{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,8]],"date-time":"2026-07-08T19:17:02Z","timestamp":1783538222535,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":17,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,22]],"date-time":"2022-06-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1655856000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"4Life Research, LLC","award":["(2020 AuNP Study)"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["(2020 AuNP Study)"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JFMK"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The purpose of this clinical study was to determine whether gold nanoparticle (AuNP) supplementation at a dosage of 0.34 mg elemental gold per day can improve knee joint health, function, and quality of life for arthritis patients. A total of 51 participants (24 male and 27 female, age 62.1 \u00b1 13.1) were followed for 20 weeks through a three-phase longitudinal study. Both subjective and objective parameters were used to measure changes in joint health and function, as well as quality of life. The study found patients\u2019 Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) improved with statistical significance. It was reported that 71.42% of the cohort experienced improvements in their perceived knee pain and 61.22% with improvements in knee stiffness. Majority of objective measurements such as pain with range of motion and specific exercises requiring proper knee health and function did not show statistically significant improvement but did show a positive improving trend in support of AuNP supplement. Study cohort showed statistically significant improvements in two specific exercises: sit-to-stand and single-leg squat. By the end of the study, 70% of the study cohort indicated that they would continue to take the supplement even after the study concluded. Though the study has limitations and is not definitely conclusive, it was the first clinical study to show that oral micro-dosage of AuNP as low as 0.34 mg daily is safe and effective for both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis patients. This study opened way for the use of AuNP in both clinical and daily settings to improve joint health and function for both average and athletic users.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jfmk7030052","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,22]],"date-time":"2022-06-22T21:31:06Z","timestamp":1655933466000},"page":"52","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["A Clinical Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Oral Administration of Microscopic Dose Gold Nanoparticle (AuNP) on Knee Joint Health and Function in Arthritis Patients"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"7","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2720-3011","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Xuesheng","family":"Han","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"4Life Research, Scientific Research Division, Sandy, UT 84070, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Edlynne","family":"Avelar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Professional Athletic Orthopedics, St. Louis, MO 63122, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Amber","family":"Mathai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Professional Athletic Orthopedics, St. Louis, MO 63122, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"David","family":"Vollmer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"4Life Research, Scientific Research Division, Sandy, UT 84070, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Richard","family":"Lehman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Professional Athletic Orthopedics, St. Louis, MO 63122, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2008). QuickStats: Percentage of Adults Reporting Joint Pain or Stiffness, National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2006. Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep., 57, 467. Available online: https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/mmwr\/preview\/mmwrhtml\/mm5717a9.htm."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"619","DOI":"10.2174\/1874325001307010619","article-title":"Quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A commentary on nonsurgical and surgical treatments","volume":"7","author":"Miller","year":"2013","journal-title":"Open Orthop. J."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"190","DOI":"10.21037\/tp.2017.04.05","article-title":"Evaluation and management of knee pain in young athletes: Overuse injuries of the knee","volume":"6","author":"Patel","year":"2017","journal-title":"Transl. Pediatr."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"479","DOI":"10.1249\/JSR.0000000000000773","article-title":"Overuse Knee Pain in the Pediatric and Adolescent Athlete","volume":"19","author":"Sweeney","year":"2020","journal-title":"Curr. Sports Med. Rep."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lee, S.H., Son, C., Yeo, S., and Ha, I.H. (2019). Cross-sectional analysis of self-reported sedentary behaviors and chronic knee pain among South Korean adults over 50 years of age in KNHANES 2013\u20132015. BMC Public Health, 19.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-019-7653-9"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"216","DOI":"10.1002\/ajim.22118","article-title":"Agricultural work and chronic musculoskeletal pain among latino farm workers: The MICASA study","volume":"56","author":"Xiao","year":"2013","journal-title":"Am. J. Ind. 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