Hydrolyzed Cartilage Matrix Linked to Self-Reported Joint Improvements
05.08.23
A study digitally-enabled study showed significant improvements compared to placebo in real-world conditions, thanks to self-reporting on smartphones.
Booth I114
Colartix, a hydrolyzed cartilage matrix (HCM) marketed by Rousselot, was linked to self-reported improvements in measures of joint pain and function in a study which relied on digital medicine tools to evaluate its performance in the daily lives of participants. The study was published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.
According to Rousselot, digitally-enabled protocols can create more realistic and inclusive clinical study designs, which can complement results seen in standardized clinical studies. Rousselot’s team will be available to further the discussion about these findings with visitors at their booth during Vitafoods Europe.
“Researchers and physicians investigating solutions to reduce joint pain face a huge challenge. When it comes to proving the efficacy of active ingredients vs placebo in conservative settings with a high level of standardization, results can be difficult to apply to real-world settings,” said Janne Prawitt, PhD, scientific director at Rousselot and study co-author. “While traditional, standardized clinical trials are vital from a safety and regulatory compliance point of view, adding digital tools and protocols can clearly enhance inclusion and give a better picture of the consumer experience.”
“What excites us most about the design of our new digitally-enabled study, is that it allowed us to recruit a far wider cohort than would have been possible with a traditional design, which would typically require participants to physically travel to a central location,” Prawitt said. “By allowing participants to record their pain scores on a mobile app, we were able to gather data from groups who might have been underrepresented in the study, such as single parents, people with mobility issues or the elderly. We see digital studies like this becoming a powerful complement to more conventional trials, helping researchers find solutions that are effective for everyone.”
In Real Life
Rousselot partnered with specialists to develop a mobile app which can help to recruit a more heterogeneous study cohort of active consumers.
201 healthy and active adults completed the study in which they logged their physical activity daily, alongside joint pain scores, using the visual analog scale (VAS), while taking a gram of Colartix daily or a matching maltodextrin placebo.
The treatment group saw a significant reduction in self-reported joint discomfort by week three of the 12-week study (P=.009), compared to no reductions in the placebo group. Gradually, the difference in joint pain scores between the treatment and placebo group increased from 0.55 to 2.74. While the mean joint pain score in the placebo group was relatively steady throughout, it decreased from 5 (distracting to moderately strong pain) to 2 (minor) in 12 weeks in the HCM treatment group.
Because of the study’s real-world setting and diverse cohort, researchers noted that the reduction in joint discomfort was consistent across age, gender, and intensity of physical activity.
Following the treatment period, participants continued to log their joint pain for an additional four-week period. While VAS scores in the Colartix group gradually increased, they still remained significantly lower than the group which received the placebo, suggesting persistent benefits post-supplementation.
Colartix, a hydrolyzed cartilage matrix (HCM) marketed by Rousselot, was linked to self-reported improvements in measures of joint pain and function in a study which relied on digital medicine tools to evaluate its performance in the daily lives of participants. The study was published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.
According to Rousselot, digitally-enabled protocols can create more realistic and inclusive clinical study designs, which can complement results seen in standardized clinical studies. Rousselot’s team will be available to further the discussion about these findings with visitors at their booth during Vitafoods Europe.
“Researchers and physicians investigating solutions to reduce joint pain face a huge challenge. When it comes to proving the efficacy of active ingredients vs placebo in conservative settings with a high level of standardization, results can be difficult to apply to real-world settings,” said Janne Prawitt, PhD, scientific director at Rousselot and study co-author. “While traditional, standardized clinical trials are vital from a safety and regulatory compliance point of view, adding digital tools and protocols can clearly enhance inclusion and give a better picture of the consumer experience.”
“What excites us most about the design of our new digitally-enabled study, is that it allowed us to recruit a far wider cohort than would have been possible with a traditional design, which would typically require participants to physically travel to a central location,” Prawitt said. “By allowing participants to record their pain scores on a mobile app, we were able to gather data from groups who might have been underrepresented in the study, such as single parents, people with mobility issues or the elderly. We see digital studies like this becoming a powerful complement to more conventional trials, helping researchers find solutions that are effective for everyone.”
In Real Life
Rousselot partnered with specialists to develop a mobile app which can help to recruit a more heterogeneous study cohort of active consumers.
201 healthy and active adults completed the study in which they logged their physical activity daily, alongside joint pain scores, using the visual analog scale (VAS), while taking a gram of Colartix daily or a matching maltodextrin placebo.
The treatment group saw a significant reduction in self-reported joint discomfort by week three of the 12-week study (P=.009), compared to no reductions in the placebo group. Gradually, the difference in joint pain scores between the treatment and placebo group increased from 0.55 to 2.74. While the mean joint pain score in the placebo group was relatively steady throughout, it decreased from 5 (distracting to moderately strong pain) to 2 (minor) in 12 weeks in the HCM treatment group.
Because of the study’s real-world setting and diverse cohort, researchers noted that the reduction in joint discomfort was consistent across age, gender, and intensity of physical activity.
Following the treatment period, participants continued to log their joint pain for an additional four-week period. While VAS scores in the Colartix group gradually increased, they still remained significantly lower than the group which received the placebo, suggesting persistent benefits post-supplementation.
