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  Discussion on Soya-Avocado (Avocado Soy Unsaponifiables) Nutraceutical
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Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 - 8:17 am:

This was an interesting note in Colorado State's Equine Unit publication Arthros:

Soya-Avocado Nutraceutical Shown to Benefit Equine Osteoarthritis

The first scientifically controlled study testing the benefit of an oral nutraceutical on equine osteoarthritis (OA), sponsored by French-based company Vetoquinol, was performed by the Orthopaedic Research Center in 2005. The nutraceutical consisted of the extracted oils of soybean and avocado mixed in with molasses as the base for oral dosing. This study was set up to test pain relief and to determine if the product was disease-modifying as well. In this study, 16 horses had experimentally-induced OA; this induction ensures that all the horses are starting with the same level of OA, a factor missing in most nutraceutical studies. Half of the horses were treated with the extracted oils of soybean and avocado in molasses, and the other half were treated with just molasses. The horses were given regular treadmill exercise five days a week for the course of the study. All horses were evaluated with regular lameness exams, x-rays, synovial fluid and serum tests to monitor the progress of their OA over the course of several months. While the results showed that the product did not change lameness or inflammation, it did show positive results in its ability to change the course. of the OA. Decreased cartilage erosion, decreased synovial membrane hemorrhage and increased synthesis of glycosaminoglycans in the articular cartilage were seen, all parameters indicating an improvement in the OA disease process. This finding supports this product being a true disease modifying osteoarthritic drug (DMOAD) or chonDrOprotective agent rather than simply providing decreased pain/ inflammation. It is thought that this product could be used as a chonDrOprotective agent against OA; and probably best in combination with a pain-relieving treatment. Details on when the product will be available commercially in the US and the trade name it will be sold under are not available at this time.

Hopefully this product will become available soon in the US.
DrO
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 - 8:44 am:

Neat! Is this product available for humans anywhere?
Member:
Banthony

Posted on Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 - 9:45 am:

Yes, here is a website for it.
https://www.avosoy.com/
Member:
Canter

Posted on Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 - 1:09 pm:

Hmmm...very interesting. DrO, the way I read this is that once the product becomes available, it would be used as a "preventative" kind of like using Cosequin or a similar product? Sounds very promising.
Member:
Sunny66

Posted on Friday, Aug 25, 2006 - 10:27 am:

I emailed Dr. Theo from the site Linda listed asking him about an equine version of this product, his response:

We don't make any products specifically for animals but people are giving Avosoy complete to their dogs and cats. The tablets are simply crushed. I don't know the dose for horses, however. I will be adding a chart for all animals in the next month.

Best Regards,

Dr. Theo

____________________________

Thank you Dr. O for posting this!
Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Friday, Aug 25, 2006 - 10:40 am:

Would you not be able to give soy and avocado oils as is to get the same benefit? Curious
Katrina
Member:
Banthony

Posted on Friday, Aug 25, 2006 - 10:54 am:

I think Dr. Theo mentions why that won't work on his website.
Member:
Banthony

Posted on Friday, Aug 25, 2006 - 11:43 am:

Actually when I looked back on the website his explanation was why just eating avocados and soy wouldn't work. So I don't know about avocado and soy oil. Is there such a thing as avocado oil?
Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Friday, Aug 25, 2006 - 12:34 pm:

Is this the same stuff Dr O mentions in the article? Or is it similar. It stated that it does not have a trade name yet and I think on the site they said it was not tested on animals yet. Maybe I did not read it correctly or missed part of it.
Linda, Yes you can by Avocado oil. It is expensive. You can get it in health food stores and some supermarkets.
Member:
Banthony

Posted on Friday, Aug 25, 2006 - 1:03 pm:

I think it is similar. Dr. Theo manufactures his own brand for humans.

I have arthritis in my hands - may give soy and avocado oil a try. I would love to find something that would prevent them from getting worse.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Aug 26, 2006 - 12:58 pm:

No that would be a misinterpretation Linda, the experiment was designed to see if it would modify the effects of acute inflammation in the joint so is directed at the use in horses with acute inflammation or even chronic arthritis since these individuals suffer from repeated low grade acute episodes that build on the chronic damage. This does not mean that it might not have some use as such, it just is not looked at in this paper.
DrO
Member:
Mwebster

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 30, 2006 - 11:13 pm:

The product or compound used in the study wasn't what Dr. Theo is selling, or?
Melissa
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Aug 31, 2006 - 6:46 am:

It reads like they compounded their own product but I cannot be sure.
DrO
Member:
sunny66

Posted on Monday, Jun 25, 2007 - 12:52 pm:

Thanks Dr. O!

Cosequin has a new product out:

https://www.nutramaxlabs.com/pressReleases/IntroducingCosequinASU.asp
Member:
lynnland

Posted on Saturday, Dec 4, 2010 - 8:03 am:

Hi Dr. O.,

Just wondering if this product by Vetoquinol ever became available. I can find the company but not the product.

Thanks
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Dec 6, 2010 - 4:00 pm:

I don't know about Vetoquinol but besides the Cosequin product Dasuquin (also by Nutramax) has Avocado Soy Unsaponifiables in it. As a aside, I was attending a lecture yesterday on joint nutraceuticals and ASU still gets a thumb up from some of the most critical joint researchers in the world.
DrO
Member:
lynnland

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 7, 2010 - 7:18 am:

Hi Dr. O.,

Funny that nutraceuticals makers jump on every other band wagon but don't seem to have picked this one up. Seems a little odd. Any discussions on potential effective dosage?
Thanks
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