Treatment of Edematofibrosclerotic Panniculitis (Cellulite) and of Localised Adiposity with Extracts of Birch, Melilotus, Orthosiphon, Bromelin and Red Vine Leukocyanidine: Results from a Single-Centre Observational Prospective Study

Abstract

The Edematofibrosclerotic Panniculitis (EFP) and the Localised Adiposity (LA) have controversial pathogenesis and therapy. A single-centre observational study has been performed to assess the potential efficacy, the limitations and the side effects of the medical treatment of EFP and AL by means of a multicomponent nutraceutical product. Fifty female subjects have been enrolled, mean age and BMI of the patients were 46 years and 24.18 respectively. The subjects have been submitted to a two-month treatment with two tablets of a nutraceutical based on extracts of Birch (100 mg), Orthosiphon (100 mg), Red Vine Leukocyanidines (100 mg), Melilotus (5 mg) and Bromelin (150 mg). The patients have been investigated before the treatment and during the treatment (at 30 and 60 days) by means of: a) volumetry of the lower limbs with tape measurement; b) visual analogue scale assessment (VAS) of symptoms such as pain paresthesia/dysesthesia, heaviness, and of the daily diuresis; c) duplex ultrasound evaluation of the thickness of the adipose tissue at the peri-trochanteric level; d) multifrequency segmental bioimpedance (MSB) analysis for the tissue liquid component. Forty-five of the 50 enrolled subjects have completed the study and five patients have discontinued the treatment, four of which due to unexpected personal problems or health problems not related to the treatment itself and one for reporting gastrointestinal disorders (such as constipation/diarrhea) with the nutraceutical intake. At the end of the therapeutical cycle, volumetry of the limbs decreased of 7% (right) and of 6% (left). Pre/post treatment VAS assessment of symptoms showed the following mean figures: heaviness from 5.10 to 0.88; paresthesia/dysesthesia from 0.90 to 0.00; pain from 2.03 to 0.12. Diuresis increased of 31%. Duplex-ultrasound assessment of the subcutaneous adipose layers at the trochanteric level showed a reduction of slightly more than 20% at the end of the treatment in both limbs. L-Dex bioimpedance values have been as follows: 3.97 at the enrolment; 1.17 at the end of the treatment (reduction of the subcutaneous tissue fluid content). The present single-centre observational study proved that the tested nutraceutical multicomponent is effective and free of relevant side effects in the treatment of EFP and AL of the lower limbs. Larger cohort studies may possibly confirm the results of this preliminary experience.