Help for ageing joints
WOON Pei has seen how her mother has been suffering from joint problems for almost three years.
Over time, her knees got progressively worse. Woon has bought her various joint supplements, ointments, knee guards and even essential oils but the joint problems keep coming back.
Many people believe joint problems are part of ageing.
However, a joint problem that gets progressively worse over time is in fact due to a degenerative joint disease called osteoarthritis (OA), which affects the joints of the knees, hips, hands and spine.
Within healthy joints, joint tissues are able to rebuild at the same rate it is broken down. With OA however, the joints break down much faster than the body is capable of rebuilding. This is driven by enzymes in the joints known as Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP enzymes) or joint-ageing enzymes, which are over-expressed within OA. Unless these MMP enzymes are inhibited, the joints will eventually be destroyed.
Glucosamine supplements help build up damaged cartilage but are not able to slow down the express break down rate driven by MMP enzymes.
Many drug companies have attempted to develop drugs to try to target and stop the degenerative actions of MMP enzymes.
However, the prototypes have been unsuccessful due to serious side effects. Nature has produced a solution in an unlikely candidate – a patented active Green Lipped Mussel Extract (GLME) known as Biolane with a research history of over 40 years.
However, it was only in the last 15 years that the advance of biotechnology was available to prove these benefits were the outcome of Biolane’s unique MMP inhibition properties. Biolane also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties to help repair and preserve joint functionality in the long term.
Biolane works differently from glucosamine supplements, which although useful as a source of raw ingredients in building cartilage, is unable to slow the rate of break down driven by MMP enzymes.
Although there are various New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel supplements on the market, consumers need to look for the Biolane logo to be sure of getting the full benefits of 40 years of research and results.
Biolane is recommended especially for older patients whose joints have been degenerating over time and are likely to have tried glucosamine but still experience the stiffness and loss of normal functionality. Instead of more invasive therapies, it is worthwhile to try Biolane at the recommended dose of two capsules twice daily after food for at least three months. This duration is required because joints need time to regenerate.
It has to be noted that Biolane is neither a drug nor a painkiller and results will not happen overnight.
At the right dose for three months, clinical studies have shown that seven out of 10 patients have beneficial results.
Woon learnt about Biolane from the pharmacist. Despite taking the right dose religiously after food, her mother was a little disappointed to find her condition remained unchanged after two months but continued with the treatment.
A little over three months later, Woon was pleasantly surprised to find her mother able to stand up to cook and sleep through the night without the ache and stiffness gripping her knees.
This article is brought to you by the Nuvaceuticals Division of Nuvanta Sdn. Bhd.
■ For details, call 03-5636 3758 or 1300 881 712 or e-mail pharmacist@nuvanta.com