A standardized blend of curcumin (Curcuma longa) rhizome and tamarind (Tamarindus indica) extract marketed by NXT USA as TamaFlex was evidenced in a recent clinical study to improve joint function in horses. The new study, published in Veterinary Medicine Science, concluded that TamaFlex reduced lameness and improved joint flexibility in working horses. Lameness is one of the major causes of reduced physical performance and early retirement in working horses.
 
“We are excited to grow the body of evidence for our novel joint health ingredient, especially since these results are in line with our human data and confirm benefits for the developing animal health market,” said Eric Anderson, managing director of NXT USA. “This data builds upon our three double-blind placebo-controlled studies in humans.”
 
The researchers conducted a 12-week single-center, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial on horses with lameness grades between two and four on the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) scale.
 
Twenty-two lame horses were supplemented with TamaFlex or a placebo over 84 days. Improvement in lameness over placebo was the primary endpoint. Changes in the levels of rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (ACC-peptide) in serum were measured, along with pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL-1B and IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in serum and synovial fluid, which were the secondary endpoints.
 
TamaFlex supplementation significantly reduced lameness in the group, along with being linked to reductions in ANA, PGE2, IL1B, TNF-a, and IL-6.
 
“TamaFlex supplementation is safe and tolerable in alleviating joint pain in lame horses and protects the joints from further degradation by reducing pro-inflammatory mediators,” the researchers explained. “We conclude that TamaFlex significantly reduces lameness during walking and trotting, leading to an improvement in their joint flexibility, health, and working performance.”
 
A 2019 study evidenced that TamaFlex supplementation improved knee flexibility, offered substantial relief from knee pain after physical activity, and improved joint flexibility and function in a population of 90 healthy male and female subjects in a period of as little as 14 days.
 
A second human study provided evidence that TamaFlex can achieve clinically-significant effects as soon as five days after supplementation was studied in 96 participants compared to placebo. The trial demonstrated benefits in indexes such as WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) and VAS (Visual Analog Scale), as well as joint articulation, distance walked, stair climb tests, and markers in serum such as CRP, TNF, and uCTX-II, a marker of cartilage protection.
 
A 2022 study pending publication concluded that TamaFlex delivers these benefits, providing two human trials demonstrating benefits in just five days compared to placebo, according to the company.
 
“TamaFlex targets two pathways that cause joint inflammation: the COX-2 and 5-LOX enzyme pathways,” Anderson commented. “TamaFlex also supports the integrity of connective tissues while meeting important consumer demands, such as clean label, vegan, and non-GMO.”