Evaluation of the comparative efficacy of green lipped mussel plus krill oil extracts (EAB-277), extracts or NSAIDs for the treatment of dogs with osteoarthritis associated pain: a blinded, placebo-controlled study.

Introduction: With little to no regulation of the supplement markets and a paucity of quality information regarding clinical utility of individual marketed supplements, it is difficult for veterinarians to provide any evidence-based recommendations to owners. The current study aimed to provide clinically useful comparative efficacy data on certain marketed supplements.

Methods: Using a prospective, block-randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled design, one hundred and one pet dogs with clinical hip OA-associated pain with one side worse than the other (index limb) were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: Green lipped Mussel plus Krill oil extracts (Antinol® Rapid, EAB-277); extracts (4CYTE™ Epiitalis® Forte); an NSAID (meloxicam); or placebo (sunflower oil). Peak vertical force (PVF, expressed as a percentage of bodyweight) of the index limb, orthopedic assessment score (OAS) and hematology and blood chemistry values were evaluated before treatment (week 0), at 2, 4 and 6 weeks during treatment.

Results: At 6 weeks, the changes from baseline in PVF of the index limb in the EAB-277 and meloxicam groups were significantly greater than the change in the placebo and 4CYTE™ groups, and the placebo and 4CYTE groups were not different from each other. At 6 weeks, there were significant differences between the groups for overall OAS scores with the lowest scores (least impairment) in the EAB-277 and meloxicam groups, followed by the 4CYTE group and then the placebo group.

Discussion: Results of this study indicate that meloxicam and EAB-277 have significant objectively measured benefits in managing OA-related pain in dogs compared to placebo, but 4CYTE does not differ from placebo.