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Rsh5.0

Rosehip Research

Mostly mechanism / observationalHigh safety

5 peer-reviewed studies

What the evidence says

Mostly mechanism / observational

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

Most evidence is from medium-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 2005–2019 with a typical study size of 287 participants.

Based on 5 studies · 1 meta-analysis · 1 RCT · 381 total participants

Confidence

Moderate

By outcome

Joint pain & arthritisSmall-to-moderate reduction in osteoarthritis pain (meta-analysis effect size ~0.37; NNT ~6) with reduced rescue-analgesic use · 3 weeks to 3 months
Mostly mechanism / observational4 studies

Older research base

Newest study from 2019 · Latest meta-analysis: 2008

200520122019

1Meta-Analysisn=287 · medium study2008

Based on a sparse amount of data, the meta-analysis indicates that rosehip powder does reduce osteoarthritis pain, with an effect size of 0.37.

Christensen R, Bartels EM, Altman RD, Astrup A, Bliddal H · Osteoarthritis Cartilage (2008)

Pooled three RCTs (287 patients, median 3-month duration)
Pain reduction effect size 0.37 (95% CI 0.13-0.60), P=0.002
Roughly twice as likely to respond vs placebo (OR 2.19; NNT ~6)

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2Crossovern=94 · small study2005

Rose-hip resulted in a significant reduction in WOMAC pain compared to placebo and reduced consumption of rescue medication.

Winther K, Apel K, Thamsborg G · Scand J Rheumatol (2005)

94 patients, randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover, 5g/day for 3 months
Significant reduction in WOMAC pain after 3 weeks (p<0.014)
Significant decline in rescue-medication use (p<0.027)

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3Systematic Review2007

In both double-blind randomized studies, rosehip powder had a moderate effect in patients with osteoarthritis.

Rossnagel K, Roll S, Willich SN · MMW Fortschr Med (2007)

Systematic review of two double-blind RCTs (N=100 and 112, Jadad score 5)
One trial significantly improved hip flexion; another showed 66% vs 35% reporting pain reduction at 3 months (p<0.013)
No significant difference in analgesic consumption in one trial

4Systematic Review2019

The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Rosa canina match its clinical action in osteoarthritis.

Gruenwald J, Uebelhack R, More MI · Phytomedicine (2019)

Reviewed 24 pharmacological studies relevant to OA
Documents anti-inflammatory activity: reduced cytokines, NF-kB, COX-1/2, 5-LOX, iNOS, and CRP
Antioxidant radical-scavenging beyond vitamin C content

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5Review2012

Standardised rosehip powder consistently reduced pain scores and patients were twice as likely to respond compared to placebo, without the ulcerogenic effects of NSAIDs.

Cohen M · Aust Fam Physician (2012)

Reviews the meta-analysis of three RCTs (287 patients)
Notes anti-inflammatory action without platelet/coagulation effects, unlike NSAIDs and aspirin
Galactolipid identified as the specific anti-inflammatory constituent

View in Research Library

Rosehip Research

Mostly mechanism / observational

Does the hip powder of Rosa canina (rosehip) reduce pain in osteoarthritis patients?--a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

A powder made from seeds and shells of a rose-hip subspecies (Rosa canina) reduces symptoms of knee and hip osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

The clinical effectiveness of rosehip powder in patients with osteoarthritis. A systematic review.

Rosa canina - Rose hip pharmacological ingredients and molecular mechanics counteracting osteoarthritis - A systematic review.

Rosehip - an evidence based herbal medicine for inflammation and arthritis.