Vitamin Retailer reached out to Cheryl Myers, chief of scientific affairs and education at Green Bay, WI-based EuroPharma/Terry Naturally.
VR: What are the top cognitive support products that retailers should be aware of?
Myers: For cognition and mental well-being, I would point to our CuraMed Brain supplement. Like our other CuraMed and Curamin supplements, it supplies clinically studied BCM-95 curcumin. That’s in part, because curcumin protects brain cells from damaging inflammation and has been shown to promote neurogenesis—the creation of new neural pathways.
In fact, in experimental models of Alzheimer’s disease, curcumin was able to reduce beta amyloid levels and shrink the size of accumulated plaques by over 30 percent. Other studies have shown that curcumin plays a role in regenerating neurons, creating new brain cells, and refreshing cells that may have once been considered irretrievable.
BCM-95 curcumin has been used in clinical research regarding cognitive health and depression as well.
For example, in a clinical study of individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD), patients were divided into three groups to compare the efficacy of BCM-95 curcumin, the prescription anti-depressive fluoxetine, or a combination of the two.
The best response, measured by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17), was in the group using the combination of fluoxetine and BCM-95 curcumin at 77.8 percent. But interestingly, the single-therapy groups scored almost exactly the same, with fluoxetine at 64.7 percent and BCM-95 curcumin at 62.5 percent—numbers so close that the data is not statistically significant from one another.
So this study showed that curcumin was, in reality, as effective as a prescription drug and proved that it can be used as a treatment for patients with MDD.
Other clinical trials with BCM-95 curcumin have since found similar results. In one, individuals started seeing significant improvement in just four weeks, with even greater outcomes in eight weeks. Those with atypical depression, a difficult to treat subtype of depression that can include intensive fatigue or weight gain, found relief, too.
The other benefit of curcumin—and one that also relates to Alzheimer’s—is that it prevents pre-diabetes from becoming full-blown diabetes. The connection to Alzheimer’s is that high blood sugar levels create intensive inflammation in the brain. In fact, in one study, 25 percent of those with high blood sugar and actual diabetes developed Alzheimer’s. Even just having high blood sugar in the “normal” range still led to an 18 percent increased risk of dementia.
We include vitamin D in CuraMed Brain because it directly affects our cognitive health and because by age 65, our ability to naturally synthesize vitamin D from sunlight declines by up to 60 percent. Compared to people who have optimal levels of vitamin D, low levels of vitamin D at age 65 mean you are twice as likely to experience mental decline. In fact, a Dutch study found that patients with Alzheimer’s disease but high serum levels of vitamin D3 scored significantly higher on cognitive testing than those with low levels of the nutrient.
Another clinical study, published in the journal Neurology, tracked adult volunteers aged 65 and older for six years, their vitamin D levels, and their elevated risk of dementia. At the end of the study, they found that even moderate deficiencies in vitamin D increased the risk to 53 percent. For Alzheimer’s, the risk was 69 percent – and that was for those who are only moderately deficient. For anyone with severe deficiencies, the risk of dementia was 125 percent, and the risk of Alzheimer’s was 122 percent. Vitamin D is absolutely essential for the brain.
Additionally, research at the UCLA School of Medicine, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease showed that vitamin D works with curcumin to protect the brain from damaging inflammation and clear the brain of amyloid plaques by stimulating a type of immune cell called a macrophage to more aggressively seek out and clean up beta-amyloid fragments in the brain. Curcumin and vitamin D work synergistically—they strengthen one another’s impact—and are a potent protective force for the brain.
Curcumin also helps the body raise levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is required for neural plasticity, and is concentrated in the amygdala, cerebral cortex, and hypothalamus.
Concentrated plant oils from rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and Spanish sage (Salvia lavandulifolia) plants have a long history of use as aids to enhancing memory and learning, and because of this, are also included in CuraMed Brain.
Rosemary oil can neutralize dangerous free radicals that destroy brain cells. Once it crosses the blood/brain barrier, it does not activate until free-radical stress occurs, so it’s safe and doesn’t act indiscriminately.
Both rosemary and Spanish preserve acetylcholine, a messenger in the brain that supports memory and learning. Low levels of acetylcholine are associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
They do this by inhibiting the activity of acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter. In a study in New Zealand, this plant oil was given to people with Alzheimer’s disease, and their attention and focus improved, along with many of their other symptoms. While more research needs to be done, no significant side effects have been reported for either of these plant oils.
VR: What are the top pain and inflammation relief products that retailers should be aware of?
Myers: I think that one of the aspects of aging that anyone can relate to, whether they’re routinely physically active or not, is pain and inflammation. That is a concern that we’ve addressed with our products for some years, especially with our CuraMed Acute Pain Relief supplement and our long-established Curamin suite.
CuraMed Acute Pain Relief provides clinically studied BCM-95 curcumin along with BOS-10 boswellia. BCM-95 curcumin is the world’s most clinically studied, enhanced bioavailable curcumin in the world, with over 85 published studies to its credit. BCM-95 curcumin combines curcumin with turmeric essential oil to which boosts absorption by up to 700 percent compared to standardized 95 percent curcumin extracts. Turmeric essential oil also provides anti-inflammatory compounds, including ar-turmerone, so this ingredient is incredibly beneficial in a variety of ways.
BOS-10 boswellia is standardized to provide up to 10 times more acetyl-11-keto-B-boswellic acid (AKBA) than unstandardized forms, which may only have as little as one percent AKBA. This key compound is especially helpful along the 5-LOX pathway for pain relief, which other herbs can’t match as effectively. It has demonstrated its value in clinical studies combined with BCM-95 curcumin for osteoarthritis pain, a common condition as we get older.
Acute Pain Relief also features a black sesame seed oil. Using a specialized process, this black sesame seed oil emulsifies the curcumin and boswellia, which allowed us to develop a small soft gel that is easy to swallow. Black sesame seed has anti-inflammatory properties of its own and has been traditionally used in ayurvedic medicine to aid in carrying and dispersing fat-soluble ingredients as well. Other research has found that sesame seed oil compounds preserve joint fluid and reduces pain in cases of osteoarthritis.
In a clinical study, curcumin, boswellia, and black sesame seed oil emulsified using this special process matched acetaminophen in reducing pain intensity and pain magnitude, holding steady all the way through day seven (the conclusion of the trial). Additionally, the botanical combination was 8.5 times better than acetaminophen at reducing the emotional distress and unpleasantness associated with pain, including the feelings of fatigue, fearfulness, and the sense of being ‘punished’ by pain.
During any period in life, we’re going to have those intensive, sudden hits of pain. But somehow, they seem all the more acute when you get older.
Curamin and Curamin Extra Strength are our original formulas for pain relief. They feature the same clinically studied curcumin and boswellia as our CuraMed Acute Pain Relief along with DLPA and nattokinase.
Both the BCM-95 curcumin alone and combined with BOS-10 boswellia have been clinically shown to reduce pain and support mobility in cases of arthritis.
An osteoarthritis study compared a combination of the two botanicals to a generic celecoxib (known under the brand name Celebrex) for individuals with osteoarthritis. One group received celecoxib, 100 mg, twice daily while the second group received a 500 mg blend of our curcumin enhanced with turmeric essential oil and the uniquely standardized boswellia extract twice daily.
64 percent of those taking our herbal combo versus 29 percent in the drug group experienced pain relief to such a high degree that they were able to move from having “moderate to severe arthritis” to “mild to moderate arthritis.”
A rheumatoid arthritis (RA) study that followed 45 individuals, randomized to three groups. Group one received diclofenac sodium (a prescription NSAID which could raise the risk of heart attacks), 50 mg, twice daily; group two received 500 mg of BCM-95 curcumin twice daily; and group three received both diclofenac sodium and the BCM-95 curcumin.
In the curcumin group, there were no dropouts due to adverse effects, but in the diclofenac sodium group, 14 percent withdrew due to adverse effects. In the Disease Activity Score in 28 Joints (DAS28) patient assessment, the group taking curcumin alone noted the highest impact for reducing disease symptoms, followed by those using the combination therapy of curcumin with diclofenac sodium. Interestingly, the diclofenac sodium-alone group scored in last place.
Curamin supplements have been customer favorites from the beginning because they are so effective at relieving pain. Curamin use doesn’t carry the risks of prescription or over-the-counter anti-inflammatories, so it is a perfect choice for anyone who deals with long-term pain due to chronic conditions—many of which are a fact of life for people as they get older.
VR: What are the top bone-and-joint health products that retailers should be aware of?
Myers: Keeping joints strong and healthy can help mitigate the need for pain relief altogether. Our joint support supplement, Be Mobile, provides ingredients that are especially adept at keeping knees, ankles, hips, elbows, hands, and the spine well-nourished and flexible.
Be Mobile features a blend of type II collagen, glucosamine and chondroitin, hyaluronic acid complex, and our BOS-10 boswellia with up to 10 times the beneficial AKBA than unstandardized forms – the same botanical we include in our CuraMed Acute Pain Relief and Curamin formulas.
Working together, these ingredients can cover a lot of ground.
For example, type II collagen is one of many forms of collagen, but it is also the most important for articular joints – the ones that move. In fact, it makes up to 90 percent of the collagen in those structures. While collagen is obviously produced naturally in our bodies, supplemental sources can be very effective, too.
For at least 20 years, researchers have investigated the role of supplemental type II collagen in people with joint pain (typically knee pain) due to osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Overall, results have been pretty impressive. Like all joint-rebuilding nutrients, it can take time – some of the studies last for three months or more. Aside from stopping pain symptoms, supplemental type II collagen may also interfere with T-cells that attack existing collagen in the joints, as you’d see in cases of rheumatoid arthritis.
In one clinical study, type II collagen was used alongside acetaminophen and tested against acetaminophen alone in two groups of volunteers with osteoarthritis. The group using type II collagen definitely came out ahead – they had significantly less knee pain, better knee flexibility, and better walking scores.
Other clinical research shows that type II collagen alleviates symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, as well.
Another clinical study, a six-month trial, showed that when type II collagen was combined with glucosamine and chondroitin, individuals with symptoms of hand osteoarthritis fared better than those just using glucosamine and chondroitin alone. The researchers also noted that those receiving the extra boost from type II collagen improved faster and more steadily over the year with further improvements and better symptom relief.
Glucosamine and chondroitin are both extremely popular supplemental nutrient for anyone with joint pain, whether or not they suffer from arthritis, or damaged joints.
In the body, glucosamine is a polysaccharide compound naturally found in cartilage. For people with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, it not only helps rebuilds those cushioning, shock-absorbing structures, but relieves pain as well.
Chondroitin sulfate is a glycosaminoglycan (often shortened to GAG) which, in turn, makes up cartilage, connective tissue, bone, and skin. It helps extend the life and activity of chondrocytes (cartilage producing cells), reduces inflammation, and strengthens the load-bearing bones in the joints that sit just under the cartilage, called “subchondral” bone.
Often researched in a combination, the chondroitin and glucosamine in Be Mobile were found to be equal to celecoxib (also known as Celebrex) for stopping knee pain.
An interesting side note: the chondroitin alone has been objectively shown to reduce pain sensation on MRI brain scans of patients in a clinical study.
Both the glucosamine/chondroitin and the celecoxib groups saw about 50 percent reductions in pain swelling, fluid around the joints, and other knee osteoarthritis symptoms by the end of the six-month trial. Bear in mind that these were patients with severe osteoarthritis knee pain, and that glucosamine and chondroitin don’t cause dangerous side effects like body aches, diarrhea, gas, insomnia, and risk of congestive heart failure seen with celecoxib. So, in that sense, the nutrient option is far superior – it fixes the problem without causing complications.
Individually, both glucosamine and chondroitin have shown remarkable results. In a year-long clinical study in Japan, chondroitin sulfate reduced symptoms fairly rapidly in the first three months in low and high dosage level. As the study progressed, the pain of knee osteoarthritis diminished as well. By the end of study, those in the low-dose group reported about the same results in the high-dose group.
Other clinical work with chondroitin found that it works very well used intermittently. In another one-year clinical study, individuals with knee osteoarthritis took chondroitin (or a placebo) for three-month intervals, twice a year. By the end of the study, those in the chondroitin group felt less pain, had better mobility, and more preserved cartilage. So in this case, the chondroitin did more than make people feel better – it inhibited one of the very measurable aspects of osteoarthritis – the destruction of the cushioning space in the knee.
Glucosamine, like chondroitin, has also been shown to reduce pain, and scientific research shows that when combined with chondroitin and hyaluronic acid, it actually decreased cartilage-degrading enzymes metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13), that wear away at the cushion between joints. It also inhibited inflammatory markers TNF-a and IL-6, by 70 percent and 74 percent, respectively, compared to the untreated group.
Hyaluronic acid, another GAG, is synthesized in chondrocytes, the cartilage-producing cells I mentioned earlier in relation to chondroitin sulfate. Hyaluronic acid adds to the spacing between joints, scavenges free radicals, and is critical for joint lubrication. As osteoarthritis progresses, hyaluronic acid loses its shape and structure as the condition wears down its molecular weight. When this happens, it can’t properly lubricate joints or keep them from grinding together.
Clinical work with supplemental hyaluronic acid (HA) has been really promising. This is good news, because in the past, it has typically been injected at the site of pain and cartilage wear – usually the knees. Understandably, that has limited its appeal as a treatment.
In fact, that very limitation is what spurred researchers to investigate the effects of oral HA. One clinical study comparing injectable vs. supplemental hyaluronic acid (combined with boswellia) found that older patients typically responded better to the supplemental version, while younger patients appeared to get results from the injectable form. However, the researchers concluded that the supplemental form could be quite helpful for people with knee osteoarthritis, especially as an early intervention.
This was also reflected in another one-year clinical study: individuals aged 70 or younger showed the best response from supplemental hyaluronic acid, especially when combined with quadriceps-strengthening exercise. Like other work, this study was prompted by the fact that the researchers wanted to verify an alternative to hyaluronic acid injections, which they mentioned, is painful and inconvenient. In any case, hyaluronic acid plus exercise significantly relieved pain and stiffness in the knees.
The supplemental hyaluronic acid nutrient we include in Be Mobile has been shown to improve muscle aches and joint pain by 75 percent in just eight weeks, so it doesn’t always take a long time to notice a difference, as long as you have the right supplemental form.
In a three-month study, this same ingredient not only relieved muscle pain and reduced synovial fluid pooling in knees, but it also actually helped regenerate muscle tissue.
Compared to acetaminophen, this HA-rich ingredient relieved knee pain faster and more effectively, and reduced the pooling of synovial fluid, also known as “water on the knee”, which is just as painful as it sounds to anyone who has experienced the condition.
Be Mobile also includes the BOS-10 boswellia extract we use in our other pain-fighting formulas, because it protects joints from ongoing damage and promotes flexibility.
