Retrospective Case Series on Clinical and Functional Outcomes in 40 Osteoarthritis Patients Receiving a Nutraceutical Supplement in Real-World Practice

Abstract

Background: Degenerative joint diseases are among the leading causes of chronic pain and disability in the adult population. Assessing the effect of therapeutic interventions in real-world clinical settings (Real World Practice) allows for the integration of randomized controlled trial (RCT) data with observational clinical insights. Objective : To evaluate, in daily clinical practice, the improvement of joint function and indirect parameters of cartilage quality in patients with degenerative arthropathy monitored over a 2-month period. Materials and Methods : A retrospective observational case series study was conducted on 40 patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA). Participants were administered one sachet of a nutraceutical supplement daily for two months. Clinical evaluation occurred at baseline (T0), first follow-up (T1), and second follow-up (T2) using a structured questionnaire covering pain, stiffness, and functional limitation (analogous to VAS and WOMAC scales). Results : A progressive reduction in scores for pain, joint stiffness, and difficulty in daily activities was observed. Comparison across follow-up intervals showed significant symptomatic improvement compared to baseline, suggesting a favorable effect on primary osteoarthritis parameters. Conclusions: Results suggest that this nutraceutical formulation may improve symptoms associated with primary osteoarthritis. Further controlled studies with larger samples are required to confirm these encouraging findings.