The Natural Health Products Directorate (NHPD) of Health Canada has issued a compendial-based product license for CELL-fX®, a natural product rich in chondroitin sulphate, based on peer-reviewed clinical evidence for chondroitin sulphate.

Helps relieve symptoms of bone and joint pain.^1-13

A recent meta-analysis indicated that Chondroitin Sulphate relieved osteoarthritic pain symptoms by at least 50%.¹

The combined data from 7 randomized double-blind placebo controlled clinical trials of 703 patients with osteoarthritis taking chondroitin sulphate or placebo for a minimum of 120 days was analyzed in terms of safety and efficacy. Although many patients were also taking analgesics or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, the meta-analysis indicated an additional improvement in pain symptoms of at least 50% (using the Lequesne index and pain rating on visual analog scale, VAS). Chondroitin sulphate was shown to be safe and well-tolerated. The frequency of side effects was actually shown to be higher in the placebo groups.

More recent clinical studies confirmed the efficacy of chondroitin sulphate in osteoarthritis.²
In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial, chondroitin sulphate (1 g/day) was consumed by osteoarthritic patients for 3 months. Analysis of the group of participants that had completed the trial revealed that significant improvement was observed with respect to pain at rest (P = 0.03) and functional handicap (assessed using the Lequesne index) (P = 0.02) with chondroitin sulphate intake. Efficacy was persistent even one month after completing treatment; significant improvements were observed for efficacy parameters such as pain with activity (P = 0.0001), physician assessed overall change in patient state (P = 0.05), and functional handicap (P = 0.01). Adverse event rates did not differ between the chondroitin sulphate and placebo groups.

Professional recognition.^3,4
Chondroitin sulphate was recognized for its ability to help relieve symptoms of bone and joint pain in a widely-used reference publication by the Canadian Pharmacists Association and the Canadian Medical Association³, as well as the prestigious Pharmacist’s Letter in the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database.⁴

Helps in the formation of connective tissue.^14,15

Chondroitin sulphate treatment protected against joint deterioration in osteoarthritis.

A randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial involving 119 patients was carried out to assess the ability of chondroitin sulphate to qualify as a structure/disease modifying anti-osteoarthritis drug (S/DMOAD). Chondroitin sulphate intake (400 mg TID) significantly decreased the number of patients with new erosive osteoarthritic joints, of particular clinical significance as osteoarthritic erosion is associated with pain and loss of joint function.

Additional health benefits.
Laboratory studies have demonstrated that CELL-fX® is an antagonist of excessive intracellular Ca2+. Too much cell calcium has been associated with numerous degenerative conditions and diseases and many people are particularly susceptible to variations in cellular calcium. It has also been shown to exhibit anti-angiogenic properties through inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation.