Home Ingredients 5-Loxin® (Boswellia AKBA — PLT/OmniActive)
Joint Health

5-Loxin® (Boswellia AKBA — PLT/OmniActive)

Boswellia serrata
Evidence Level
Moderate
3 Clinical Trials
3 Documented Benefits
3/5 Evidence Score

5-Loxin® is a branded Boswellia serrata gum resin extract standardized to a high level (at least 30%) of AKBA (3-O-acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid), one of the boswellic acids studied for anti-inflammatory activity in the laboratory. AKBA blocks 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), an enzyme that drives the production of inflammatory leukotrienes in joints. The brand's own evidence is thinner than it sounds: one 90 day trial of 5-Loxin by itself in 75 adults with diagnosed knee osteoarthritis, plus one comparative trial that tested it alongside Aflapin, a different branded boswellia extract. Both came from the same research group, and no independent team has repeated the results. No trial has compared 5-Loxin against ordinary boswellia extract, so the idea that AKBA standardization performs better has not actually been tested in people.

Studied Dose 100 to 250 mg once daily. Both doses were tested for 90 days, and only in adults who had already been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis. There is no trial of these doses in people without joint disease.
Active Compound Boswellia serrata gum resin extract standardized to at least 30% AKBA (3-O-acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid), a boswellic acid that inhibits the 5-LOX enzyme in laboratory studies.

Benefits

Studied in people with knee osteoarthritis

This has only been studied in people already diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis, not in healthy people with everyday aches. In a 90 day double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 75 adults with knee osteoarthritis (70 finished), 5-Loxin at 100 mg and 250 mg a day improved pain and physical function scores more than placebo. A second, smaller 90 day trial in 60 adults (57 finished) tested it alongside a different branded extract and found a similar result. Both trials came from the same research group and have not been repeated by anyone else.

Supported by Trial 2, Trial 3

Movement and stiffness

The trials measured pain and physical function using standard knee osteoarthritis questionnaires, and those scores improved compared with placebo. Morning stiffness was not reported as a separate result for 5-Loxin, and no study has tested whether the extract eases everyday stiffness in people without arthritis.

Supported by Trial 2, Trial 3

A cartilage-related lab marker

The 2008 trial reported lower levels of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), an enzyme involved in cartilage breakdown. That is a laboratory marker, not a measure of the joint itself. No study has imaged the joint or otherwise shown that 5-Loxin protects cartilage.

Supported by Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

5-LOX inhibition

In laboratory research, AKBA inhibits the 5-lipoxygenase enzyme, which lowers production of inflammatory messengers called leukotrienes. This is the proposed explanation for the trial results; leukotrienes were not measured in the human trials.

2

Change in a cartilage-related enzyme

One trial reported lower MMP-3, an enzyme linked to cartilage breakdown. Whether that translates into any real protection of joint cartilage over time has not been shown.

Clinical trials

1
5-Loxin for Knee Osteoarthritis — RCT
PubMed

Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 5-Loxin (100 mg and 250 mg a day) in 75 adults with diagnosed knee osteoarthritis over 90 days; 70 finished. (Sengupta et al. 2008, Arthritis Research & Therapy)

Adults with knee osteoarthritis.

Both doses improved pain and physical function scores compared with placebo over the 90 days, and MMP-3, a blood marker linked to cartilage breakdown, was lower. This is the only trial of 5-Loxin on its own, it was small, and no independent group has repeated it.

2
5-Loxin vs Aflapin for Osteoarthritis — RCT
PubMed

Comparative randomized controlled study of 5-Loxin and Aflapin (a separate branded boswellia product, not 5-Loxin) against placebo in 60 adults with knee osteoarthritis over 90 days; 57 finished. From the same research group as the 2008 trial. The authors declared no conflict of interest. (Sengupta et al. 2010, International Journal of Medical Sciences)

Adults with knee osteoarthritis.

Both extracts improved pain and physical function scores compared with placebo over 90 days. Because two different branded products were tested, only part of this result applies to 5-Loxin, and with 60 people it is a small study.

3
Aflapin (a Different Product) for Knee OA: RCT
PubMed

Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of Aflapin, a different branded boswellia extract, in adults with knee osteoarthritis. It did not test 5-Loxin. (Vishal et al. 2011, International Journal of Medical Sciences)

Adults with knee osteoarthritis.

Aflapin improved pain and joint function scores compared with placebo. This is evidence for Aflapin, not for 5-Loxin, and it comes from the same research group as the other two trials.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Side effects in the trials were similar to placebo, but those trials were small (about 60 to 75 people each) and ran only 90 days, so longer term safety is unknown.
Mild digestive upset, such as nausea or acid reflux, is occasionally reported.
Rarely, skin rash or headache has been noted.

Important Drug interactions

Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): effects may overlap. Do not change a prescribed dose on your own; talk to your doctor.
Immunosuppressants: boswellia may affect immune signaling in laboratory studies, so check with your doctor before combining.
Blood thinners: a theoretical concern only, not seen in the trials. Ask your doctor if you take one.

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Frequently asked questions about 5-Loxin® (Boswellia AKBA — PLT/OmniActive)

What is 5-Loxin?

5-Loxin® is a branded Boswellia serrata gum resin extract standardized to a high level (at least 30%) of AKBA (3-O-acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid), one of the boswellic acids studied for anti-inflammatory activity in the laboratory.

What is 5-Loxin used for?

5-Loxin is researched primarily for Joint Health. This has only been studied in people already diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis, not in healthy people with everyday aches.

What is the recommended dosage of 5-Loxin?

The clinically studied dose is 100 to 250 mg once daily. Both doses were tested for 90 days, and only in adults who had already been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis. There is no trial of these doses in people without joint disease. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is 5-Loxin safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, 5-Loxin is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Side effects in the trials were similar to placebo, but those trials were small (about 60 to 75 people each) and ran only 90 days, so longer term safety is unknown. Mild digestive upset, such as nausea or acid reflux, is occasionally reported. It may also interact with some medications. 5-Loxin is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does 5-Loxin interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): effects may overlap. Do not change a prescribed dose on your own; talk to your doctor. Immunosuppressants: boswellia may affect immune signaling in laboratory studies, so check with your doctor before combining. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for 5-Loxin?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for 5-Loxin as Moderate (3 out of 5). It is backed by 3 clinical trials and 3 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(3 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Sengupta K, Alluri KV, Satish AR, et al. A double blind, randomized, placebo controlled study of the efficacy and safety of 5-Loxin for treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. Arthritis Res Ther. 2008;10(4):R85..PubMedUsed to support: The only trial of 5-Loxin on its own: 75 adults with diagnosed knee osteoarthritis, 90 days.
  2. Sengupta K, Krishnaraju AV, Vishal AA, et al. Comparative efficacy and tolerability of 5-Loxin and Aflapin against osteoarthritis of the knee: a double blind, randomized, placebo controlled clinical study. Int J Med Sci. 2010;7(6):366-77..PubMedUsed to support: Comparative trial of 5-Loxin and Aflapin in 60 adults with knee osteoarthritis, from the same research group.
  3. Vishal AA, Mishra A, Raychaudhuri SP. A double blind, randomized, placebo controlled clinical study evaluates the early efficacy of aflapin in subjects with osteoarthritis of knee. Int J Med Sci. 2011;8(7):615-22..PubMedUsed to support: Trial of Aflapin, a different branded product, so it is not evidence for 5-Loxin.