An herbal formulation of tamarind seed extract and turmeric extract marketed by NXT USA as TamaFlex was shown in a recent double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to significantly improve self-reported pain scores and markers of inflammation and cartilage degradation as quickly as five days.
 
The study relied upon a small group of patients experiencing mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis (KOA), a common cause of disability in the 300 million affected people worldwide. Progressive degeneration of joint cartilage in KOA results in a gradual increase in pain, physical discomfort, deterioration in joint function, and reduction in quality of life.
 
In a small group of patients with mild to moderate KOA patients, subjects were divided into three groups with 27 members each. One group received a placebo, while the other two received a daily dose of either 250 mg or 300 mg of TamaFlex for 56 days.
 
The primary outcome of the study measured was each patient’s score in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) score. Improvements in the functional scores, serum pro-inflammatory modulators (TNF-a, IL-6, hsCRP, MMP3, and uCTX-II), and a cartilage degradation product in urine samples were secondary efficacy measures.
 
While the results after 56 days were more substantial, the authors noted that clinical significance across both the high- and low- dose groups were achieved within just five days after beginning to take TamaFlex. This includes direct measures of musculoskeletal function such as the six-minute walking test, range of motion, and reduced time in a stair climb test, from day five of the study through its completion.  
 
The present study demonstrates that both TamaFlex dosages reduced knee pain and improved the musculoskeletal function of KOA subjects,” the authors wrote. “Also, this herbal composition helped to reduce inflammation and inflammation-induced cartilage degeneration in the participants. Furthermore, TamaFlex was shown to be tolerable and safe for the study participants.”
 
NXT USA noted that this study showed the shortest-term efficacy of all studies on this ingredient to date, with a previous placebo-controlled study concluding that performance-based measures of knee function and self-reported knee pain relief were achieved in a group of non-arthritic adults in 14 days.
 
“We are thrilled to continue to build the body of evidence confirming the safe and efficacious benefits of TamaFlex, this time in a population desperately in need of relief,” Eric Anderson, managing director of NXT USA, said. “Our ingredient fills an unmet need in the joint health market that products like glucosamine and chondroitin just can’t address, namely consumer demands like clean label, vegan, non-GMO, and sustainably sourced. TamaFlex is available in a small daily dose that is fast-acting, long-lasting, and protective. It is the perfect fit for joint health brands looking for an innovative approach to the contemporary joint health consumer.”