The Adverse Effects of Artri King: A Systematic Review and Case Series

There has been an uptrend in patients taking Artri King, an over-the-counter supplement marketed for joint pain despite Food and Drug Administration warnings of it containing undeclared substances such as diclofenac and dexamethasone. Despite the popularity of this supplement, there is a lack of awareness of the deleterious, adverse effects. To our knowledge, there has not been a systematic review evaluating outcomes of patients taking Artri King. A comprehensive literature search was performed from major databases from inception to June 17, 2024, including case studies or case series investigating outcomes of patients taking Artri King as a supplement or treatment. A total of 16 patients (12 female and 4 male) from 10 studies were included in our literature review, with four of those patients being from our home institution. Patients presented with a wide variety of chief complaints, but fragility fractures were the most common at our home institution. The average duration of Artri King use was 16.67 months (at our home institution) versus 13.35 months for the rest. Overall, 75% of the patients included were diagnosed as having Cushing syndrome. Serious adverse effects of taking Artri King include Cushing syndrome, adrenal insufficiency, and worsening hyperglycemia. Clinicians should obtain a thorough drug and supplement history, and we recommend informing patients of the serious adverse effects associated with Artri King and advise against its use.