An innovative approach to bone & joint health formulation

Bone and joint health formulations have played a significant role in the natural product industry for decades. Looking at the latest numbers, the demand for innovative products shouldn't decline but rather increase. An estimated 25% of the adult population has pain due to an "itis" condition, which is expected to grow to 43% by 2040.[1] With the glut of joint and bone health products in the marketplace, companies must look for innovative ingredients and delivery methods. Innovation should contribute to better results and compliance with consumers. The following is a list of Gencor-specific ingredients to help provide innovation to your product portfolio.

Joint health support: HydroCurc® and Levagen®+ to the rescue

HydroCurc® is considered the world's most bioavailable curcumin (single dose), with no less than 85% curcuminoid content. The use of patented LipiSperse® technology not only improves the bioavailability of HydroCurc®, but it also opens up the door to formulating with a cold-water dispersible powder, meaning you are not limited to just tablets/capsules and can open the floodgate of formulation possibilities: shots, beverages, sachets, effervescent, gels, gummies and more. HydroCurc® has 6-published clinical studies, of which one explicitly addresses joint pain. A small dose of 500mg of HydroCurc® taken once daily showed fast acting (just five days) joint pain relief and was well tolerated.[2] 

Levagen® or Levagen®+ is well studied, with 9-published studies and four more underway. Like HydroCurc®, Levagen®+ uses patented LipiSperse® technology to significantly improve bioavailability and open endless formulation applications. Several studies with Levagen® apply to our topic. The study on knee osteoarthritis had 111 subjects who received either 300mg Levagen®, 600mg Levagen®, or a placebo. The results showed dose-dependent improvements across all WOMAC sub-domains: Joint pain, stiffness, and function while improving quality of life and reducing anxiety.[3] Another study with Levagen®+ on acute joint pain evaluated the impact of 350mg of Levagen®+ or placebo on acute joint pain. The results showed a significant reduction in joint pain scores after just three days of taking Levagen®+ and an overall improvement in quality of life.[4]

Bone health support:  VeriSperse® to the rescue

VeriSperse® is a highly bioavailable trans-resveratrol ingredient due to the use of patented LipiSperse®. Studies with Veri-te™ show improved bioavailability and the ability to formulate across multiple dosage forms as with HydroCurc® and Levagen®+ above. In addition, regarding bone health, resveratrol has been shown to promote the formation of new bone-forming cells and improve bone mineral density in the lumbar and femur.[5]^,[6]^,[7]^,[8]^,[9]^,[10]^,[11]  Several studies specific to Veri-te™ have demonstrated multiple areas of benefit for bone health. For example, three unique studies show significant increases in bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) (Alkaline phosphatase is a marker of osteoblast differentiation, which is necessary for the formation of bone), increases in lumbar spine trabecular volumetric bone mineral density (LSvDMBtrab) and a reduction in a critical marker of bone resorption (C-terminal telopeptide type-1 collagen.)[12]^,[13]^,[14] 

Putting a Gencor bow on joint & bone health

The overabundance of joint and bone health ingredients and finished products in the marketplace can make it challenging to stand out. Gencor offers three exciting ingredients to formulate new innovative products or take an existing formula to the next level. LipiSperse® significantly decreases the formulation hurdles offering endless creativity.

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[1] CDC Website, Arthritis Data, and Statistics, Last reviewed October 12, 2021, Accessed January 29, 2023.

[2] Briskey D, Roche G, Rao A.  The Effect of a Dispersible Curcumin (HydroCurc®) Compared to a Placebo for Reducing Joint Pain in an Adult Population - A Randomised, Double-Blind Study.  Complement Med Res. 2022;29(6):429-436.  English.  doi: 10.1159/000524689.  Epub 2022 April 27.  PMID: 35477159.

[3] Steels, E., Venkatesh, R., Steels, E. et al. A double-blind randomized placebo controlled study assessing safety, tolerability and efficacy of palmitoylethanolamide for symptoms of knee osteoarthritis. Inflammopharmacol 27, 475–485 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-019-00582-9

[4] David Briskey, Georgia Roche, Amanda Rao. The Effect of a Dispersible Palmitoylethanolamide (LipiSperse®) Compared to a Placebo for Reducing Joint Pain in an Adult Population – A Randomised, Double-Blind Study. International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences. Vol. 10, No. 1, 2021, pp. 9-13. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20211001.12

[5] Del FattoreA, Teti A and RucciN. Bone cells and the mechanisms of bone remodelling. Front Biosci2012;4:2302–2321.

[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22202038

[7] MobasheriA and ShakibaeiM.  Osteogenic effects of resveratrol in vitro: potential for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.  Ann NY AcadSci 2013;1290:59–66.. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23855466

[8] GinaldiL, Di Benedetto MC and De Martinis M. Osteoporosis, inflammation and aging.  Immunity & Ageing 2005;2:14.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16271143

[9] Poulsen MM, FjeldborgK, OrnstrupMJ, KjærTN, NøhrMK, Pedersen SB. Resveratrol and inflammation: Challenges in translating pre-clinical findings to improved patient outcomes.  BiochimBiophysActa. 2015 Jun;1852(6):1124-36.

[10] OrnstrupMJ, HarsløfT, SørensenL, StenkjærL, LangdahlBL, Pedersen SB. Resveratrol Increases Osteoblast Differentiation In Vitro Independently of Inflammation.  CalcifTissue Int.  2016 Aug;99(2):155-63.

[11] Poulsen MM, OrnstrupMJ, HarsløfT, et al. Short-term resveratrol supplementation stimulates serum levels of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase in obese non-diabetic men. J FunctFoods 2014;6:305–310. https://www.veriteresveratrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Poulsen-2014.pdf

[12] Poulsen, Morten Møller, et al. "Short-term resveratrol supplementation stimulates serum levels of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase in obese non-diabetic men."Journal of Functional Foods6 (2014): 305-310.

[13] Ornstrup, Marie Juul, et al. "Resveratrol increases bone mineral density and bone alkaline phosphatase in obese men: a randomized placebo-controlled trial."The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism99.12 (2014): 4720-4729.

[14] Zaw, Jay Jay Thaung, Peter RC Howe, and Rachel HX Wong.  "Long-term effects of resveratrol on cognition, cerebrovascular function and cardio-metabolic markers in postmenopausal women: a 24-month randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study."Clinical Nutrition40.3 (2021): 820-829.