Life Extension 5-Loxin 75 mg. Vegetarian Capsules

An herbal extract, Life Extension's 5-Loxin, significantly decreases pain and improves mobility in osteoarthritis of the knee, according to a study from India. Derived from the herb Boswellia serrata (Indian frankincense), Life Extension's 5-Loxin inhibits the 5-lipoxygenase enzyme to combat inflammation and pain.

In this study, 75 patients aged 40 to 80 years with mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis of the knee were randomly assigned to take 100 mg/day or 250 mg/day 5-Loxin, or matching placebo, for 90 days. By the study’s end, patients taking 5-Loxin at either dose reported significant improvements in pain and physical function compared with placebo recipients, and these changes were already present at day seven of treatment with the 250-mg dose. Synovial fluid from both supplemented groups showed significant reductions in levels of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (an enzyme that degrades cartilage). Safety was comparable among groups.

5-Loxin may represent a safe and effective anti-inflammatory treatment for osteoarthritis with fewer adverse effects than standard therapy. As people age, systemic inflammation can inflict degenerative effects throughout the body. A primary cause of this destructive cascade is the production of cell-signaling chemicals known as inflammatory cytokines. Along with these dangerous cytokines, imbalances of hormone-like messengers called prostaglandins also contribute to inflammatory processes.

The typical American diet is loaded with foods that contain arachidonic acid (like egg yolk, red meat, poultry, and dairy products) or stimulate the production of excess arachidonic acid in the body (foods rich in highglycemic carbohydrates, saturated fats, and omega-6 fatty acids). Scientific studies show that excess arachidonic acid increases levels of the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) enzyme, which can induce undesirable effects in cells. This culminates in the excess accumulation of leukotriene B4, a pro-inflammatory compound that attacks the joints, the arterial wall, and other tissues.

In India, extracts from the Boswellia plant have been used for centuries as fluid balancing agents. Recent human studies have confirmed that a specific Boswellia extract known as AKBA (3-O-acetyl-11-keto-ß-boswellic acid) selectively inhibits 5-LOX. Unlike other boswellic acids that only partially inhibit 5-LOX, AKBA binds directly to 5-LOX, effectively suppressing its proinflammatory activity.