Research

Avocado Soybean Unsaponifiables (ASU)

18 peer-reviewed studies curated from PubMed and Semantic Scholar.

4
Meta-analyses
3
Systematic reviews
11
RCTs
0
Other studies
Meta-analyses (22%)
Systematic reviews (17%)
RCTs (61%)

Studies

Sorted by quality and recency

2024·Medical archives (Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina)·Hoang Minh Phan, Cang Trung Huynh, Phu Van La, et al

The Efficacy of Piascledine in Alleviating Symptoms and Its Impact on Blood Lipid Levels and body Mass Index in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis.

RCTn = 200Joint Bone Health

RCT evaluating Piascledine in 200 patients with knee osteoarthritis. Piascledine improved symptoms and knee joint function, with a reduction in VAS scores over 8 weeks. Slight increase in triglyceride levels was observed, but no significant impact on body mass index or lipid metabolism. Mild gastrointestinal side effects were reported.

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2014·The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·Melainie Cameron, Sigrun Chrubasik

Oral herbal therapies for treating osteoarthritis.

Meta-analysisn = 5,980Joint Bone Health

Meta-analysis of 49 RCTs assessing oral herbal therapies for osteoarthritis, focusing on Boswellia serrata and avocado-soybean unsaponifiables (ASU). Boswellia serrata showed significant improvement in pain and function with low risk of adverse events. ASU showed small improvements in symptoms with no significant adverse events. Further research is needed for long-term effects and optimal dosing.

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2007·Osteoarthritis and cartilage·R Christensen, E M Bartels, A Astrup, et al

Symptomatic efficacy of avocado-soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) in osteoarthritis (OA) patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Meta-analysisn = 664Joint Bone Health

Meta-analysis of RCTs evaluating avocado-soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) in osteoarthritis patients. The analysis included 664 patients and found that ASU significantly reduced pain and improved the Lequesne index compared to placebo, with better outcomes in knee OA than hip OA.

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2022·Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)·Ramin Goudarzi, Peter Thomas, Sandra Ryan

Joint Dysfunctionality Alleviation along with Systemic Inflammation Reduction Following Arthrocen Treatment in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

RCTn = 119Joint Bone Health Inflammation

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial assessed the effects of avocado/soy unsaponifiables (Arthrocen) on cytokine changes in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Arthrocen improved joint dysfunctionality symptoms, quality of life indices, and reduced inflammation markers compared to placebo over 3 and 6 months.

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2019·International journal of rheumatic diseases·Mario Simental-Mendía, Adriana Sánchez-García, Carlos A Acosta-Olivo, et al

Efficacy and safety of avocado-soybean unsaponifiables for the treatment of hip and knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.

Meta-analysisJoint Bone Health

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials examining the efficacy and safety of avocado-soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) in hip or knee osteoarthritis. ASU significantly reduced pain in knee OA but not in hip OA, with no significant differences in adverse events compared to placebo.

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2013·Annals of the rheumatic diseases·Emmanuel Maheu, Christian Cadet, Marc Marty, et al

Randomised, controlled trial of avocado-soybean unsaponifiable (Piascledine) effect on structure modification in hip osteoarthritis: the ERADIAS study.

RCTn = 399Joint Bone Health

This RCT assessed the effect of avocado-soybean unsaponifiable (ASU-E) on radiographic progression in hip osteoarthritis over 3 years. While there was no significant difference in mean joint space width loss between ASU-E and placebo groups, ASU-E reduced the percentage of progressors by 20%, suggesting a potential structure-modifying effect.

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2010·Clinical rheumatology·Karel Pavelka, Philippe Coste, Pál Géher, et al

Efficacy and safety of piascledine 300 versus chondroitin sulfate in a 6 months treatment plus 2 months observation in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

RCTn = 361Joint Bone Health

RCT comparing avocado soybean unsaponifiable (Piascledine 300 mg) once daily to chondroitin sulfate 400 mg three times daily in 361 patients with knee osteoarthritis. Both treatments reduced the WOMAC-index by approximately 50% with no significant difference in efficacy or safety. The study suggests better compliance with ASU due to once daily dosing.

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2010·The Physician and sportsmedicine·Nicholas A DiNubile

A potential role for avocado- and soybean-based nutritional supplements in the management of osteoarthritis: a review.

Meta-analysisJoint Bone Health

This review summarizes evidence supporting the use of avocado and soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) alone or with glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate for osteoarthritis management. It highlights molecular mechanisms and findings from in vitro, in vivo, and high-quality randomized clinical trials indicating benefits for hip or knee OA.

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2007·Physical therapy·Rikke H Moe, Espen A Haavardsholm, Anne Christie, et al

Effectiveness of nonpharmacological and nonsurgical interventions for hip osteoarthritis: an umbrella review of high-quality systematic reviews.

Systematic reviewJoint Bone Health

Umbrella review of high-quality systematic reviews on nonpharmacological and nonsurgical interventions for hip osteoarthritis. Moderate-quality evidence showed acupuncture and diacerein have no effect on pain and function, while low-quality evidence suggested strengthening exercises and avocado/soybean unsaponifiables reduce pain.

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2003·Clinical rheumatology·E Ernst

Avocado-soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) for osteoarthritis - a systematic review.

Systematic reviewJoint Bone Health

Systematic review of randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trials evaluating avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) for osteoarthritis. Four studies were included, with three suggesting efficacy of ASU for improving OA symptoms, though the only long-term trial yielded a largely negative result.

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2001·The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·C V Little, T Parsons

Herbal therapy for treating osteoarthritis.

Systematic reviewJoint Bone Health

Systematic review of herbal therapies for osteoarthritis. Five studies met criteria, with two studies on avocado/soybean unsaponifiables showing beneficial effects on functional index, pain, NSAID intake, and global evaluation. Evidence for other herbal interventions was insufficient.

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2021·Journal of complementary & integrative medicine·Zohreh Jangravi, Saeed Basereh, Ali Zaree Mahmoudabadi, et al

Avocado/soy unsaponifiables can redress the balance between serum antioxidant and oxidant levels in patients with osteoarthritis: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study.

RCTn = 40Joint Bone Health

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial evaluated the effects of avocado/soy unsaponifiables (ASU) on serum antioxidant and oxidative stress in 40 patients with osteoarthritis. ASU significantly decreased oxidative stress markers and increased antioxidant levels, suggesting it can effectively manage osteoarthritis by balancing antioxidant and oxidant markers.

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2002·Arthritis and rheumatism·Michel Lequesne, Emmanuel Maheu, Christian Cadet, et al

Structural effect of avocado/soybean unsaponifiables on joint space loss in osteoarthritis of the hip.

RCTn = 163Joint Bone Health

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the structural effect of avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) in patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the hip. The study found no overall difference in joint space width (JSW) between ASU and placebo groups. However, in a post-hoc analysis, ASU significantly reduced joint space loss in patients with advanced joint space narrowing compared to placebo.

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2001·Scandinavian journal of rheumatology·T Appelboom, J Schuermans, G Verbruggen, et al

Symptoms modifying effect of avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) in knee osteoarthritis. A double blind, prospective, placebo-controlled study.

RCTJoint Bone Health

A multicenter, double-blind RCT comparing 300mg or 600mg daily of avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) to placebo in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The ASU groups showed significant improvements in efficacy parameters and reduced NSAIDs and analgesics intake by more than 50% in 71% of patients, compared to 36% in the placebo group.

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2016·International journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery·I S Catunda, B C do E Vasconcelos, E S de S Andrade, et al

Clinical effects of an avocado-soybean unsaponifiable extract on arthralgia and osteoarthritis of the temporomandibular joint: preliminary study.

RCTn = 14Joint Bone Health

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigated the effectiveness of an avocado-soybean unsaponifiable extract (ASU) in 14 women with arthralgia and osteoarthritis of the temporomandibular joint. The ASU group showed decreased pain symptoms, improved quality of life, and reduced use of rescue medication compared to the placebo group.

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2013·Obesity facts·Esperanza Martínez-Abundis, Manuel González-Ortiz, Arieh R Mercado-Sesma, et al

Effect of avocado soybean unsaponifiables on insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity in patients with obesity.

RCTn = 14Nutrition -

RCT of 14 obese adults evaluating the effect of 300 mg avocado soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) on insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity over 3 months. No significant differences were found between ASU and placebo groups.

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1998·Arthritis and rheumatism·E Maheu, B Mazières, J P Valat, et al

Symptomatic efficacy of avocado/soybean unsaponifiables in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee and hip: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial with a six-month treatment period and a two-month followup demonstrating a persistent effect.

RCTn = 164Joint Bone Health

RCT of 164 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip comparing avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) to placebo over 6 months, with a 2-month follow-up. ASU significantly improved functional index scores and reduced pain compared to placebo, with a persistent effect observed after treatment ended.

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1997·Revue du rhumatisme (English ed.)·F Blotman, E Maheu, A Wulwik, et al

Efficacy and safety of avocado/soybean unsaponifiables in the treatment of symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee and hip. A prospective, multicenter, three-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

RCTn = 163Joint Bone Health

A three-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of avocado/soybean unsaponifiables in reducing NSAID use in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee and hip. The study found that fewer patients in the active group resumed NSAID therapy compared to the placebo group, and the functional index improved significantly more in the active group. Overall patient ratings were better in the active group, and safety was good in both groups.

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