If you're in the middle part of your life, you've probably started to notice joint pain and stiffness and are one of many people turning to supplements for help. Joint-supporting supplements like FlexProtex promise to help you stay active as you age. Because these supplements aren't regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, it's difficult to determine which work and which don't, especially when the manufacturer makes documentation hard to find.
Identification
Patty McPeak is a businesswoman who started the nutritional supplement company Nutrucea. In 2005, McPeak's company was issued a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office entitled "Methods for Treating Joint Inflammation, Pain and Loss of Mobility," the basis for FlexProtex. The official product website doesn't include the product's ingredients, and other reseller websites disagree as to what exactly is included and in which amounts. Allegedly, FlexProtex contains NAG, or N-acetyl-glucosamine, a form of glucosamine that isn't available in other joint support formulas. It may also contain 15 mg vitamin C, 1,000 IU vitamin D3, yucca, turmeric, boswellia errata, ashwagandh, bromelain, evening primrose oil, chondroitin sulfate, green lipped mussels extract, hyaluronic acid and methylsulfonylmethane, also called MSM.
Claims
The manufacturer and resellers of FlexProtex claim it's a cutting-edge natural joint support supplement that will promote overall joint health, flexibility and range of motion via a well-balanced combination of more than 120 naturally occurring antioxidants. It's also said to support in the natural process of cartilage regeneration, maintain healthy cartilage, and reduce aches and pains with its anti-inflammatory properties.
Expert Insight
The four main joint-supporting ingredients in FlexProtex are glucosamine, chondroitin, boswellia serrata and MSM. The National Center for Alternative and Complementary Medicine sponsored a multi-year series of studies at the University of Utah School of Medicine called the Glucosamine and chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial, or GAIT. The results, published in the "New England Journal of Medicine" in February 2006, "Arthritis & Rheumatism" in October 2008 and "Annals of Rheumatic Diseases" in June 2010, found that glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, together or alone, fared no better than a placebo in slowing loss of cartilage in knee osteoarthritis. As far as MSM is concerned, MayoClinic.com notes there's no conclusive evidence that MSM is effective in reducing arthritis pain. Another study investigating boswellia serrata published more promising results in the January 2003 issue of "Phytomedicine," that all patients had a decrease in knee pain and swelling, increased knee flexion, walking distance and climbing ability.
Considerations
The website for FlexProtex doesn't include the amounts of each ingredient, so it's hard to know exactly what you're taking. There are also no free samples, trial periods or customer testimonials and scant FAQs. Although the product boasts "there are no side effects, just side benefits," MayoClinic.com reports that MSM can cause stomach upset, diarrhea and headache. Aetna Intellihealth adds that boswellia may lead to stomach pain and nausea, heartburn, a feeling of fullness and diarrhea. Boswellia also isn't recommended if you're pregnant or breast-feeding, due to the risk of birth defects or spontaneous abortion. Boswellia may also increase the effects or toxicity of certain drugs.
References
- Flex Protex-D: Ingredients
- New Flex Protex
- Joint Health Magazine: Flex Protex
- National Center for Alternative and Complementary Medicine: Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial
- PubMed: Efficacy and Tolerability of Boswellia serrata extract in treatment of osteoarthritis of knee--a randomized double blind placebo controlled trial.
