Supplementation with a new food grade delivery system of Boswellia and Centella in the intervertebral discs registry: the Sager study

ABSTR A C T BACKGROUND: The aim of this registry study was to investigate the potential of a new food-grade formulation of the association of Boswellia serrata and Centella asiatica extracts (Boswellia/Centella Phytosome, [BCP]) in combination with standard management (SM) to produce a faster re-expansion of the intervertebral disks in symptomatic subjects with "flattened" disks in the lower spine, due to wrong posture and com-pression after repeated trauma. METHODS: The study was designed as a 3-6 months pilot registry. Three groups of subjects were comparable for characteristics and symptoms at baseline: SM+BCP; SM; SM+glucosamine. RESULTS: No side effects were observed. Regarding target measurements at 3 and 6 months, height increased in the BCP group vs. the other two groups. The total spine length improved in the BCP group (P<0.05); in particular at 6 months the increase was doubled with BCP. SM was effective in producing elongation but the association with BCP made spinal elongation faster, more effective, with a better expansion of the inter-vertebral disks. Regarding ultrasound measurements, BCP was able to significantly ameliorate the posterior disk space (P<0.05) and decreased disk density more than the other groups of the study. Signs/symptoms and mobility were improved with BCP (P<0.05), while rescue medications decreased. The loss of working days was reduced with all managements (significantly more in BCP group than in the other two). CONCLUSIONS: The relative effects on spinal elongation, disk space, signs/symptoms of BCP appeared to double the efficacy of SM, improv-ing symptoms associated to a very good tolerability of BCP.