Avocado-soybean unsaponifiables treatment is effective in reducing knee osteoarthritis symptoms without increasing adverse events, contrary to those with hip osteoarthritis.
To assess avocado-soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) effectiveness and safety, a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials involving patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis was conducted. Various scientific databases, including Medline, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, were thoroughly searched for suitable trials. Selection criteria consisted of randomized placebo-controlled trials wherein the effect of orally administered ASU on knee or hip osteoarthritis symptoms were evaluated, primarily using the Lequesne index, visual analog scale, and joint space width.
The meta-analysis revealed a significant reduction in pain as assessed by the visual analog scale for those under Avocado-soybean unsaponifiables therapy, particularly for patients with knee osteoarthritis, indicated by a decrease in both the visual analogue scale and Lequesne index. However, no such significant effect was found for patients with hip osteoarthritis. In terms of safety, there were no significant differences in adverse events between patients receiving ASU and those given a placebo, confirming ASU's relative safety as a treatment option.
