Supplementation with a new food grade delivery system of Boswellia and Centella in the intervertebral discs registry: the Sager study.

Abstract

The aim of this registry study was to investigate the potential of a new food-grade formulation of the association of Boswellia serrata and Centella asiatica extracts (Boswellia/Centella Phytosome, [BCP]) in combination with standard management (SM) to produce a faster re-expansion of the intervertebral disks in symptomatic subjects with "flattened" disks in the lower spine, due to wrong posture and compression after repeated trauma. The study was designed as a 3-6 months pilot registry. Three groups of subjects were comparable for characteristics and symptoms at baseline: SM+BCP; SM; SM+glucosamine. No side effects were observed. Regarding target measurements at 3 and 6 months, height increased in the BCP group vs. the other two groups. The total spine length improved in the BCP group (P<0.05); in particular at 6 months the increase was doubled with BCP. SM was effective in producing elongation but the association with BCP made spinal elongation faster, more effective, with a better expansion of the intervertebral disks. Regarding ultrasound measurements, BCP was able to significantly ameliorate the posterior disk space (P<0.05) and decreased disk density more than the other groups of the study. Signs/symptoms and mobility were improved with BCP (P<0.05), while rescue medications decreased. The loss of working days was reduced with all managements (significantly more in BCP group than in the other two). The relative effects on spinal elongation, disk space, signs/symptoms of BCP appeared to double the efficacy of SM, improving symptoms associated to a very good tolerability of BCP.