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According to findings published in Rheumatologia, the official journal of the Institute of Rheumatology and the Polish Rheumatological Society, a daily dose of 1.2 grams of a green lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) produced ‘significantly less pain, greater joint mobility and no side effects’ in all 25 people taking the supplements for 12 weeks.
In comparison, a daily dose of 1.2 grams of fish oil, containing 18% EPA and 12% DHA, produced “no pain relief or increased joint mobility”, report researchers from the Academic Clinical Hospital in Wroclaw, Poland.
This study used the commercial green lipped mussel extract Lyprinol from Pharmalink International, and the study was partly financed by the company.
“Given the potential side effects, large dosages needed and long duration required for fish oil, practitioners could consider stabilised Perna canaliculus oil as a safer and faster acting first-line medication for patients who suffer from osteoarthritis,” wrote the researchers.
Eco-mussel
The NZ green lipped mussel, ranked among the top 'eco-friendly seafoods' according to the US environmental agency Blue Ocean Institute's list, is already used as a source of nutraceuticals.
The extract, a rich source of iron, betain, and glycoaminoglycans (including chondroitin sulphate) has gained a reputation amongst consumers as a natural product with anti-inflammatory properties - an effect that has been attributed to a body of science to its lipid factions.
The majority of green-lipped mussel extracts reportedly retain, to a greater or lesser degree of standardisation, the mussels' natural nutrient profile.
Study details
The Polish researchers divided 50 people into two equal groups. One received eight capsules per day of Lyprinol (150 milligrams per capsule) or eight fish oil capsules per day (150 milligrams per capsule) for 12 weeks.
The authors of the study reported that all 25 of the subjects who used the mussel oil extract reported significantly less pain, greater joint mobility and no side effects.
The half of the group who were treated with fish oil reported no pain relief or increased joint mobility and 36% reported unpleasant side effects.
“In the present study, we observed a surprisingly rapid reduction of clinical symptoms associated with osteoarthritis notable within four weeks and continuous improvement over the 12 weeks of the study,” wrote the researchers.
Source: Rheumatologia
Volume 49, Issue 4, Pages 244-252
“Measurement of pain relief resulting from the administration of Perna canaliculus lipid complex PCSO-524 as compared to fish oil for treating patients who suffer from osteoarthritis of knee and/or hip joints”
Authors: J. Szechinski, M. Zawadzki
5 comments (Comments are now closed)
Dr Dave
We would be pleased to send you a copy of the study so that you can review the protocol in more detail. The patients took 8 capsules per day.
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Posted by Tony Jacobs
21 November 2011 | 22h27
Bioavailability Fail
Generally speaking, 150mg is only about a 15% concentration of omega-3. No wonder they found these results!
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Posted by Marshall at FishOilBlog.com
18 November 2011 | 19h42
Response
I am shocked that anyone would even publish this. This has no merit, and simply adds confusion to a market that is already inundated with misinformation, false marketing and terrible products.
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Posted by Blake
17 November 2011 | 23h09
study quoted
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2009 Apr 21. [Epub ahead of print]
Lyprinol--is it a Useful Anti-inflammatory Agent?
Doggrell SA.
Source
For reprints and all correspondence: Sheila A. Doggrell. Tel: +61 07 31382015; Fax: +61 07 31381546; E-mail: sheila.doggrell@qut.edu.au.
Abstract
The New Zealand green lipped mussel preparation Lyprinol is available without a prescription from a supermarket, pharmacy or Web. The Food and Drug Administration have recently warned Lyprinol USA about their extravagant anti-inflammatory claims for Lyprinol appearing on the web. These claims are put to thorough review. Lyprinol does have anti-inflammatory mechanisms, and has anti-inflammatory effects in some animal models of inflammation. Lyprinol may have benefits in dogs with arthritis. There are design problems with the clinical trials of Lyprinol in humans as an anti-inflammatory agent in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, making it difficult to give a definite answer to how effective Lyprinol is in these conditions, but any benefit is small. Lyprinol also has a small benefit in atopic allergy. As anti-inflammatory agents, there is little to choose between Lyprinol and fish oil. No adverse effects have been reported with Lyprinol. Thus, although it is difficult to conclude whether Lyprinol does much good, it can be concluded that Lyprinol probably does no major harm.
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Posted by drdave
17 November 2011 | 16h23
product differentiation
Where did they find such high quality fish oil? Let me guess "natural triglyceride". And the whopping dose of 150 mg/capsule? I did not even know fish oil came in that low a dose. For meaningful comparisons it would be helpful to use a dose that people actually take like a 50 to 85% ethyl ester. The Omega 6/3 ratios of 4 to 1 to 1 to 1 should be achieved before "clinical"comparisons are made. These types of attempts at product differentiation are pure marketing.
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Posted by dr dave
17 November 2011 | 16h18
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