Bolʹ, Sustavy, Pozvonočnik (Jun 2024)
Effectiveness of the use of bioactive concentrate of marine fish in patients with back pain
Abstract
Background. The urgency of pain relief and patient improvement necessitates evaluating the most effective treatment approaches. This includes a comparative analysis of medications with different mechanisms of action, both taken individually and in combination while considering potential drug toxicity and individual patient intolerances. The study purposed to assess the efficacy of a bioactive concentrate derived from marine fish (BCMF), both alone and in combination with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), for the treatment of back pain, in comparison to therapy involving solely oral sodium chondroitin sulfate (CS). Materials and methods. We examined four groups of patients, each comprising 30 male or female subjects with complaints of back pain. Each group was administered one of three medications: NSAIDs in a standard dosage, CS in a daily dose of 1 g (two capsules of 500 mg each), and BCMF in the form of intramuscular injections in a daily dose of 1 ml (0.2 ml per injection). The fourth group of patients received combined treatment, namely, 1 ml of BCMF and NSAIDs in a standard dosage daily. All participants underwent laboratory tests and instrumental examinations. Results. The administration of BCMF, both alone and in combination with NSAIDs resulted in an improved subjective assessment of patients’ psychoemotional well-being, marked by reduced back pain intensity, enhanced quality of life indices, and diminished levels of anxiety and depression. The combination of BCMF with NSAIDs demonstrated a more pronounced effect on reducing tumor necrosis factor α serum concentration than monotherapy with BCMF. The combination therapy positively impacted the condition of lower extremity vessels as indicated by Doppler ultrasonography. Conclusions. BCMF can be an effective addition to the standard therapy of back pain.
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