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).