The findings of a recent study show that iminosugars isolated from cucumber improve joint pain and function in people with moderate osteoarthritis. The study was published in the journal, Current Rheumatology Reviews.
The study was conducted on 91 participants suffering from moderate osteoarthritis, who were divided into three groups. Two groups received a daily dose of Q-actin at 20mg and 100mg, respectively while the third group received a placebo. Q-actin, marketed by IminoTech, Inc., is standardized to contain iminosugar ido BR-1, which is a class of bioactive carbohydrates obtained from cucumber and standardized to over 1%. The results were evaluated using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Lequesne’s Functional Index (LFI), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 30 and 60 days following a baseline assessment.
Results showed that participants who received 20mg of Q-actin showed 32% improvement in pain intensity over 6 months while the group receiving 100mg of the intervention showed 39% improvement, compared to only 5% in the placebo group. Ido BR-1 has the potential to reduce inflammatory markers in the body.
Thus, the study concluded that a daily serving of as low as 20mg of Q-actin showed significant improvement in joint function and pain relief and helped the participants perform daily activities such as using stairs, working at home, and shopping.
Source: Cucumber extract may improve joint function. Nutraceuticals World. 14 March, 2023. https://www.nutraceuticalsworld.com/contents/view_breaking-news/2023-03-14/cucumber-extract-may-improve-joint-function/?widget=listSection
