffness, function, mood, sleep quality, and overall health-related quality of life.

To participate, individuals must be healthy adults aged 35 to 70 who can walk for at least six minutes at a moderate pace. They should have a history of joint pain and not have used certain pain medications or supplements in the two weeks leading up to the trial. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the Q-ActinTM group or the placebo group, and they will need to avoid using other joint health supplements during the study. This trial offers an opportunity to explore a new potential treatment for joint pain without the side effects often associated with traditional pain medications.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria: Participants (N = 80) will meet the inclusion criteria if they: are healthy adults (age range between 35 to 70 years), chose to sign Sterling IRB approved consent forms, and willing to forego use of all supplement products with claims regarding joint health during the study period. Our goal is to have 80 participants complete the intervention. To control for potential dropout we will recruit 90 participants for this trial.
• Other inclusion and exclusion criteria for this study included:
• • 1. Self-reported history (\>3 months) of joint pain in the knees, hip, ankles, shoulders, or hands. Minimum symptom severity was ensured by using a WOMAC pain index score of at least 2 points.
• • 2. No history of regular NSAID use (e.g., ibuprofen, aspirin) during the previous two weeks, and willingness to avoid NSAIDs use during the 8-week study.
• • 3. Not on other medications (e.g., analgesic gels, arthritis medications, other anti-inflammatory drugs) or supplements (in particular, glucosamine and chondroitin) for joint pain for the previous two weeks, and willing to avoid use of these during the 8-week study.
• • 4. No serious medical problems (current cancer case, severe rheumatoid arthritis, recent heart attack, recent stroke, congestive heart failure, ulcers, kidney disease, or other disease that would interfere with study participation).
• • 5. No psychiatric disorder or other condition that might interfere with self-assessment ability.
• • 6. Willingness to follow all study procedures including randomization to one of two groups, and to stay weight stable during the study.
• • 7. Able to walk for at least 6 min at a moderate-to brisk pace.
• • 8. No history of allergic reactions to shellfish products or products containing aspirin.
• • 9. Pregnant or trying to conceive. Note: Paracetamol (i.e., acetaminophen as found in Tylenol) will be allowed as a rescue medicine for pain during the study as needed, with usage recorded.
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• Exclusion Criteria:
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