Supports Pain & Stiffness Relief

Price range:  1-2 containers:  $22.95 each.     3-5:  $21.95     6+:  $20.95

 

 

With 24 nutrients, Joint Care Plus is designed to offer one of the most effective and comprehensive joint care products on the market--proven to alleviate pain and discomfort in the joints and other connective tissue, as well as to help the body repair damage done to these areas.

It is important to understand that it may take up to 90 days to begin to feel the full effects of this compound.

Studies have shown that high doses of glucosamine can reduce inflammation and stimulate the cartilage to produce glycos-aminoglycans, main constituents in connective tissue.  These two effects directly counteract the symptoms of osteoarthritis, in which the cartilage which softens joints becomes inflamed. 

 

Similarly, chondroitin acts as an anti-inflammatory and stimulates the growth of proteoglycans, also important components of cartilage.  Glucosamine and chondroitin are often taken together. In clinical trials, patients using chondroitin experienced a significant decrease in side effects compared to patients using NSAIDs.

 

(Click to See Complete Ingredients)

Cetyl-myristoleate was patented by Dr. Harry W. Diehl, Ph.D., of the National Institutes of Health.  It is used to provide quick relief to sufferers of arthritis and has been proven effective at relieving painful symptoms even in patients who received no benefit from NSAIDs.

Manganese also exhibits antioxidant properties, but in addition is important for bone growth and cartilage synthesis.  Manganese is required for the body to properly use Vitamin C.  By activating many important enzymes, manganese detoxifies the body. 

Alternative medicine has been particularly popular with patients suffering from arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other painful joint, bone, and muscle conditions.  Because these conditions are often incurable and since pain is their main symptom, non-prescriptive drug treatments are favorable because they can temporarily provide relief without the dangerous side effects of pharmaceuticals as well as improve the state of mind and well being of the patient.

 

 

MSM or methylsulfonylmethane.

After James Coburn won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, he credited the supplement MSM for helping him overcome the pain and disability of rheumatoid arthritis. MSM, he said in many interviews, made it possible for him to work.

 

MSM is NOT a cure for joint disorders, but has been shown to offer much needed relief.

 

 

SHARK CARTILAGE

 

From the National Institutes of Health:

Shark cartilage is one of the most popular supplements in the United States, with over 40 brand name products sold in 1995 alone. Primarily used for cancer, its use became popular in the 1980s after several poor-quality studies reported "miracle" cancer cures.

Laboratory research and animal studies of shark cartilage or the shark cartilage derivative product AE-941 (Neovastat®) have demonstrated some anti-cancer (anti-angiogenic) and anti-inflammatory properties. However, there is currently not enough reliable human evidence to recommend for or against shark cartilage for any condition. There are several ongoing cancer studies. Many trials are supported by manufacturers of shark cartilage products, which raises questions about impartiality.

Commercial shark cartilage is primarily composed of chondroitin sulfate (a type of glycosaminoglycan), which is further broken down in the body into glucosamine and other end products. Although chondroitin and glucosamine have been extensively studied for osteoarthritis, there is no evidence supporting the use of unprocessed shark cartilage preparations for this condition. Shark cartilage also contains calcium. Manufacturers sometimes promote its use for calcium supplementation.

Use of Shark Cartilage based on scientific evidence:

Arthritis
Chondroitin sulfate, a component of shark cartilage, has been shown to benefit patients with osteoarthritis. However, the concentrations of chondroitin in shark cartilage products may be too small to be helpful. The ability of shark cartilage to block new blood vessel growth or reduce inflammation is proposed to be helpful in rheumatoid arthritis. However, there is limited research in these areas, and more studies are needed before a recommendation can be made.

         --National Institutes of Health

 

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CETYL-MYRISTOLEATE:

“Cetyl Myristoleate for Arthritis”
Science or Speculation?  By painfree56@lycos.com
There are a lot of fabulous stories about Cetyl Myristoleate (also known as CMO or CM) floating across the Internet. Mine is one of them. There have been a number of articles published in little known journals or magazines. There have been four small booklets published. One making fantastic claims, all four filled with anecdotal evidence but offering no real research to back up the claims. There are a number of doctors sharing the results they are having with their patients, but so does every other wonder-working product. The question is, are there any scientific studies to back up any of these claims? The answer is yes. To date, there are several patient studies and two double blind studies completed. I will mention the four most prominent below.

Dr. Len Sands of the San Diego Clinic completed the first human study on the effectiveness on Cetyl Myristoleate in 1995. There were 48 arthritis patients in this study. All but two showed significant improvement in articular mobility (80% or better) and reduction of pain (70% or better). Obviously the study had its flaws. One doctor conducted the study, there was no control group, and the number of participants was small. Even so, it suggested to many that maybe there was some hope here and that more scientific studies should follow.

The first double blind study followed two years later. Dr. H. Siemandi conducted a double blind study under the auspices of the Joint European Hospital Studies Program. There were 431 patients in the study, 106 who received cetyl myristoleate, 99 who received cetyl myristoleate, and glucosamine, sea cucumber, and hydrolyzed cartilage and 226 who received a placebo. Clinical assessment included radiological test and other studies. Results were 63% improvement for the cetyl myristoleate group, 87% for the cetyl myristoleate plus glucosamine group and 15% for the placebo group.

In August of 2002, a double blind study was published in the Journal or Rheumatology. The study included sixty-four patients with chronic knee OA. Half of the patients received a cetyl myristoleate complex and half a placebo. Evaluations included physician assessment, knee range of motion with goniometry, and the Lequesne Algofunctional Index (LAI). The conclusion was that the CM group saw significant improvement, while the placebo group saw little to none. In fact in their conclusion they state that CM "may be an alternative to the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of OA".

Advanced Medical Systems & Design, Ltd. completed the last study I would like to mention in Oct 2001. It was not a double blind study, but the study included 1814 arthritis patients. The results showed that over 87% of the subjects had greater than 50% recovery and over 65% of those showed from 75% - 100% recovery following a sixteen day regimen. I know that this is not the most scientific study, but a study this large a study does suggest that there could be a positive benefit to the use of CM in the treatment of arthritis.

Conclusion: There is mounting evidence that CM can be effective in the joint discomfort reliever of many forms of arthritis. While it is true that the evidence from these three studies cannot be considered conclusive, it is a beginning. It should challenge you to think outside the box and consider that just because it did not come from a drug company does not mean that it will not work. With over 10,000 people a year dying from Nsaids, would it not be great to find a safer and more effective product, especially with the cost of prescription treatments for arthritis costing into the hundreds.

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GLUCOSAMINE AND CHONDROITIN:

From the American Family Physician
Alternative Therapies for Traditional Disease States: Osteoarthritis
VINCENT MORELLI, M.D., CHRISTOPHER NAQUIN, M.D., and VICTOR WEAVER, M.D.  
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Kenner, Louisiana
Americans spend more on natural remedies for osteoarthritis than for any other medical condition. In treating osteoarthritis, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, two of the molecular building blocks found in articular cartilage, are the most commonly used alternative supplements. In randomized trials of variable quality, these compounds show efficacy in reducing symptoms, but neither has been shown to arrest progression of the disease or regenerate damaged cartilage. Although few clinical trials on S-adenosylmethionine exist, preliminary evidence indicates that it relieves pain to a degree similar to that of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs but with fewer side effects. Clinical trials of dimethyl sulfoxide offer conflicting results. Neither ginger nor cetyl myristoleate has proven clinical usefulness. (Am Fam Physician 2003;67:339-44. Copyright© 2003 American Academy of Family Physicians).

Osteoarthritis is the leading medical condition for which persons use alternative therapies.1 Patients often seek alternative therapies after having side effects or gaining incomplete relief of symptoms with conventional medications.

Alternative therapies used for the treatment of osteoarthritis include herbs, supplements, and nondrug modalities such as exercise, physical therapy, acupuncture, and electromagnets. Unlike manufacturers of conventional medications, the herbal and supplement industry is not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA); therefore, supplement composition (i.e., proportion of active ingredient in a preparation) usually varies. Physicians should be familiar with evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of alternative modalities used to treat osteoarthritis, so they can provide their patients with accurate and up-to-date information.

Glucosamine
Glucosamine sulfate, which is derived from oyster and crab shells, is a popular treatment for osteoarthritis symptoms. In vitro studies2 have shown that glucosamine stimulates cartilage cells to synthesize increased amounts of glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycan ground substance. High dosages of glucosamine have been shown to have mild anti-inflammatory effects in animal models.3 No published studies document arthroscopic improvement in arthritic cartilage with glucosamine use in humans.

Most human clinical trials4-7 have been relatively short term and have had varied results. A recent meta-analysis, funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), concluded that glucosamine may show some efficacy over placebo in relieving painful symptoms.8 [Evidence level A, meta-analysis]

A recent Cochrane Review concluded that current evidence from clinical trials (1) does not analyze the long-term effectiveness and toxicity of glucosamine; (2) does not differentiate which joints and which levels of severity of osteoarthritis warrant this therapy; (3) does not differentiate which dosage and route of administration are best; and (4) does not demonstrate whether glucosamine modifies the long-term progression of osteoarthritis.9 [Evidence level B, systematic review of lower-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs)] In addition, 75 percent of the trials analyzed in the Cochrane Review9 used one brand exclusively, thus failing to shed light on the numerous other preparations available.

There have been no published studies documenting arthroscopic regeneration of articular cartilage following glucosamine administration. Glucosamine is supplied in tablets and capsules. The usual dosing schedule for glucosamine is 1,500 mg per day in three divided doses9 (Table 1). Research suggests that the supplement must be taken for at least one month before improvement in symptoms can be expected to occur.8 Glucosamine has been shown to be well tolerated, with few significant side effects (mainly gastrointestinal discomfort) compared with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).


Chondroitin
Chondroitin sulfate also has demonstrated efficacy in improving the symptoms of osteoarthritis by acting as a building block of proteoglycan molecules.8,10,11 Commercially available chondroitin is derived mostly from shark and cow cartilage and is supplied in tablet and capsule form.

Like glucosamine, chondroitin's mechanism of action in osteoarthritis may involve both anti-inflammatory properties and substrate provision for proteoglycan synthesis. However, as with glucosamine, the role of substrate provision is theoretic and has not been proved to affect cartilage regeneration or repair.

Two recently published meta-analyses indicated that chondroitin may be superior to placebo in reducing the pain of osteoarthritis.8,12 [Reference 12--Evidence level A, meta-analysis] One of these analyses8 cautioned that study results may have been exaggerated by publication bias related to the manufacturer's sponsorship. The second meta-analysis12 found chondroitin to be superior to placebo in reducing the painful symptoms of osteoarthritis, but researchers cautioned that trials with larger cohorts of patients and over longer periods must be conducted to substantiate these claims. However, these studies suggest that chondroitin improves the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Comparison of chondroitin with NSAIDs has shown that patients with osteoarthritis have fewer gastrointestinal side effects with chondroitin. Chondroitin is well tolerated; it appears to have a slower onset of action but to work longer than NSAIDS.13 Overall, chondroitin may offer a safe alternative in the treatment of the symptoms of osteoarthritis. The usual dosing schedule for chondroitin is 1,200 mg per day in three divided doses. As with glucosamine, research indicates that the supplement must be taken for at least one month before any symptom relief occurs.8

Glucosamine/Chondroitin Combinations
The use of glucosamine and chondroitin together for the treatment of osteoarthritis has become extremely popular; however, there is little evidence that this combination is any more effective than either supplement alone.14 A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial15 studied the effect of a combination of glucosamine, chondroitin, and manganese ascorbate on osteoarthritis of the knee and lower back. The combination was given for 16 weeks to 34 men in the United States Navy. A significant improvement was found in subjects who had knee symptoms but not in those with low back symptoms. No significant side effects were reported.

Currently, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), which is part of the NIH, is conducting the Glucosamine-Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT), which will compare the efficacy of glucosamine, chondroitin, a glucosamine/chondroitin combination, a cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor (celecoxib), and placebo in the treatment of knee pain associated with osteoarthritis.

The Authors
VINCENT MORELLI, M.D., is assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans. Dr. Morelli received his medical degree from the University of Southern California (USC) School of Medicine, Los Angeles, Calif. He completed a family practice residency at Whittier/USC and a fellowship in sports medicine and arthroscopy at Jonkoping Hospital, Jonkoping, Sweden. Dr. Morelli is currently the team physician for the New Orleans Brass hockey team, the New Orleans Zephyrs baseball team, the New Orleans Storm soccer team, and the University of New Orleans.

CHRISTOPHER NAQUIN, M.D., is a second-year resident at the Louisiana State University Family Practice Center and the Louisiana State University Medical Center Family Practice Residency Program in Kenner, La. He earned his medical degree from the Louisiana State University School of Medicine.

VICTOR WEAVER, M.D., is a second-year resident at the Louisiana State University Medical Center Family Practice Residency Program. He received his medical degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville.

Address correspondence to Vincent Morelli, M.D., LSU Health Sciences Center, Family Practice Residency Program, 200 W. Esplanade Ave., Suite 510, Kenner, LA 70065. Reprints are not available from the authors.

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006 Issue 3. Copyright © 2006 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate
At least 5 million people in the United States take glucosamine or chondroitin alone or in combination. Glucosamine is used to make a molecule involved in the formation and repair of cartilage, the rubbery substance that cushions joints. Although it's still not clear exactly how glucosamine in pill-form works, it's believed to allow more of cartilage building blocks to be made. Chondroitin sulfate appears to to block cartilage-destroying enzymes and help joint cartilage remain elastic and supple.

Studies with glucosamine have found a reduction in the pain, stiffness, and swelling of arthritis. It is also thought to prevent structural damage to joints. In a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, participants took glucosamine or placebo for three years and were x-rayed each year to assess structural changes. Participants who took the placebo had progressive joint space narrowing, a sign of cartilage degeneration, but those who took glucosamine had no significant narrowing of joint spaces.

The dose used in studies is 1500 mg glucosamine sulfate and 800 to 1200 mg chondroitin sulfate. It's important to choose glucosamine sulfate, rather than hydrochloride, because many of the clinical studies have used the sulfate form. It usually takes 1 to 3 months to take effect. Side effects may include mild stomach discomfort, which can be alleviated by taking glucosamine with meals. Some glucosamine supplements are derived from the shells of crabs and other shellfish, so people with shellfish allergies should ensure they use synthetic glucosamine.

The National Institutes of Health spent $12.5 million on a study to find out whether two of the hottest-selling arthritis supplements, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, can ease osteoarthritis pain.

However, because of limitations in the study design, $12.5 million later, that question still remains unanswered.

Called the Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT), the study enrolled 1,583 people over the age of 40 with knee pain due to osteoarthritis. Participants were given one of five treatments: glucosamine or chondroitin alone, a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin, the prescription drug Celebrex, or a placebo.

The results:
64 percent who took 1500 mg a day of glucosamine had reduced pain
65 percent who took 1200 mg a day of chondroitin had reduced pain
67 percent who took 1500 mg glucosamine and 1200 mg a day chondroitin had reduced pain
70 percent who took 200 mg a day of Celebrex had reduced pain
60 percent who took the placebo had reduced pain
Although 67 percent of participants who took the combined treatment had reduced pain, it was deemed ineffective.

The researchers, led by Daniel Clegg of the University of Utah, say that the unusually large placebo rate may have obscured the benefits of glucosamine and chondroitin. In this study, 60 percent of people taking the placebo experienced a reduction in pain, double the usual placebo effect of 30 percent.

Treatments had to have a response rate 15 percent or higher than the placebo group response rate to be considered clinically effective, so a normally-impressive 67 percent pain reduction rate wasn't considered significant compared to the 60 percent placebo rate.

The researchers also analyzed people with mild pain and those with moderate-to-severe pain separately. Among the people with moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis pain, the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin provided significant relief from arthritis pain:

79.2 percent of people in the moderate-to-severe pain subgroup who took glucosamine and chondroitin combination had reduced pain.

54.3 percent in the moderate-to-severe pain subgroup who took the placebo had reduced pain.So does that mean that glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate may help people who need it the most? Unfortunately, there was a disproportionate number of people with mild pain in the study, which may have obscured benefits yet again. Out of the 1,583 people in the study, only 22 percent (354 people) had moderate-to-severe pain and the rest had mild pain. Only 72 people in the moderate-to-severe subgroup received both glucosamine and chondroitin, too few to make a reliable conclusion.

People in the Celebrex group had a non-significant but higher incidence of increased adverse cardiac events, including blood pressure, palpitations, and irregular heartbeat. However, the researchers did not monitor blood pressure or do any other cardiac tests unless participants specifically reported an adverse event. Celebrex is currently being studied to see whether it's safe for people at risk of heart problems, after a related drug, Vioxx, was pulled from the market in 2004.

This study, the first of two parts, only looked at pain reduction over six months, a relatively short time period. In a 2002 study in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers examined patients over three years, and not only looked at pain but at structural improvements seen on x-ray. They gave 202 people with mild to moderate osteoarthritis either 1500 mg of glucosamine sulfate a day or placebo, and found that longer-term treatment with glucosamine slowed the progression of knee osteoarthritis compared to placebo.

The glucosamine group experienced a significant reduction in pain and stiffness. On x-ray, there was no average change or narrowing of joint spaces in the knees (a sign of deterioration) of the glucosamine group. In contrast, joint spaces of participants taking the placebo narrowed over the three years.

Another criticism of the GAIT study is that it used a form of glucosamine called glucosamine hydrochloride. Many of the promising studies to date have used a different form of glucosamine called glucosamine sulfate.

According to the Nutrition Business Journal, glucosamine and chondroitin sales exceeded $1.7 billion in 2005.

Bottom line, this study is just one of many studies done on these supplements. It had major limitations and should not dissuade someone from continuing or trying glucosamine or chondroitin.

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MSM

Efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in osteoarthritis pain of the knee: a pilot clinical trial.

Author: Kim,-L-S; Axelrod,-L-J; Howard,-P; Buratovich,-N; Waters,-R-F

Citation: Osteoarthritis-Cartilage. 2006 Mar; 14(3): 286-94

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and the second most common cause of long-term disability among middle-aged and older adults in the United States. Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a popular dietary supplement used as a single agent and in combination with other nutrients, and purported to be beneficial for arthritis. However, there is paucity of evidence to support the use of MSM. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted. Fifty men and women, 40-76 years of age with knee OA pain were enrolled in an outpatient medical center. Intervention was MSM 3g or placebo twice a day for 12 weeks (6g/day total). Outcomes included the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index visual analogue scale (WOMAC), patient and physician global assessments (disease status, response to therapy), and SF-36 (overall health-related quality of life). RESULTS: Compared to placebo, MSM produced significant decreases in WOMAC pain and physical function impairment (P<0.05). No notable changes were found in WOMAC stiffness and aggregated total symptoms scores. MSM also produced improvement in performing activities of daily living when compared to placebo on the SF-36 evaluation (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: MSM (3g twice a day) improved symptoms of pain and physical function during the short intervention without major adverse events. The benefits and safety of MSM in managing OA and long-term use cannot be confirmed from this pilot trial, but its potential clinical application is examined. Underlying mechanisms of action and need for further investigation of MSM are discussed.

 

From PDRhealth:

Methylsulfonylmethane, abbreviated MSM, is an organic sulfur-containing compound that occurs naturally in a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains and in animals, including humans in at least trace amounts. MSM has also been found in such plants as Equisetem arvense, also known as horsetail. The biological role of MSM, if any, is not known. MSM is a metabolite of dimethyl sulfoxide or DMSO (see Dimethyl Sulfoxide). It is believed that some of the possible effects of DMSO could be attributed to MSM.MSM is a water-soluble, solid compound. It is also known as dimethyl sulfone, DMSO2, sulfonylbismethane and methyl sulfone.

PHARMACOKINETICS
Little is known about the pharmacokinetics of MSM in humans. Sulfur from MSM was found to be incorporated into protein methionine and cysteine when fed to guinea pigs. MSM was also detected in the brain of a normal 62-year old male, following its ingestion, using in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Thus, it appears that MSM gets absorbed and can cross the blood-brain barrier.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Claims for MSM include pain relief, particularly in arthritis, immune modulation in autoimmune disorders, muscle repair, sleep aid and diabetes therapy.

 

RESEARCH ON MSM

 

Childs SJ. Dimethyl sulfone (DMSO2) in the treatment of interstitial cystitis. Urol Clin North Am. 1994; 21:85-98.

Kandorf H, Chirra AR, De Gruccio A, Girman DJ. Dimethyl sulfoxide modulation of diabetes onset in NOD mice. Diabetes. 1989; 38:194-197.

Kocsis JJ, Harkaway S, Snyder R. Biological effects of the metabolites of dimethyl sulfoxide. Ann NY Acad Sci. 1975; 243:104-109.

Layman DL. Growth inhibitory effects of dimethyl sulfoxide and dimethyl sulfone on vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells in vitro. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol. 1987; 23:422-428.

Morton JI, Siegel BV. Effects of oral dimethyl sulfoxide and dimethyl sulfone on murine autoimmune lymphoproliferative disease. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1986; 183; 227-230.

O'Dwyer PJ, McCabe DP, Sickle-Santanello BJ, et al. Use of polar solvents in chemoprevention of 1, 2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer. Cancer. 1988; 62:944-948

.
Pearson TW, Dawson HJ, Lackey HB. Natural occurring levels of dimethyl sulfoxide in selected fruits, vegetables, grains and beverages. J Agric Food Chem. 1989; 29:1089-1091.

Richmond VL, Incorporation of methylsulfonylmethane sulfur into guinea pig serum proteins. Life Sci. 1986; 39:263-268.

 

Rose SE, Chalk JB, Galloway GJ, Doddrell DM. Detection of dimethyl sulfone in the human brain by in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Magn Reson Imaging. 2000; 18:95-98.

MANGANESE:

“Deficiency Diseases and Good Nutrition” (WaltonFeed.com)
Manganese activates many enzymes and vitamins in your body. It also helps to neutralize poisons in your blood. It helps in the production of such vital hormones as insulin. Manganese also works as an antioxidant to keep your cellular membranes healthy.

Vitamin C cannot work correctly without manganese. Enzymes are needed to direct vitamin C to detoxify the body, fight infection, build collagen, or perform one of its many other functions. Manganese encourages the production of these enzymes, without which vitamin C could not function. In fact, a study done on animals given no manganese showed that when given hydralazine (poison), they died. When manganese was supplemented in the diet and the animals were administered hydralazine, they lived. It is believed to be due to the detoxifying effect of vitamin C, that can only be put to use when there is adequate manganese to activate it. Manganese activates arginase, which also has a detoxifying function in the body. Ammonia is a substance naturally produced by your body.

The only problem is 1/1000 of a milligram of the stuff in a quart of your blood will kill you! Arginase helps to bind ammonia and carbon dioxide to make urea, which is harmless. The urea is filtered out of your blood by the kidneys and excreted as urine.

The specialized beta cells in your pancreas need manganese to manufacture insulin. No manganese, no insulin. Insulin is what moves sugar from your bloodstream to your cells. If you don't get enough manganese, you could get a blood sugar disorder, like diabetes. An observation done on 122 diabetics and an identical control group showed diabetics to be twice as low in manganese than those without the disease.

Manganese activates choline, a phospholipid produced in the liver. Activated choline and ATP form acetyl choline. This compound functions as a neurotransmitter and works in the energy producing Krebs cycle. It also stimulates adrenaline and noradrenaline to be released from the adrenal glands. These hormones help you deal with stress.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter and needs manganese to be produced. Sufferers of Parkinson's disease have a decreased ability to produce dopamine. Additional manganese may help decrease the effects of the disease.

 

 

 

SHARK CARTILAGE

 

National Cancer Institute

 

Questions and Answers About Cartilage (Bovine and Shark)

 

1.       What is cartilage?

 

Cartilage is a type of tough, flexible connective tissue that forms parts of the skeleton in many animals. Cartilage contains cells called chondrocytes, which are surrounded by collagen (a fibrous protein) and proteoglycans, which are made of protein and carbohydrate.

Products containing cartilage are sold in the United States as dietary supplements. Companies that make cartilage products may not have a process in place to check that all batches they make are exactly the same. This means different batches of a cartilage product may contain different amounts or strengths of ingredients. Different binding agents (substances that make loose mixtures stick together) and fillers may be used in different batches. Therefore, the results of a particular clinical trial may be true only for the batch that was used in the study.

2.       What is the history of the discovery and use of cartilage as a complementary or alternative treatment for cancer?

 

Cartilage from cows (bovine cartilage) and sharks has been studied as a treatment for cancer and other medical conditions for more than 30 years. It was once believed that sharks, whose skeletons are made mostly from cartilage, do not develop cancer. This caused interest in cartilage as a possible treatment for cancer. Although malignant tumors are rare in sharks, cancers have been found in these animals.

Early studies used extracts of bovine cartilage.

 

In the 1960s, it was first reported that bovine cartilage decreased inflammation (redness, swelling, pain, and feeling of heat).

In the 1970s, it was first reported that bovine cartilage contains a substance that blocks angiogenesis (the forming of new blood vessels). If blood vessel growth into a tumor can be blocked, the tumor will stop growing or shrink.

In the 1980s, researchers first described laboratory and animal studies and clinical trials (research studies in people) testing bovine cartilage as a treatment for cancer.

Interest in using shark cartilage grew because it was believed that shark cartilage may be more active than bovine cartilage in preventing new blood vessels from being formed. Since a shark's skeleton is made mostly of cartilage, shark cartilage is more plentiful than bovine cartilage.

 

In the 1980s, it was first published that shark cartilage contains a substance that blocks blood vessel growth.

In 1998 and 2005, there were published reports of clinical trials of shark cartilage as a treatment for cancer.

(See Question 5 for more information about the laboratory and animal studies. See Question 6 for more information about the clinical trials.)

3.       What is the theory behind the claim that cartilage is useful in treating cancer?

 

Three theories have been suggested to explain how cartilage acts against cancer:

As cartilage is broken down by the body, it releases products that kill cancer cells.
Cartilage increases the action of the body’s immune system to kill cancer cells.
Cartilage makes substances that block tumor angiogenesis (the growth of new blood vessels that feed a tumor and help it grow).

Based on laboratory and animal studies, the third theory may be most likely. Cartilage does not contain blood vessels, so cancer cannot easily grow in it. It is suggested that a cancer treatment using cartilage may keep blood vessels from forming in a tumor, causing the tumor to stop growing or shrink.

4.       How is cartilage administered?

 

In animal studies, cartilage products have been given by mouth; injected into a vein or the abdomen; applied to the skin; or placed in slow-release plastic pellets that were surgically implanted (put into the body).

In studies with people, cartilage products have been given by mouth; applied to the skin; injected under the skin; or given by enema (injected as a liquid into the rectum). The dose and length of time the cartilage treatment was given was different for each study, in part because different types of products were used.

5.       Have any preclinical (laboratory or animal) studies been conducted using cartilage? A number of preclinical studies have been done with cartilage. Preclinical studies in a laboratory or using animals are done to find out if a drug, procedure, or treatment is likely to be safe and useful in humans. These preclinical studies are done before testing in humans is begun. Some research studies are published in scientific journals. Most scientific journals have experts who review research reports before they are published, to make sure that the evidence and conclusions are sound.

Preclinical studies of cartilage looked at whether bovine and shark cartilage products can kill cancer cells in the laboratory, make the immune system more active against cancer, and prevent blood vessels from forming.

The following has been reported from preclinical studies of the effect of cartilage on cancer cells in vitro (outside of the body):

 

In a published laboratory study, a powdered form of bovine cartilage called Catrix slowed the growth of human cancer cells by half or more. It is not clear if Catrix had this effect only on cancer cells, because its effect the growth of normal cells was not tested. It is also not known if the dose used in the laboratory study could safely be used in people.

 

In a laboratory study, a liquid form of shark cartilage called AE-941/Neovastat was reported to stop the growth of a number of cancer cell types. The results, however, have not been published in a scientific journal.

 

In a published laboratory study of powdered shark cartilage, there was reduction in the growth of human astrocytoma cells (cancer cells that begin in the brain or spinal cord).

 

The following has been reported from preclinical studies of the effect of cartilage on the immune system:

 

One published study reported that Catrix injected into mice caused their immune systems to be more active. This effect did not happen when Catrix was given by mouth.

 

Other laboratory and animal studies have been done on the effect of cartilage on the immune system, but they have not been published in scientific journals.

 

No studies of the effect of shark cartilage on the immune-system have been reported.
A large number of laboratory and animal studies on the effect of cartilage on angiogenesis have been published.

The following has been reported from these studies:

 

Three substances that prevent blood vessel growth were found in bovine cartilage.

 

Two substances that prevent blood vessel growth were found in shark cartilage.

 

A liquid shark cartilage product given by mouth to mice slowed the growth of breast cancer cells and the spread of lung cancer cells.

 

Powdered shark cartilage given by mouth to rats decreased the growth of abdominal tissue cells.

 

Powdered shark cartilage given by mouth to rats decreased the growth of gliosarcomas, a type of brain cancer.

 

Two powdered shark cartilage products (Sharkilage and MIA Shark Powder) given by mouth to mice did not stop the growth or spread of squamous cell skin cancer.

 

6.       Have any clinical trials (research studies with people) been conducted using cartilage?

 

Since the 1970s, there have been more than a dozen clinical studies of cartilage as a treatment for cancer. Results from 4 studies have been published in scientific journals.

The following has been reported in published studies:

 

A randomized clinical trial comparing treatment using BeneFin (a form of shark cartilage) to treatment using a placebo (an inactive substance that looks the same as, and is given the same way as, the substance being tested), in addition to standard care: In 83 patients with advanced breast cancer or colon cancer, there was no difference in the quality of life or survival rate between the group that received BeneFin and the group that received the placebo.

 

Case series (a collection of detailed information about individual patients) of 31 patients who were treated with Catrix: The cancer went into remission (signs and symptoms of cancer went away) in 19 patients and then recurred (came back) in about half of them. Some of these patients also received standard cancer treatment and there was no control group (a group of patients who do not receive the treatment being studied, to show if the treatment being studied makes a difference). For these reasons, the effectiveness of cartilage as a cancer treatment is not proven by this case series.

 

A clinical trial of Catrix in 9 patients whose cancers did not respond to radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy: One patient's cancer went into remission for more than 39 weeks and the other 8 patients did not respond to treatment with Catrix.

 

A clinical trial of Cartilade in 60 patients with advanced cancer: All but 1 patient had been treated with standard therapy before the trial. The cancer stopped growing in 10 of the patients for 12 weeks or more and then began to grow again. The cancer did not shrink or go into remission in any of the patients.

 

Information is available on research studies that use complementary and alternative medicine.
People who are interested in taking part in clinical trials should talk with their health care provider. Information on clinical trials can also be found by searching the following online databases:

 

The NCI PDQ® Clinical Trials Database can be searched by cancer type, type of trial, location, trial sponsor, and/or drug name. This information is also available by calling NCI’s Cancer Information Service (1-800-4-CANCER [1-800-422-6237]; TTY: 1-800-332-8615).

The NCCAM Clinical Trials Web page can be searched by the type of treatment or disease.

The OCCAM Clinical Trials Web page provides links to the NCI PDQ® Clinical Trials Database.

ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) developed by the National Library of Medicine, is a searchable database containing information on clinical trials for many diseases and conditions, including cancer. The trials are being sponsored by the NIH and other federal agencies, and by drug companies in the United States, Canada, and other countries.

 

7.       Have any side effects or risks been reported from cartilage? The side effects of cartilage treatment are usually mild or moderate.

The most common side effects of treatment with the bovine cartilage product Catrix include the following:

 

Inflammation at the injection location.
A bad taste in the mouth.
Feeling very tired.
Nausea.
Upset stomach.
Fever.
Feeling dizzy.
Swelling of the scrotum (the sac that contains the testicles).
The most common side effects of treatment with the shark cartilage include the following:

Nausea.
Vomiting.
Abdominal cramps and/or bloating.
Constipation.
Lower than normal blood pressure.
Higher than normal blood sugar.
General weakness.
A higher than normal level of calcium in the blood.
Nausea, vomiting, and upset stomach are the side effects reported most often from treatment with the shark cartilage product AE–941/Neovastat.

There has been one report of hepatitis occurring in a person who used shark cartilage.

8.   Is cartilage approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as a cancer treatment in the United States?

 

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved cartilage as a treatment for cancer. A number of cartilage products are sold in the United States as dietary supplements. In the United States, dietary supplements are regulated as foods, not drugs. A company does not need FDA approval to sell a dietary supplement unless it claims the product can treat or prevent disease.

 

 

 

NEW ZEALAND GREEN LIPPED SEA MUSSEL (GLM)

 

Better Nutrition Magazine, October 2005

 

Show some mussel: green-lipped mussel may be the ocean's answer to inflammatory diseases

 

By Kim Schoenhals

 

What's green and brown and grows in the ocean on ropes? Green-lipped mussels (GLM). Most commonly farmed in the waters of New Zealand, they are harvested for culinary treats such as mussels on the half shell, mussel chowder and smoked mussels. In powdered form, they can be packed in capsules and taken as a dietary supplement, which may help inflammatory diseases, including arthritis.

 

GLM has been a source of food in New Zealand "since the beginning of human habitation," according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. However, the organization says it wasn't until 1971 that the first commercial harvesting of the envy-hued shellfish took place. Today, the United States is one of the largest importers of New Zealand GLM.

 

The GLM supplements are popular for quieting the symptoms of inflammatory diseases--not only rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) but also inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and asthma. Among the evidence of its benefits:

 

* GLM helped 76 percent of RA patients and 70 percent of OA patients during a six-month British study reported in a 1998 issue of Complementary Therapies in Medicine. The researchers at the Glasgow Homoeopathic Hospital in England compared a stabilized powder and a lipid extract and concluded that both reduced the pain, swelling and stiffness caused by either type of arthritis.

 

* A brand of GLM lipid extract called Lyprinol improved asthma symptoms in 46 patients after eight weeks, according to Russian research published in the September 2002 issue of the European Respiratory Journal.

 

* In animals with IBD, Lyprinol reduced disease activity and the weight loss that goes with it, according to the April 2005 issue of the Journal of Gastroenterology.

 

What's more, a 2003 report in Inflammopharmacology found that combining GLM with anti-inflammatory drags not only increased the drags' benefits but also decreased their risky gastrointestinal side effects. "Because GLM is a mainstay of the traditional New Zealand Maori diet, we know that it's a pretty safe medicine," says Michael Whitehouse, PhD, of the University of Queensland in Australia, who co-authored a paper on the benefits of combining GLM with pharmaceutical anti-inflammatories. "It is very suitable for use in combination with other drugs and allows considerable reduction in the use of standard anti-inflammatory agents."

 

The only known side effects of GLM supplements seem to be fluid retention and nausea. Also, GLM is not recommended for anyone with a shellfish allergy. That said, anyone interested in trying it should look for a stabilized product that has undergone quality-assurance testing, although these things may not be readily obvious.

 

"You really can't tell by looking at a product whether or not it is good-quality green-lipped mussel," says Tiffany L. Bierer, PhD, co-author of a 2003 study in Veterinary Therapeutics that showed that GLM helps dogs with arthritis. "My best advice would be to purchase a product from a well-respected manufacturer. In addition, products that have published peer-reviewed clinical trials should help assure consumers that they are getting a green-lipped mussel product that works."

 

 

 

L-Histidine

 

It has been reported that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) sufferers have abnormally low blood levels of this amino acid. In a pilot study, RA patients received up to 6 grams of supplemental histidine daily and were said to benefit with as little as 1 gram daily. A subsequent study with 4.5 grams daily in some with more active and prolonged disease found much less benefit—but still enough to warrant further research. (PDRhealth.)

 

 

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