Table 1: Quality appraisal.
Author |
Year |
Patients (n) |
Demographics |
Study Design |
Pain Scale |
Compound |
Placebo |
Level of Evidence |
Results |
Chan, et al. [9] |
2017 |
57 |
Postmenopausal patients who had been receiving an aromatase inhibitor for a minimum of 3 months, planned to continue to take the same aromatase inhibitor for at least a further 6 months, and had at least 1 evaluable joint in which patients had noted subjectively worsened pain following commencement of the aromatase inhibitor. |
Randomized phase II placebo-controlled study |
Visual Analog Scale, Brief Pain Inventory |
Pure emu oil of oral grade quality |
Blend of shea butter medium chain triglycerides, almond oil and carrot oil |
Level 2 |
No statistical difference between the control and emu oil group for joint pain as assessed by VAS (p = 0.042) and BPI (p = 0.76) |
Rollman, et al. [10] |
2015 |
42 |
Adults with histologic evidence of primary invasive breast carcinoma or ductal carcinoma in situ, who were to undergo a panned course of continuous, definitive or adjuvant external beam radiation therapy to the whole breast or to the chest wall. |
2-arm, double blinded, randomized pilot study |
Skindex 16 |
Ultra Emu Oil |
Cottonseed oil |
Level 1 |
No significant statistical difference. The Skindex 16 area and the curve scores were decreased in the emu oil patients (AUC = 7.2) when compared to placebo (AUC = 10.4), however p = 0.29. |
Twidwell, et al. [11] |
2016 |
22 |
Adults with documented Peyronie’s disease for more than 12 months. |
Randomized, prospective, placebo controlled pilot study |
Visual Analog Scale |
H-100 compound consisting of emu oil, nicardipine and superoxide dismutase |
Not reported |
Level 1 |
At 3 months, the H-100 group showed a statistically significant reduction in pain compared to baseline (p = 0.03) and an overall reduction at 6 months (p = 0.004). |