In a randomized, double-blind, crossover design dog study, a stifle osteoarthritis (OA)model was used to determine if GlycoFLEX 3 could reduce cartilage breakdown and help normalize joint function. The dogs were randomized into two groups: 
the treatment dogs (GlycoFLEX 3) and the control group. After a wash-out period, the two groups were crossed over for treatment and control. Force plate analysis was performed on each of the dogs. Then synovial fluid was collected from the stifle joint and analyzed for markers of joint inflammation and degradation. The responders had significant improvement in lameness after treatment, with a 41% increase in Peak Vertical Force (PVF) and 44% increase in Vertical Impulse (VI) over the pre-treatment value in the dogs. There was a significant decrease in mean synovial PGE2 and soluble collagen (SC) levels in the treatment group as compared to the control group. Other synovial markers in the responders had trends for lower levels, compared to the control group. The results of the study support that GlycoFLEX 3 may reduce the severity of cartilage breakdown and synovitis, and help normalize joint function in dogs with stifle joints affected by OA.

研究方法:

將患有骨關節炎的犬隻隨機分成兩組:
1.餵食維多麗關節保健嚼錠組
2.對照組
餵食一段時間後，將兩組犬隻交叉互換組別。每餵食兩個星期，使用電子壓力板來測試犬隻行進間患病關節與周邊肌肉群，對於地面的垂直支撐力是否改善，並收集關節滑液分析致炎性細胞激素-前列腺素E2(PGE2)的濃度是否改變，來檢視餵食關節保健嚼錠能否減少關節軟骨退化並幫助恢復關節正常功能。

研究結果: 

餵食一個月後，分析跛腳犬隻的關節及周邊肌肉群，發現餵食維多麗關節保健嚼錠後之犬隻比餵食前之犬隻，顯著增加了41%垂直支撐力與44%瞬間支撐力道。而分析關節滑液中的前列腺素E2(PGE2)與已溶性膠原濃度，發現餵食維多麗組比對照組有明顯減少的趨勢。

結果討論:

維多麗關節保健嚼錠對於犬隻關節軟骨退化與滑膜炎有顯著的幫助，並能幫助患有骨關節炎之犬隻恢復一定程度的日常活動能力。