A+HA Premium Oral Hyaluronic Acid Drink Functional Evaluation Trial for Delaying Joint Pain

A+HA Premium Oral Hyaluronic Acid Drink Functional Evaluation Trial for Delaying Joint Pain

Evaluate the effect of A+HA premium oral hyaluronic acid drink on relieving knee pain.

Arthritis is an inflammation of one or more joints that is characterized by pain, stiffness (especially in the early morning or after exercise), swelling, deformation, and/or reduced mobility. Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative arthritis, is caused by abnormal damage to the cartilage at the ends of bones. Some patients are caused by injury or congenital abnormalities in the proteins that make up cartilage.

Once the cartilage tissue changes from smooth to rough, or into small pieces. Cartilage is gradually destroyed, and the normally smooth surface becomes irregular. Osteoarthritis usually occurs in joints that require weight load, such as the spine, knees, hips and back, and is usually preceded by some pain and Symptoms of stiffness (mostly stiffness first, then pain), but swelling is not necessarily present. However, a small number of them will cause disability, but once the bones become more fragmented, they are more likely to cause fractures. When osteoarthritis is more severe, the bones can overgrow into osteophytes, known as bone spurs. When bone spurs develop, they can be detected with X-rays, usually in the neck or waist near degenerative cartilage. Formation, these phenomena will not produce any changes in appearance.

Osteoarthritis usually does not occur in adults under the age of 40. Most patients are over the age of 60. Symptoms may be so mild that you are unaware of them until detected by X-ray. The incidence is almost higher in women than in men. three times. Degenerative arthritis is increasing among the elderly in Taiwan. It has become a very important health problem and directly affects the quality of life. Pain control can improve the quality of life.

Previous studies have shown that orally administered hyaluronic acid (HA) can bind to toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) on intestinal epithelial cells, thereby increasing the secretion of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3), while suppressing the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine pleiotrophin, ultimately alleviating osteoarthritis. Regarding the regulation of cartilage degradation-related factors, HA can reduce irregularities on the cartilage surface as well as the loss of cartilage tissue and chondrocytes by suppressing the mRNA expression of MMP-3, MMP-9, and MMP-13 in cartilage tissue. In terms of oxidative stress, HA may also alleviate cartilage damage by downregulating inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), thereby reducing nitric oxide (NO) production, and by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. To further enhance its efficacy in improving osteoarthritis, hyaluronic acid was combined with glucosamine and chondroitin. Previous studies have demonstrated that these two ingredients can improve connective tissue function and reduce cartilage matrix degradation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of A+HA premium oral hyaluronic acid drink on improving knee pain.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Aged 45 to 80 years.
2. Knee osteoarthritis classified as Ahlbäck stage I or II, or Kellgren-Lawrence grade <3.
3. A Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain score ≤3.
4. A Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain subscale score >2 or a total WOMAC score >12.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
2. Individuals with a history of knee joint trauma or surgery.
3. A body mass index (BMI) ≥ 40 kg/m².
4. Individuals with a psychiatric disorder.
5. Individuals with severe cardiovascular disease, severe cerebrovascular disease, severe rheumatic disease, crystal deposition arthropathy, or cancer.
6. Individuals who use a wheelchair and have a Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) grade ≤3 in the lower extremities, or who require a wheelchair due to physical discomfort.
7. Use of anti-inflammatory analgesics, corticosteroids, or other medications that may affect the study outcomes within one week before the trial.
8. Receipt of intra-articular corticosteroid injections, hyaluronic acid injections, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, or nerve block treatment within one month before the trial.
9. Use of medications or consumption of foods that, in the judgment of a physician or dietitian, may affect the outcome measures.
10. Any other condition considered by the physician to make the individual unsuitable for participation in the trial.