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Cmo3.0

Cetyl Myristoleate Research

Mostly mechanism / observationalHigh safety

5 peer-reviewed studies

What the evidence says

Mostly mechanism / observational

Most Cetyl Myristoleate studies are mechanism or observational rather than RCTs that measure a clinical effect — keep findings provisional.

Most evidence is from medium-quality randomised trials published 2002–2006 with a typical study size of 40 participants.

Based on 5 studies · 2 RCTs · 132 total participants

Confidence

Low

By outcome

Joint pain & arthritisSmall RCTs report improved knee range-of-motion, function, and pain; independent reviews rate the overall evidence as limited · 1-10 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational4 studies

Older research base

Newest study from 2006

20022006

1Systematic Review2006

Only limited evidence was found for cetyl myristoleate among osteoarthritis nutraceuticals.

Ameye LG, Chee WS · Arthritis Res Ther (2006)

Systematic review of 53 RCTs of nutritional compounds in osteoarthritis
Graded cetyl myristoleate evidence as 'limited' (below 'moderate' and 'good')
Good evidence existed only for avocado-soybean unsaponifiables

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2Review2003

Neither ginger nor cetyl myristoleate has proven clinical usefulness.

Morelli V, Naquin C, Weaver V · Am Fam Physician (2003)

Clinical review of alternative OA therapies for primary-care physicians
Explicitly states cetyl myristoleate has no proven clinical usefulness
Contrasts with glucosamine/chondroitin, which had variable-quality positive RCTs

3RCTn=64 · small study2002

After 68 days, oral cetylated fatty acids produced significantly greater knee flexion (10.1 degrees) and functional improvement versus placebo.

Hesslink R Jr, Armstrong D 3rd, Nagendran MV, Sreevatsan S, Barathur R · J Rheumatol (2002)

64 patients with chronic knee OA, randomized to oral CFA (Celadrin) or vegetable-oil placebo
CFA group gained 10.1 degrees of knee flexion vs 1.1 degrees on placebo (p<0.001)
Significant improvement on the Lequesne functional index

4RCTn=40 · small study2005

A topical cetylated-fatty-acid cream improved static postural stability in knee OA patients, presumably via pain relief.

Kraemer WJ, Ratamess NA, Maresh CM, et al. · J Strength Cond Res (2005)

40 knee-OA patients randomized to topical CFA cream or placebo for 30 days
CFA group reduced center-of-pressure excursion and velocity; placebo did not
Improvement attributed to pain relief during standing

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5Open-Labeln=28 · very small study2005

One week of a cetylated-fatty-acid (plus menthol) cream improved stair-climbing, balance, and reduced pain in arthritis of the knee, elbow, and wrist.

Kraemer WJ, Ratamess NA, Maresh CM, et al. · J Strength Cond Res (2005)

Single-group pre-post design, 28 participants with knee OA or severe elbow/wrist pain
Reported ~12% better stair-climbing and 'up-and-go', ~16.5% better balance/strength
No control group — uncontrolled open-label design limits causal inference

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View in Research Library

Cetyl Myristoleate Research

Mostly mechanism / observational

Osteoarthritis and nutrition. From nutraceuticals to functional foods: a systematic review of the scientific evidence.

Alternative therapies for traditional disease states: osteoarthritis.

Cetylated fatty acids improve knee function in patients with osteoarthritis.

Effects of treatment with a cetylated fatty acid topical cream on static postural stability and plantar pressure distribution in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

A cetylated fatty acid topical cream with menthol reduces pain and improves functional performance in individuals with arthritis.