Key Clinical Study – Frestedt et al., 2008

A Natural Mineral Supplement Provides Relief from Knee Osteoarthritis Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial

Authors: Joy L. Frestedt, Melanie Walsh, Michael A. Kuskowski, John L. Zenk

Published: Nutrition Journal, 2008, 7:9

DOI: 10.1186/1475-2891-7-9

The study included 70 people with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis. Over a 12-week period, participants were randomized into four groups: Aquamin® 2,400 mg/day, glucosamine sulfate, a combination of Aquamin + glucosamine, or placebo. Outcomes assessed included WOMAC measures of pain, stiffness, and physical function, as well as the distance walked during a six-minute walking test.

In the group receiving Aquamin® alone, significant improvements in WOMAC scores for pain, stiffness, physical activity, and overall score were observed over the course of the study. Participants in the Aquamin group also walked an average of 101 feet (approximately 31 metres; +7%) farther during the six-minute walking test. However, the authors explicitly noted that this was a small pilot study and that there were some differences between the groups at baseline.

Second Clinical Study – Frestedt et al., 2009

Aquamin F – A Natural Mineral Supplement Derived from Marine Algae for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study

Authors: Joy L. Frestedt, Michael A. Kuskowski, John L. Zenk

Published: Nutrition Journal, 2009, 8:7

DOI: 10.1186/1475-2891-8-7

The study randomized 29 people with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis; 22 entered the treatment phase. Participants received Aquamin® 2,400 mg daily or placebo while gradually reducing their use of NSAID medication.

Following a 50% reduction in NSAID use, the Aquamin group showed significant improvements in knee range of motion and distance walked during the six-minute walking test compared with placebo. The difference in the six-minute walking distance was approximately 136 feet, or about 41 metres, in favour of Aquamin. However, differences in WOMAC scores between the groups were not statistically significant in this small study. The authors therefore considered the findings preliminary and recommended further research.

Full study – PubMed:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19187557/

Research on Inflammatory Markers

In 2014, a small randomized, double-blind study involving 24 women with moderate to severe osteoarthritis was published. After six weeks, Aquamin alone was associated with a 23.6% reduction in serum TNF-α, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, with the result showing a trend towards statistical significance. A more pronounced effect was observed with the combined AquaPT formulation.

This was also a small study, so these findings should be presented as an area of scientific research rather than as an established health claim.

Aquamin® and Joint Health

Aquamin® has been investigated in randomized clinical studies involving people with knee osteoarthritis. Research has examined its potential effects on joint pain and stiffness, range of motion, physical function, and walking ability.

Pilot studies have reported promising findings, including improvements in some measures of mobility and joint function. However, these findings are preliminary and require confirmation in larger clinical trials.