SierraSil® Combats Osteoarthritis of the Knee

SierraSil® Combats Osteoarthritis of the Knee

VANCOUVER, British Columbia SierraSil®, a multi-mineralformulation from Sierra Mountain Minerals Inc., relieves symptoms of kneeosteoarthritis, according to a new study published in the InternationalJournal of Inflammation (2:11, 2005) (www.journalinflammation.com).

In the randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial, 107 patients withmild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee were randomized to receive 3 g/dSierraSil (high-dose SierraSil group), 2 g/d SierraSil (low-dose SierraSilgroup), 2 g/d SierraSil + 100 mg/d extract of cats claw or Uncariaguianensis (vincaria + SierraSil), or placebo for eight weeks. Patients werescored on the WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index (A, B, C and total). Visual analogscore (VAS) for pain, consumption of rescue medication (paracetamol), andtolerability were secondary variables. All groups showed improvement in WOMACand VAS scores after eight weeks. Symptoms decreased more in the three groupsreceiving SierraSil than in the placebo group; however, this was notstatistically significant. In reference to baseline values, SierraSil-treatedgroups experienced a considerably quicker onset of benefits. VAS wassignificantly improved at four weeks in all groups but was significantly greaterin all SierraSil groups compared to placebo. Rescue medication use was up to 28 percent lower in the vincaria + SierraSilgroup and highdose SierraSil group although not statistically different fromplacebo.Tolerability was good for all groups, no serious adverse events werenoted and safety parameters remained unchanged.

The researchers concluded SierraSil, alone and in combination with a catsclaw extract, improved joint health and function within one to two weeks oftreatment but significant benefits over placebo were not sustained, possibly dueto rescue medication masking, and added SierraSil may offer an alternativetherapy in subjects with joint pain and dysfunction.

SierraSil may offer exciting new approaches to limiting the jointdestruction and lack of mobility associated with arthritis, said Mark Miller,Ph.D., one of the researchers who conducted the study.

Michael Bentley, executive vice president of Sierra Mountain Minerals, alsofelt the results of the study reflect positively upon SierraSil.We know frompast trials, patient testimonials and reports from physicians that SierraSilimproves joint mobility and flexibility, he said. Now, we see howimportant it can be as a support to those suffering from the pain ofosteoarthritis.