Since its discovery in 1974, Green Lipped Mussel Extract (GLME) has now been subjected to more than forty years of quality scientific research and proven in laboratory and clinical trials, to be effective in treating both rheumatoid and osteo forms of arthritis. The discovery of the activity of the chondroprotective activity of glucosamines and chondroitin sulphates led to the answer. GLME has a natural content of glycosaminoglycans and this is the name for a group of polysaccharides which includes chondroitin sulphate amongst a few others such as dermatan sulphate, hyaluronic acid etc. These glycosaminoglycans which use glucosamine molecules as the raw material for their building blocks are used by the body for the biosynthesis of compounds called proteoglycans. The proteoglycans have a very strong affinity for water molecules in the joints, to which they bind, and form very large slippy space filling molecules. The function of these large combination molecules is to act as shock absorbers and also lubricants in the joints.
We have therefore, in GLME, anti-inflammatory activity which is necessary to relieve the inflammatory component of osteoarthritis coupled with chondro-protective activity which relieves the physical problem of degenerative joint condition osteoarthritis.
There is one further point which is worthy of mention here and this relates to the increased rate of cartilage degeneration in the joints in arthritic disease and also in advanced age. In young people and those not affected by arthritis, the rate of cartilage degeneration in the joints is equaled by that of regeneration. In the older person and in arthritic disease states this balance is upset leading to a reduction in the padding and lubrication of the joints. Certain cytokine induced enzyme activity is known to accelerate the breakdown of cartilage process and the inhibition of this enzyme activity is thus very desirable. GLME has been shown in laboratory studies to inhibit cytokine activity which would lead to the production of cells responsible for this process.
GLME manufactured by Healtheries of New Zealand is now available in India through their Authorised representatives – Perma Healthcare. The cost for this therapy of 1000mg/day comes to Rs 50/- per day for first three months, which can be later reduced to 500 mg/day, i.e. Rs 25/- per day.
