Glucosamine, chondroitin, turmeric. These are some of the most popular joint supplements you have probably heard of. And for good reason. Research has demonstrated these compounds can prevent joint pain, inflammation, and deterioration.
Outside of these supplements, very few other joint ingredients work. However, there is a new kid on the block with some serious science backing its use for joint health.
This supplement is FruiteX-B calcium fructoborate, and it’s ready to make your joints jump for joy.
In this article we will discuss what FruiteX-B is, how it works, benefits, how much to take, and if there are any negative side effects.
FruiteX-B calcium fructoborate is a patented ingredient made by the company FutureCeuticals. It is effective at a low dose, is fully soluble, and 100% vegan.
Over 10 years of research has demonstrated that FruiteX-B is safe and has led to significant improvements in human joint comfort when taken short and long term (90 days or more).
Research has also demonstrated (discussed more below) a 25% increase in joint health when FruiteX-B calcium fructoborate is combined with glucosamine and chondroitin
FruiteX-B comes from the same borate carb complex that is commonly found in some beans, legumes, vegetables, and fruits.
As the name implies, calcium fructoborate contains calcium, fructose and boron.Its structural formula is Ca[(C6H10O6)2B]2.
The research demonstrated benefits of FruiteX-B calcium fructoborate are:
FruiteX-B provides fast acting joint and flex benefits to subjects with knee discomfort
The double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined the effects of FruiteX-B supplementation during 14 days on subjects with self-reported knee discomfort.
The study population was equally divided between generally healthy men and women ranging from ages 35 to 65 years. Testing measures included the widely-used WOMAC and McGill questionnaires (standard indices of joint and flex comfort).
Analyses of the effects were based upon the mean of within-subject changes from baseline values. Results showed that the effect of FruiteX-B was significantly more efficacious than the placebo.
In seven days, subjects in the FruiteX-B group (30 subjects) experienced a 21 percent improvement in McGill scores (p=0.0025) and a trend toward improvement in WOMAC scores (25 percent reduction; p=0.06).
At 14 days, subjects in the FruiteX-B group continued to see further significant improvement as measured by both McGill and WOMAC, 27 percent (p=0.0001) and 29 percent (p=0.0001), respectively.
The placebo group (30 subjects) failed to show statistically significant differences. Statistics were independently reviewed by the department of statistics, School of Information and Computer Science, University of California at Irvine.
These results confirm results obtained from a previous study on the proprietary ingredient's fast-acting joint benefits, as measured by McGill and WOMAC, published in 2012.
FruiteX-B calcium fructoborate boosts effectiveness of glucosamine + chondroitin
A2014 study published in the Journal of Aging Research and Clinical Practice found combining FruiteX-B with glucosamine and chondroitin boosted measure of joint health by ~25% compared with glucosamine and chondroitin alone.
In the study, the scientists recruited 90 generally healthy people and randomly divided them into three groups: The first group received placebo, the second and third groups received 750 mg per day of glucosamine and 200 mg per day of chondroitin sulfate with or without 110 mg per day of calcium fructoborate.
Subjective testing measures included the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the McGill pain questionnaire.
After 14 days of intervention, results showed that the combination of glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and calcium fructoborate results in statistically significant reductions in both WOMAC and McGill scores, but no statistically significant effects were seen in the placebo or glucosamine + chondroitin alone groups.
FruiteX-B leads to long-term knee comfort
A2018 study published in theJournal of Aging Research and Clinical Practice studied the effects of FruiteX-B calcium fructoborate (CFB) on knee discomfort during 90 days of supplementation.
120 participants with self-reported knee discomfort were recruited and randomized into three groups (each N=40). Participants received: 108 mg CFB twice per day (CFB-G1); or, 216 mg CFB in a single dose (CFB-G2); or, placebo.
The researchers assessed intake and within-study levels of knee discomfort by using the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) and the Western Ontario and McMaster University Arthritis Index (WOMAC).
When compared to placebo, CFB-G1 showed a significant decrease in reported discomfort on day 14 (P=0.02,) day 30 (P=0.003), day 60 (P<0.0001) and day 90 (P<0.0001) according to WOMAC Scores.
A similar decrease was observed for CFB-G2 WOMAC Scores on day 14 (P=0.02), day 30 (P=0.0003), day 60 (P<0.0001) and day 90 (P<0.0001).
When compared to placebo, the MPQ score for CFB-G1 group decreased on day 7 (P=0.002), day 14 (P=0.001), day 30 (P<0.0001), day 60 (P<0.0001) and day 90 (P<0.0001). MPQ score decreases were also observed for CFB-G2 group on day 7 (P=0.02), day 14 (P=0.01), day 30 (P<0.0001), day 60 (P<0.0001) and day 90 (P<0.0001).
When comparing CFB-G1 and CFB-G2, no significant differences were observed. Importantly, no changes were observed in the WOMAC and MPQ scores within the placebo group.
Both CFB groups showed early and significantly improved levels of knee comfort. Knee comfort continued to significantly improve throughout the duration of this 90-day study.
No significant differences were observed between the once-daily and the twice–daily doses of CFB.
The recommended dose of FruiteX-B calcium fructoborate per day to improve joint comfort is 215mg.
FruiteX-B should be taken with meals.
Research has demonstrated FruiteX-B works in as little as 7 days. Greater joint benefits are seen when supplemented daily for 90 days.
No research has demonstrated FruiteX-B to be harmful when taken at the proper dose.
There are no known side effects of calcium fructoborate.
No known interactions.
FruiteX-B can be purchased as a stand alone supplement at places like amazon or other supplement sites for $40 - $50 OR it can be found in a comprehensive joint supplement likeEndurElite JointElite which contains 215mg of FruiteX-B plus five other joint health ingredients.
Matt Mosman (MS, CISSN, CSCS) is a research scientist, endurance athlete, and the founder and Chief Endurance Officer at EndurElite. Matt holds his B.S. in Exercise Science from Creighton University and his M.S. in Exercise Physiology from the University of California. Matt and his family reside in Spearfish South Dakota, where they enjoy running, mountain biking, camping, and all the outdoor adventures Spearfish has to offer.
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