Limbrel: Medical Food for OA Pain
A pill classified as a “medical food” holds promise for osteoarthritis pain relief.
By Kenna Simmons
For those can't stomach the side effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, there could be a new way to get pain relief. Flavocoxid (Limbrel) is a blend of plant-based flavonoids found in foods such as soy, cauliflower, kale, peanuts and green tea. Flavonoids are chemicals that give plants their color, and they may have health benefits when consumed.
The flavonoids in Limbrel, for example, inhibit both COX and 5-LOX enzymes, which are involved in the pain and inflammation of osteoarthritis. Limbrel blocks those enzymes “without the side effects seen with NSAIDS and COX-2 inhibitors,” says Bruce P. Bennett, PhD, director of medical education and scientific affairs for Scotsdale, Ariz.-based Primus Pharmaceuticals, marketer of Limbrel.
And that, says David McLain, MD, chief of rheumatology at Brookwood Medical Center in Birmingham, Ala., should make Limbrel a safer alternative. (Read more about how Limbrel works.)
You can’t get enough of the flavonoids in Limbrel through diet alone – Limbrel provides a more concentrated “dose” – which is why it’s classified as a medical food. (What is a medical food?)
Medical foods are prescribed by doctors for the management of a specific disease and are available only by prescription. They are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Adminsiatrtion (FDA), but don’t have to go through the same testing and approval process as drugs. Prenatal vitamins, for example, are also classified as a medical food.
Not everyone responds to Limbrel, says Dr. McLain, and reports about its effectiveness vary. As for side effects, “We’ve seen a few people with stomach upset," he notes. The biggest drawback is that insurance coverage is still spotty. “When there is more data, then insurance coverage should improve,” Dr. McLain says.
If you have trouble taking NSAIDs or want to try an alternative therapy, ask your doctor if Limbrel might be right for you.
