Green-Lipped Mussels, An Attractive Option for those Suffering from Mild to Moderate Osteoarthritis

In a study, community physicians from New York, Lancaster, Reading and Dallas chose 53 volunteers with mild to moderate osteoarthritis. The patients were given a supplement that had an extract of green-lipped mussels that are harvested in New Zealand. In fact, the Maoris who live there have been aware of the health benefits of these mussels for nearly 100 years.

The volunteers were asked to take the supplements for 3 months. They were followed-up regularly on a monthly basis and also two weeks after the end of the trial. The researchers compared the pain and symptoms before and after they took supplements.

A well-established scale (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) was used to measure the difference in pain, stiffness and general improvement. The scores recorded after 3 months were found to have improved by 30 percent when compared to initial score. 15 percent improvement was observed in the first two weeks of supplement intake and it became more gradual after that period.

Global functioning or the ability to move freely was observed to have improved by a total of 14.2 percent.

The researchers believe that green-lipped mussels are a good source of an essential fatty acid called eicosatetaenoic acid (ETA) which has powerful anti-inflammatory properties.

It is also a good source of hyaluronic acid, which is a natural lubricating substance found between joints. These mussels also contain carbohydrates, minerals, omega-3 fatty acids and amino acids that are all essential for good joint health.

All these health benefits and minimal side-effects make the supplement an attractive option for those suffering from mild to moderate osteoarthritis.

The severe form of the disease was unaffected by the supplements, so it is essential to use it early.