A pilot trial evaluating Meta050, a proprietary combination of reduced iso-alpha acids, rosemary extract and oleanolic acid in patients with arthritis and fibromyalgia

Phytother Res. 2005 Oct;19(10):864-9. doi: 10.1002/ptr.1709.

Abstract

The aim of this open-label, 8-week observational trial was to investigate the efficacy of Meta050 (a proprietary, standardized combination of reduced iso-alpha-acids from hops, rosemary extract and oleanolic acid) on pain in patients with rheumatic disease. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia patients were given 440 mg Meta050 three times a day for 4 weeks, which was changed to 880 mg twice a day for the subsequent 4 weeks in the majority of patients. Pain and condition-specific symptoms were assessed using a standard visual analog scale (VAS), an abridged arthritis impact measurement scale (AIMS2) and the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire. Fifty-four subjects with rheumatic disease completed the trial. Following treatment, a statistically significant decrease in pain of 50% and 40% was observed in arthritis subjects using the VAS (p < 0.0001; Wilcoxon-ranked sums) and AIMS2 (p < 0.0001), respectively. Fibromyalgia subject scores did not significantly improve. A decreasing trend of C-reactive protein, a marker for inflammation, was also observed in those subjects who presented with elevated C-reactive protein. No serious side effects were observed. These observations suggest that Meta050 at a dosage of 440 mg three times a day has a beneficial effect on pain in arthritis subjects.

Publication types

  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antirheumatic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / pathology
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Fibromyalgia / drug therapy
  • Fibromyalgia / pathology
  • Humans
  • Humulus
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Olea
  • Oleanolic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Oleanolic Acid / therapeutic use
  • Osteoarthritis / drug therapy
  • Osteoarthritis / pathology
  • Pain Measurement
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Plant Extracts / administration & dosage
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Rosmarinus*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Plant Extracts
  • Oleanolic Acid