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Next-GenerationNutrients for

Rapid Relief of Joint PainBy Dale Kiefer

In recent years, adults seeking relief from the crippling pain of arthritishave had to choose between expensive, potentially dangerous pain-reliefdrugs and safer but slower-acting supplements that support joint health. Whilesupplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate have been repeatedlyshown to improve both arthritis symptorns and joint functionality, it may takeweeks or even months for the benefits to be felt—offering little relief in themeantime for those with severe, debilitating joint pain.

Fortunately, several new compounds have been identified that work quicklyto relieve pain and promote rapid healing, thus bridging the gap between the onsetof discomfort and the beginning of relief. These new-generation compounds notonly offer faster-acting pain relief, but also work over time—either alone or in com-bination with traditional joint-health supplements—to provide comprehensive,broad-spectrum support for joint repair and tissue regeneration. > > >

March 2007 LIFE EXTENSION 23

NEW WEAPONS FORFIGHTING JOINT PAIN

Health-conscious adults who areinterested in maintaining healthyjoints have long relied on nutritionalsupplements such as glucosaminechondroitin siilfate, and methyl-aulfonylniethane {MSM).WliiIe yearsof rigorous scientific study attest tothe effectiveness of these supple-ments in relieving pain and sup-porting long-term joint health, onedrawback has been compliance; highdoses are required to obtain the max-imum benefit. Another drawback istheir onset of action.Put simply, thesetraditional supplements take time towork, with studies suggesting thatit may take two weeks or often evenlonger longer to fully experience theireffects.'" Understandably, this delayin apparent relief may cause somepatients to abandon therapy toosoon. Patience is a virtue, but whenpain strikes, it is only natural to seekimmediate relief.

The good news is, scientists havemade great progress in developingjoint-health supplements with amore rapid onset of action. Theseremarkable compounds—whichnaturally nourish joint fluids andtissues, while improving joint painand functionality in just hours ordays—represent impressive newweapons in the pain-relief arsenal.They include:

• Keratin, which stimulateshealthy new joint tissue andconfers powerful antioxidantprotection.

• Hyaliironicocid, an importantcomponent of connective jointtissue formerly available onlyby prescription—and only thenby injection directly into thejoints.

• Korean Angelica, ar\ herbalextract that acts on the centralnervous system to fight pain,without the adverse gastro-intestinal and cardiovascularside effects associated withCOX (cyclooxygenase) inhibi-tors such as ibuprofen andCelebrex®.

UNDERSTANDING ARTHRITIS

Although it can strike at any age, arthritis is commonly viewed as an all-too-famiiiar hall-mark of aging. Arthritis most often manifests in the knees, hips, spine, and hands.

Also called degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis,affecting nearly 21 million Americans over the age of 25, As the US population continues toage, osteoarthritis is expected to become endemic among older adults. The National Instituteof Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases estimates that by 2030, approximately 72million Americans will have reached the age of 65 and be at high risk for osteoarthritis.'"

Osteoarthritis primarily affects joint cartilage, the hard but slippery form of connectivetissue covering the ends of bones wherever they meet to form a joint. Healthy cartilage allowsbones to glide smoothly over one another, absorbing energy from the shock of physical move-ment. In osteoarthritis, the surface layer of cartilage begins to degenerate, eventually causingbones under the cartilage to grind together, producing pain, swelling, and a loss of joint mobility.Left unchecked, this degenerative process may cause the joint to lose its normal shape. Smalldeposits of bone, often called bone spurs, may crop up at the edges of the joint. Bits of bone orcartilage may also break free and float inside the fluid-filled synovial membrane surroundingthe joint, causing still more discomfort and damage.'''

Osteoarthritis-induced pain and disability may cause feelings of anxiety and helplessness,while imposing limitations on daily activities or job duties. In advanced cases, patients mayhave difficulty participating in everyday personal and family activities and responsibilities.With the high costs of treatment and lost wages due to disability, osteoarthritis can have anequally crippling effect on one's financial health. Traditional treatments often begin with aspirinor prescription drugs, eventually progressing to more drastic measures such as injections ofcorticosteroids (or hyaluronic acid) and joint replacement surgery.'"

Rheumatoid arthritis, the second most common form of the disease, is characterized bypainful swelling and inflammation of the joints. A chronic, progressive illness that can destroyjoints and result in functional disability, rheumatoid arthritis is considered an autoimmunedisease, in which the immune system generates abnormal antibodies that attack the body'sown cells and tissues.

These agents work through sev-eral mechanisms to restore healthyjoint function and structure, relieveinflammation, and provide imme-diate pain relief. They also com-plement traditional joint-healthsupplements such as glucosamineand MSM, by keeping pain at bayand "buying time" for these effec-tive but slower-acting compoundsto take full effect.

KERATIN: ANTIOXIDANTPROTECTION AND SUPPORT

FORJOINT REPAIR

Human joints are exceedinglyvulnerable to the effects of aging,'"due to both everyday wear and tearand the ubiquitous presence ofoxidative stressors. Scientists havenow formulated a novel compoundcomposed of keratin to counteractthe various forces that degrade jointhealth over time.

Keratin benefits joint health by:• supplying key building blocks

for joint repair• stimulating potent enzymatic

antioxidants• possessing intrinsic natural

antioxidant activity.

Found in much of the body'sconnective tissue (including skin,hair, and teeth), keratin is actuallya class of fundamental proteinscontaining an exceptionally highcontent of the amino acid cyste-ine. Cysteine is a rich source ofsulfur molecules, which make upan important constituent of jointtissue. When sulfur moleculesbond to one another, they form anextraordinarily strong link. These

"cysteine bridges" provide muchof keratin's structural rigidity.Such rigidity is a highly desir-able trait in weight-bearing joints,which require both flexibility and

24 LIFE EXTENSION March 2007

resilience in order to function aseffective shock absorbers.

Sulfur plays an important, mul-tifaceted role in healthy joint tis-sue, loints are made up in part ofbiological polymers, or compoundsconsisting of smaller, identical mol-ecules linked together. Sulfationis the incorporation of sulfur mol-ecules in these polymers, a processthat occurs naturally when joints areliealthy. Proteoglycans, which areprotein-sugar polymers, gain muchof their flexibility and crush resis-tance from these sulfur-to-sulfurbonds. Diseased joints, by contrast,are characterized by impaired sul-fur metabolism." '"When joints areno longer able to incorporate sulfurefficiently, their structure deterio-rates, leading to pain and stiffness.By supplying a source of sulfur-richcysteine, keratin may contribute tothe synthesis of proteoglycans in thecartilage responsible for cushioningjoints.

In addition to supporting healthyjoint structure, keratin offers impor-tant antioxidant support to jointtissues. It not only acts as an anti-oxidant itself, but also supplies cys-teine to the joints, which works asan intracellular antioxidant to fightdamaging reactive oxygen species.Furthermore, the body uses cys-teine derived from keratin to helpmanufacture glutathione, one of itsmost important and multifunctionalantioxidant molecules. Glutathione

plays a central role in detoxificationreactions in the liver. It is also anessential component of glutathioneperoxidase, an enzyme that providesdirect antioxidant protection forceils and is especially important forhealthy joint tissues.'^'^

Keratin thus supports joint healthvia two critical mechanisms: bystimulating the synthesis of essen-tial joint-supporting proteoglycans,and by promoting the production ofjoint-protective antioxidants in thebody.'" In an effort to capture thesebeneficial effects, scientists In NewZealand have formulated CynatineFIX ™, a soluble form of the keratinprotein that is bioactive in the body.

HYALURONICACID:ESSENTIAL LUBRICATION

TO CUSHION JOINTS

Comfortable joint movementdepends on the presence of synovialfluid in the joint cavities. Hyaluronicacid is the primary natural polymercompound present in the synovialfluid of joints. Produced by special-ized cells lining the fluid-filled sacsurrounding joints, hyaluronic acidcreates a viscous, cushioning envi-ronment for joint cartilage, prevent-ing friction from damaging thesehard-working tissues. In the presenceof osteoarthritis, however, hyaluronicacid in the synovial fiuid becomesless viscous and loses elasticity, whilesimultaneously decreasing in con-centration. Ensuring optimal levelsof hyaluronic acid is thus crucial tohealthy joint function.

Recognizing the importance ofhyaluronic acid in ensuring jointcomfort, the American College ofRheumatology issued guidelines rec-ommending the use of hyaluronicacid preparations for injection directlyinto the synovial spaces of jointsaffected by arthritis.-" While hyal-uronic acid was once believed to offeronly symptomatic relief from arthritis,in recent years physicians have notedtbat it may actually treat fundamentalaspects of the disease. In addition toimproving joint lubrication, supple-mental hyaluronic acid appears tostimulate the body's generation of

pof Joint Pain:W/wt You Need fo Know

• Aging adults are increasingly suscep-tible to joint pain and stiffness. This hasled to overwhelming consumer demandfor safe, fast-acting solutions to jointpain and discomfort.

• Conventional prescription and over-the-counter joint pain relievers may havedangerous side effects, including gas-froinfesfinal bleeding and increasedheart attack risk. While natural joint-health remedies have a higher marginof safety, they may require weeks of usebefore producing significant pain relief.

• Advances in nutraceutical science haveled to the development of fast-acting, safe, and effective remedies forpromoting joint health and comfort.

• Bioactive keratin protein benefits jointhealth via several mechanisms. Keratinis a rich source of sulfur, a necessarycomponent of connective tissue thatprovides resilience to joints. It also actsas a powerful antioxidant itself andsupports the production of joint-protective antioxidant enzyme.

• Hyaluronic acid in joint synovial fluidprovides cushioning and reduces fric-tion between bones. A newly developed,orally administered form of hyaluronicacid has been shown to relieve jointpain and promote healing. This formu-lation appears to increase the body'sproduction of hyaluronic acid in thesynovial fluid that lubricates joints,

• A compound derived from KoreanAngelica provides fast-acting reliefof pain and inflammation. Unlikeconventional pain relievers that inhibitCOX enzymes. Korean Angelica acts onthe central nervous system and inhibitspowerful pro-inflammatory mediatorssuch as nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB)to suppress inflammation in the body.

• Next-generation supplements combin-ing novel compounds of bioavailablekeratin, hyaluronic acid, and KoreanAngelica promote joint health andcomfort by providing quick relief frompain as well as long-term support forjoint repair and rebuilding.

new hyaluronic acid, while alleviat-ing pain and inflammation. " '

Recently published findingsfrom a veterinary trial conductedin Lexington, Kentucky, show thatorally administered hyaluronic acidimproved the prognoses of yearlinghorses that underwent surgery on anequine joint that is roughly analogousto the human knee. The surgery'spurpose is to prevent degenerativejoint disease and improve the per-formance of these equine athletes.In a blinded, placebo-controlledexperiment involving 48 thorough-breds, 30 days of post-operative useof oral hyaluronic acid significantlyimproved outcomes. According tothe study investigators, "The oralhyaluronic acid showed benefit overthe orally admin istered placebo for alllesions at all locations and of all sizes."Noting that "anecdotal reports sup-porting the efficacy of these prepara-tions already exist," the researchersadded that "the oral form is conve-nient and, therefore, may be prefer-able for routine use."^'^-~'^

To see whether these encourag-ing results could be duplicated inhumans, scientists performed arandomized, placebo-controlled,double-blind study of 20 patientswith osteoarthritis of the knee. Eachsubject received 80 mg of a spe-cially formulated, orally ingestedhyaluronic acid supplement calledHyal-Joint" or a placebo daily fortwo months. Although results are asyet unpublished, they indicate that

the supplemented patients reporteda statistically significant improve-ment in a standardized score of pain,as compared to those who receivedplacebo. More specifically, patientswho took the oral hyaluronic acidrecorded a 33% improvement intheir pain scores, compared to onlya 6% improvement in the placebogroup. Furthermore, this novel formof hyaluronic acid was found to bewell tolerated and safe within thestudy parameters. Additional humantrials using lower doses are report-edly under way Research indicatesthat this unique form of hyaluronicacid is well absorbed from the smallintestine. Importantly, Hyal-Joint'"(which is derived from natural tis-sues) demonstrates a superior abilityto stimulate joint synovial fluid pro-duction, as compared to hyaluronicacid derived from bacterial synthesis.Scientists believe this hyaluronic acidformulation begins to increase thebody's natural production of hyal-uronic acid within two to four weeksafter beginning supplementation.^^

KOREAN ANGELICA:A FAST ACTING

ANALGESIC ANDANTI-INFLAMMMATORY

As noted earlier, a major draw-back of many traditional joint-healthsupplements is the absence of acompound that provides fast-actingpain relief. With this in mind, Koreanresearchers set out to develop a pow-

erful natural pain reliever contain-ing active ingredients derived fromthe herb known as Korean Angelica{Angelica gigas Nakai). Research hasshown that this powerful analgesicand anti-inflammatory agent goes towork almost immediately in the body

Unlike most prescription andover-the-counter pain relievers thatinhibit the COX (cyclooxygenase)enzymes, this specialized form ofKorean Angelica fights pain throughits effects on the central nervous sys-tem. Studies suggest that this mech-anism of action may involve themediation of receptors for serotoninand noradrenaline. two nervous sys-tem messengers. Korean Angelicahas demonstrated efficacy againstnumerous types of pain, especiallyinflammatory pain.-^-^ Recentlypublished findings indicate tbatone active ingredient derived fromKorean Angelica inhibits activationof nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB), aDNA transcription factor that is acti-vated in many inflammatory and dis-ease states, including cancer. "

This ability to block NF-kB ishighly significant, as evidenced bythe fact that NF-kB and the signalingpathways that regulate its activity areunder intensive study in the field ofdrug development. This is becauseNF-kB regulates the transcription ofnumerous genes, particularly thoseinvolved in immune and inflamma-tory responses, as well as those thatconfer resistance to programmedcell death. ^

Like many of nature's most potentmedicinal herbs, Korean Angelicaoffers multiple potential benefitsfor human health. Cancer research-ers are now focused on the potentialability of its active ingredients to pre-vent or treat prostate and other can-(,gj.g 31) J2 Furthermore, compoundsextracted from Korean Angelicaappear to protect the brain from avariety of insults, and may help miti-gate susceptibility to Alzheimer's dis-ease."'•'Thus, potent pain relief maybe just one of many benefits offeredby Korean Angelica. These benefitshave been captured in a specializedextract of Korean Angelica calledDecursinol-50'".

26 LIFE EXTENSION March 2007

CONCLUSION

A multitude of studies supportthe value of glucosamine, MSM,and other slower-acting joint healthcompounds in promoting long-termimprovement in and maintenance ofjoint function.

For those seeking faster reheffrom tbe pain and discomfort ofarthritis and similar joint afflictions,newly developed compounds fromkeratin, hyaluronic acid, and KoreanAngelica provide much-needed com-plementary support. When joint painand stiffness make it difficult to waitfor the healing to begin, these prod-ucts have been shown to promotemore rapid pain relief, improvedjoint lubrication, and quick healingand regeneration of joint tissue.

Because of the many distinctways in which joints can degradewith aging, combining these next-generation nutrients with traditionaljoint-health supplements may pro-vide the most comprehensive sup-port for optimal joint structure andfunction. •

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