Publication:

Native collagen type II and Aflapin® in the management of hip and knee osteoarthritis: a single-centre prospective observational study

Background Osteoarthritis (OA) affects over 595 million people worldwide, with cases rising by 132% from 1990. Standard NSAID therapy offers only symptomatic relief and has safety limits, driving interest in alternatives. Native type II collagen and Aflapin provide complementary immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. This study evaluates their combined efficacy and safety in hip or knee OA over 12 weeks.

Methods Adults (≥40 years) with confirmed hip or knee OA receiving native collagen type II 40 mg + Aflapin 100 mg as routine treatment were enrolled after consent. Key exclusions were recent corticosteroid/NSAID or intra-articular therapy, major comorbidities, obesity, pregnancy, or any other investigational drug use. Efficacy and safety were assessed via 100 mm VAS for pain and stiffness and a 5-point Likert scale for global OA status at weeks 4 and 12.

Results A total of 100 subjects (mean age 58.6 years; 57% female) were enrolled. Significant improvements in pain, stiffness, and overall OA status were observed by weeks 4 and week 12, with all subjects reporting pain relief and 99% showing reduced stiffness by week 12. No rescue medication was needed, and three minor adverse events (AEs) (headache, bloating, mild gastritis) resolved without treatment.

Conclusions Native collagen type II 40 mg + Aflapin 100 mg significantly improved joint pain, stiffness, and overall OA status by Week 4, with further gains by Week 12. No rescue medication was needed, and only mild, self-limiting AEs occurred. The combination was well tolerated and effective for knee or hip OA symptom relief.