Limbrel: A "Medical Food" That May Provide Arthritis Relief

There is a new prescription medication on the market that excites me. The name of the medication is Limbrel (Flavocoxid). Flavocoxid is a blend of flavonoids, which are antioxidants commonly found in fruits, vegetables, and other foods. Flavonoids are part of another group of compounds called polyphenols. Large amounts of polyphenols are found in fruit skins and are believed to be a primary reason for the health benefits of many fruits and vegetables.

In addition to containing these antioxidants, Limbrel blocks the same inflammatory proteins as ibuprofen and other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) as well as other inflammatory proteins. It does this by having dual inhibition of the COX and LOX enzymes. The COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes are the ones that NSAIDs inhibit. Essentially, COX and LOX enzymes set off chemical chain reactions that result in inflammation. Blocking these chemical cascades can reduce inflammation.

What may be most unique about Limbrel is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labeling it as a "medical food" product. In the 1988 Orphan Drug Act, Congress defined a "medical food" as a "food that is formulated to be consumed or administered...under the supervision of a physician, and which is intended for the specific dietary management of a disease or condition for which distinctive nutritional requirements, based on recognized scientific principles, are established by medical evaluation."

Sound confusing? It needn't be. Just remember that a medical food is not just any food that may have nutritional benefits. A medical food is designed and intended for the treatment of a specific condition and it is prescribed by your doctor. You can't just pick it up at your local grocery store.

The ingredients in Limbrel are food-based and safely consumed in many foods. In accordance with the Orphan Drug Act and Amendments, Limbrel is marketed by Primus Pharmaceuticals as a product that addresses the "nutritional needs" of patients with osteoarthritis.

The question then arises, if it is food-based, why not just eat an anti-inflammatory diet? Wouldn't that accomplish the same ends? Certainly, eating an anti-inflammatory diet is ideal. For those people following an anti-inflammatory diet, this pill gives that diet a boost and may help further reduce inflammation. The advantage of this pill as opposed to a drug such as an NSAID is that it is presumably safer and better tolerated. Of course, only your doctor can tell you if Limbrel or any other medical food or drug is right for you.

Why I'm Excited About Limbrel
As a doctor who stresses the importance of nutrition in treating osteoarthritis as well as other conditions, I believe this is a long overdue and exciting focus for a pharmaceutical company to take.

How is a medical food different from a supplement?

From an important practical perspective, unlike supplements in this country, prescription medical food is subject to the more rigorous monitoring of the FDA. The product must contain just what the label says it does. Likewise, medications -- including medical foods -- must be proven both safe and effective by the manufacturer before they can be sold to the public.