Effects and safety of a dietary supplement containing hyaluronic acid derived from chicken combs on knee pain, stiffness and discomfort - A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group comparison study

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect and safety of a dietary supplement (Kojun premium®) containing hyaluronic acid derived from chicken combs on knee pain, stiffness and discomfort. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group comparison study. The subjects, 80 adults whose Kellgren-Lawrence classification of osteoarthritis of the knee corresponded to 0-II and who were not suffering from the disease, were randomly divided into two groups: the test product (chicken comb extract-containing supplement) group and the control product (placebo) group. Knee pain and discomfort were evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS). The subjects were given each product for 12 weeks. Blood and urine samples were tested to evaluate the safety of the test product. Results: Significant positive results demonstrating the effectiveness of the chicken comb extract-containing supplement appeared 4-12 weeks after the intake as demonstrated by the VAS scores. The blood test results did not indicate any health hazard from the use of these supplements. Conclusion: These results indicate that an intake of hyaluronic acid-containing supplements derived from chicken combs is safe and effective in managing knee pain, stiffness and discomfort.