Acetyl-11-Keto-Boswellic Acid

Acetyl-11-keto-boswellic acid (AKBA) is one of the most potent naturally-occurring inhibitors of the inflammatory enzyme 5-lipoxygenase. Our products contain high levels of AKBA extracted from the Boswellia serrata tree, offering powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Read on to learn all about the benefits of AKBA and why we chose to include it in our range.

How AKBA Works in the Body

AKBA is a pentacyclic triterpenoid compound belonging to the beta-boswellic acid group. Research has shown AKBA to be a particularly potent inhibitor of the enzyme 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX). 5-LOX plays a key role in initiating and promoting inflammation in the body through the production of pro-inflammatory leukotrienes. By inhibiting 5-LOX, AKBA helps suppress inflammation and prevent inflammatory damage without the side effects seen with many anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical medications.

Key Benefits

• Powerful, natural anti-inflammatory activity
• Protects tissues and cells from inflammatory damage
• Alleviates joint pain and arthritis symptoms
• Soothes redness and itching from inflammatory skin conditions like eczema
• Supports healthy respiratory function
• Antioxidant actions protect cells from oxidative stress

Clinical studies validate the formidable anti-inflammatory effects of AKBA. Supplementing with AKBA-rich extracts like our Boswellia products helps to prevent inflammation from negatively impacting your health and comfort levels.

Conditions Impacted by AKBA

With inflammation at the root of most chronic diseases, AKBA can benefit a wide array of inflammatory health conditions:

Joint Health

Research shows that the 5-LOX enzyme strongly promotes inflammation involved in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. By blocking this enzyme's activity, AKBA helps:

• Reduce joint pain and swelling
• Improve mobility and flexibility
• Slow degenerative joint damage over time

Human and animal studies confirm that AKBA extracts significantly reduce levels of inflammatory immune chemicals and enzymes in arthritic joints while lessening pain and joint degeneration.

Digestive Conditions like IBS

The 5-LOX enzyme also drives gut inflammation underlying chronic digestive disorders like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). AKBA helps calm this inflammation to:

• Soothe intestinal tract lining
• Relieve painful contractions and diarrhea
• Support healthy gut repair and integrity

Lung Health

Research shows the 5-LOX pathway is overactive in many chronic respiratory inflammatory conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchitis. AKBA activates anti-inflammatory signaling while suppressing pro-inflammatory immune chemicals and lung tissue damage.

Skin Health

Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, topical application of AKBA reduces inflammatory skin conditions like eczema (atopic dermatitis), psoriasis and acne. By calming inflammatory responses in skin cells, AKBA helps:

• Alleviate redness, swelling, itching and pain
• Promote skin repair and renewal
• Prevent secondary infections

So in summary, AKBA in our products helps target inflammatory processes driving chronic health conditions for full-body anti-inflammatory benefits.

Choosing High-Quality AKBA Products

Not all boswellia extracts offer the same anti-inflammatory potency. Standard boswellia extracts predominantly contain beta-boswellic acid compounds including 11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (KBA). While KBAs do have anti-inflammatory properties, AKBA is the most bioactive and potent 5-LOX-inhibiting compound.

Seeking out boswellia products standardized to potent levels of AKBA (like our range with 10% AKBA concentration) ensures you reap the maximum anti-inflammatory and health benefits that boswellia serrata has to offer.

FAQs

What's the difference between boswellia and its active compound AKBA?

Boswellia refers to tree resin extracts taken from the Boswellia serrata tree. This resin contains a variety of triterpenoid compounds including beta-boswellic acids such as AKBA, which provide anti-inflammatory benefits. Out of all the boswellia compounds, acetyl-11-keto-boswellic acid (AKBA) is the most potent 5-LOX inhibitor. By standardizing our Boswellia products to guaranteed, concentrated levels of AKBA, we ensure maximal anti-inflammatory potency.

How much AKBA should I take per day?

Most clinical studies finding health benefits use AKBA at doses ranging from 100 to 250mg per day. We recommend taking our Boswellia products daily providing between 100-250mg of pure AKBA. Please consult your integrative health practitioner if you are currently on any medications or supplements.

How long until I feel results?

Most individuals notice an improvement in inflammation and pain levels within the first 2-4 weeks of daily supplementation with our Boswellia AKBA products. For long-standing chronic inflammatory health conditions, allow at least 2-3 months of continued use for the full effects.

Which Boswellia product has the highest AKBA content?

Our Boswellia Phytosomes product offers the highest AKBA concentration, standardized to 20% or 200mg of AKBA per 1,000mg capsule. This advanced delivery form uses liposomes and phospholipids to boost AKBA absorption by up to 10 times compared to unbound Boswellia extracts.

Can I take Boswellia AKBA supplements long term?

Yes, Boswellia serrata tree extracts like our standardized AKBA products can be safely taken for prolonged periods without toxicity or side effects for on-going inflammation support. There are even studies showing benefits from daily use for up to a year or more. Of course, for any supplement we recommend taking a break periodically, such as one week off every three months.