A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study to evaluate the effect of calcium fructoborate on systemic inflammation and dyslipidemia markers for middle-aged people with primary osteoarthritis

Biol Trace Elem Res. 2011 Dec;144(1-3):253-63. doi: 10.1007/s12011-011-9083-0. Epub 2011 May 24.

Abstract

The objective of this pilot study was to determine whether 15 days of dietary supplementation with calcium fructoborate could acutely modulate inflammatory and lipid blood markers in individuals diagnosed with primary osteoarthritis. During 2 weeks, a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind study was conducted on 116 subjects that were initially recruited. Seventy-two subjects started the study, being divided into four groups, and only 60 completed the study as designed. The aim was to compare the effects of calcium fructoborate to placebo on subjects diagnosed with knee primary osteoarthritis. The obtained outcomes were inflammation biomarkers (C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and lipid markers (triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol). No serious adverse events were reported. The calcium fructoborate showed beneficial effect on the inflammatory markers for all groups subjected to the treatment when compared with the placebo group and slight changes in the lipid metabolism. This study suggests that short-term (2 weeks) calcium fructoborate supplementation in patients with osteoarthritis symptoms has a favorable prognosis on inflammation diseases.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Blood Sedimentation
  • Borates / adverse effects
  • Borates / therapeutic use*
  • C-Reactive Protein / analysis
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood
  • Cholesterol, LDL / blood
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Dyslipidemias / blood*
  • Dyslipidemias / diet therapy*
  • Female
  • Fibrinogen / analysis
  • Fructose / adverse effects
  • Fructose / analogs & derivatives*
  • Fructose / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / blood*
  • Inflammation / diet therapy*
  • Lipid Metabolism / drug effects
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Osteoarthritis / blood*
  • Osteoarthritis / diet therapy*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Triglycerides / blood

Substances

  • Borates
  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Triglycerides
  • calcium fructoborate
  • Fructose
  • Fibrinogen
  • C-Reactive Protein

Associated data

  • ISRCTN/ISRCTN46679573