Tuesday 15 October 2013

World Arthritis Day 12 October 2013 - Green Lipped Mussel Extract

In conjunction with World Arthritis Day that just went by last week, this weeks post will review on Arthritis and how this debilitating condition is burdening the ageing population worldwide today.

Arthritis usually involves the breakdown of cartilage, pain, inflammation and stiffness. It is one of the most prevalent chronic health problems and a common cause of disability.Three of the common diseases that make up arthritis are osteoarthritis(OA), rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile arthritis. 

The Community Oriented Program for the Control of Rheumatic Diseases (COPCORD) survey in Malaysia showed that 14.4% of those with a rheumatic complaint had pain in the joints, while more than half of those with knee pain had clinical evidence of OA.

Risk factors for arthritis include age, genetics, gender (60% of all arthritis patients are women), obesity, joint injuries, and repetitive movements. Arthritis can affect any joint in the body and every aspect of a patient's life. Knee OA, especially, can shorten many healthy years of life, affecting more women than men above aged above 50.

There is no cure for joint disorders, only prevention and management of symptoms. Natural products that help with pain and inflammation associated with joint disorders are emerging in the market today. One of such products is the New Zealand green-lipped muscle extract.


Research has shown that these mussels contain a combination of bioactive enzymatic nutrients, naturally occurring components such as omega-3 fatty acids, gylcosaminoglycans (important constituents of joint cartilage and synovial fluid) and nourishing marine minerals. More importantly, green-lipped mussels have shown to be able to inhibit enzymes called matrix metalloproteases (MMP). MMP denatures every cell in the body and this process starts at birth. However, MMP seems to denature joint tissues at a much faster rate in arthritic patients and in the elderly. Studies have now shown that this extract improves osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in 70% of patients that take it.



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