The study will assess running biomechanics and joint inflammation of physically active males between 40 and 60 years of age, mainly runners, suffering from knee joint inflammation and pain after training. Participants were split into two groups, intervention and placebo, to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Exten(d) supplementation during 4 weeks.

Triple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel group, pilot safety, and efficacy study.

30 healthy physically active males (40 to 60 years old) suffering from knee joint inflammation and pain after training were randomly assigned to the Exten(d) or Placebo group. During the first visit and after 4 weeks supplementation (either 2 g daily of Exten(d) capsules or placebo capsules) the participants were subjected to a three-stage exercise session: (i) running biomechanical assessment, (ii) exercise physiology maximal effort test and (iii) running biomechanical assessment after the incremental exercise to exhaustion. The volunteers have been assessed to determine: (1) inflammation by I-R thermography and pain perception, (2) running technics though biomechanic analysis and (3) performance.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male recreational runners who run for at least 150 minutes per week divided into two or more sessions.
• The participants were expected to describe some degree of knee inflammation and/or discomfort after training in order to be accepted. Knee discomfort was considered significant whenever a subject referred to a punctuation of ≥ 2 in a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).
• Agree not to initiate any new exercise or diet programs during the entire study period
• Agree not to change their current diet or exercise program during the entire study period
• Agree not to stretch, utilize ice massage, take anti-inflammatory medications (eg, aspirin, ibuprofen), or use any other treatment during the trial.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Use of anti-inflammatory medications or pain medications 1 week before the screening visit and during the study
• Daily use of dietary supplements and herbal supplements beginning at the screening visit and during the study
• Antibiotic use in the past 3 months
• Chronic disease

Each pill bottle was assigned a five characters numeric code and a letter (A or B). Then, the codes were randomly distributed to the participants. Once the study finished, an external person to the study revealed the placebo and controlled group for each letter.