HD Harry Diehl, PhDDiscoverer of CM8
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The San Diego Clinic study

A dose-finding study of cetyl myristoleate in 48 subjects, conducted by the San Diego Clinic Immunological Center. Summarized below as reported.

Source & context. Reported by the San Diego Clinic Immunological Center as “Clinical Study on Cetyl Myristoleate (CM8) vs. Arthritis.” It is a small, older, open-label dose-finding study without a placebo arm. We present its reported methods and findings as historical record.

Purpose

As stated, the study set out to determine optimum dosage levels across different types of arthritis, whether severity changed the dose required, the time to initial and to fuller relief of symptoms, and factors that might prevent a response.

Subjects & protocol

The study involved 48 outpatient volunteers (28 women aged 33–83; 20 men aged 29–74) presenting with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other reactive arthritis. Cetyl myristoleate was given orally as 75 mg capsules, morning and evening, with the number of capsules and duration varying by group. Subjects took capsules on an empty stomach and were asked to avoid caffeine and alcohol; with few exceptions, steroids were not permitted. Diet was otherwise uncontrolled, and participants could continue their usual pain medications until no longer needed.

Reported results, by group

  • Group 1 — mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis (12): a short four-day course; most reported rapid early improvement reaching roughly 70–80% by day four, though about half saw some symptoms return after several weeks.
  • Group 2 — severe rheumatoid arthritis (9): a longer two-series course; by the end, all but two reported being about 90% free of pain with substantially restored mobility.
  • Group 3 — mild-to-moderate rheumatoid arthritis (14): a six-day course; most reported improvement approaching the 80–100% range, with minor symptom return in some after several weeks.
  • Group 4 — severe osteoarthritis (14): a longer two-series course; most reported 80–100% relief of pain and mobility by the end.

The authors reported that only two subjects across the study failed to respond — both with prior liver damage (from alcohol or steroid use) — and suggested impaired liver function may limit response. They noted that reducing inflammation appeared, in many subjects, to improve joint comfort and movement.

Summary (as stated)

The investigators concluded that an optimum dosage appeared similar across the arthritis types studied, that initial response generally appeared within two to seven days and fuller response within roughly three weeks, and that liver function may be a factor in who responds.

Full original text (archived): San Diego clinical study — Web Archive

See also the Siemandi randomized trial (1997).