Study: Botanical blend may reduce number of bathroom breaks due to urinary tract symptoms
According to their report, published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the outcome of the randomized, controlled trial demonstrated both “statistical significance and clinical relevance in reducing urinary frequency, overactive bladder and urinary incontinence, over eight weeks.”
They also added that the supplemented group did not experience the side effects commonly seen with anticholinergic and antimuscarinic medications, often used to treat lower urinary tract symptoms.
The studied botanical blend is Urox, patented by Australian company Seipel Group which funded the trial. It contains Crateva nurvala stem bark (branded as Cratevox) extract, horsetail stem extract, and Japanese evergreen spicebush root extract. It can be found in several finished products on the US market.
Study Design
A total of 150 participants over the age 18, both male and female, were recruited for the study. To be included, participants had to have symptoms such as urinating 10 or more times a day, experience ‘nocturia’ (excessive urination at night) twice or more a night, urgency more than twice a day, and incontinence at least once a day, in the past six months.
In a random and blinded manner, participants were divided into a supplement group and placebo group.
The supplement group consumed a capsule containing 420 mg of Urox a day, while the placebo group consumed a color-matched vegetarian capsule.
The primary outcome for the study was self-reported urinary frequency, and participants were required to visit one of two primary care centers at baseline, week two, week four, and week eight for assessment and to submit their urinary frequency report.
Results:'the utility of Urox by clinicians seems worthy of consideration'
By the final week, urinary day frequency was significant lower among the supplement group participants compared to placebo. Additionally, episodes of nocturia were significantly fewer in the supplement group.
“17 of 70 symptomatic participants in the treatment group became symptom free at the end of the trial compared to only one of 60 in the placebo group,” they wrote in the report.
“Five of these 17 participants in the treatment group reported reversal of the condition at week two and remained asymptomatic to the end of the trial.”
They concluded that Urox produced more extensive benefits for symptoms of the lower urinary tract, and within a shorter timeframe, compared to previous studies looking at other herbal ingredients.
“Considering the demonstrated benefits, lack of serious adverse events, along with a high rate of patient compliance and participant satisfaction, the utility of Urox by clinicians seems worthy of consideration,” they concluded.
Source: BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Published online, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-018-2101-4
“Urox containing concentrated extracts of Crataeva nurvala stem bark, Equisetum arvense stem and Lindera aggregata root, in the treatment of symptoms of overactive bladder and urinary incontinence: a phase 2, randomised, double-blind placebo controlled trial”
Authors: Niikee Schoendorfer, Nita Sharp, Tracey Seipel, Alexander G. Schauss and Kiran D. K. Ahuja
