Benefits
Supports Healthy Joint Structure and Function*
Components of BioCell
Collagen IIÒ
including collagen type II, chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid (HA)
can enhance proteoglycans in the joint matrix, thereby providing support
for healthy joint function and maintaining joint shock absorption and
cushioning.
Chondroitin Sulfate
Chondroitin has been
well studied for its effects on joint health. In a 1996 controlled,
double-blind trial published in the Journal of Rheumatology, 146
volunteers consumed chondroitin sulfate daily for 6 months. Changes in
joint function were measured according to several clinical parameters
and carefully analyzed. After the first month, significant improvements
were noted and maintained for three months after the subjects stopped
taking the chondroitin sulfate.1 In an earlier double-blind
study subjects taking chondroitin sulfate had improvements in joint
function after three months of use, as determined by both objective and
subjective measurements.2
In both studies, the benefits lasted for weeks after subjects
stopped taking chondroitin sulfate.
In another controlled
study, 192 subjects took chondroitin sulfate or a placebo daily for one
year. At the end of the trial, chondroitin sulfate maintained healthy
joint cartilage thickness, while those on placebo had decreased
cartilage. Improvements in joint function also occurred. The researchers
reported that chondroitin exerted a clear chondroprotective effect.3
Collagen Type II
A number of studies
have also been conducted on the administration of collagen type II to
individuals that have various joint issues. Much of this research has
been conducted on animal models of joint conditions while there are also
studies showing the effectiveness of oral collagen type II preparations
in humans for maintenance of healthy joints.
A randomized
controlled trial conducted on 60 patients with joint health issues in
1993 found that oral administration of chicken collagen type II for 3
months led to a significant decrease in swollen and tender joints in
this group, as compared to no measurable improvement in the placebo
group. There were also no side effects seen with the treatment.4
A second multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 274
individuals with joint issues was published in 1998. The participants
were given collagen type II orally for 24 weeks. Positive effects of
the treatment were noted while no adverse effects were seen.5
A paper published in
2000 reviewed the literature to assess the role of hydrolyzed collagen
in joint and bone health. It was found that hydrolyzed collagen when
administered orally was able to support joint health in most of the
trials reviewed while the author concluded that, “Its high level of
safety makes it attractive as an agent for long-term use.”6
Hyaluronic Acid (HA)
Most of the literature on
hyaluronic acid and joint health deals with its intra-articular use, or
injections of HA directly into the joints. In this realm, there is good
evidence for the effects of HA on joint function.
A study was conducted with
injectable HA in individuals with TMJ (temporomandibular joint)
conditions. Participants received two injections, each one week apart,
or placebo injections with saline. In the HA group, the researchers
found decreased clicking sounds and increased function of the joint at 1
month (90% of patients showed improvement) and 6 months (63%) of
follow-up, compared to about 26% of the placebo group showing
improvement at 6 months.7
A pair of researchers also
conducted a literature review of the trials using HA for improving joint
health that was published in 2005. Their findings indicate a positive
role for HA in modifying the structure of the joint and slowing
progressive deterioration of joint function and mobility.8
Hyaluronic acid seems to have a natural affinity for joint tissue, and
is therefore able to help support healthy joint structure and function.
Maintains Youthful Skin*
Hyaluronic Acid and Collagen
are both vital components of skin tissue. Both compounds are known to
decline with aging. Collagen is a vital structural component of the
skin. It is also one of the most important substances required for
proper skin barrier function and health. Collagen, as a major component
of the connective tissue, provides structural support, increasing
elasticity and tone of the skin.
In 1994, researchers
performed comparative measurements of hyaluronic acid levels in the skin
of young and elderly individuals. The researchers had hypothesized that
a major reason for the aged appearance of skin in the elderly is a
reduction of hyaluronic acid levels. What they found using their
methods is that there is a progressive reduction in the number of
hyaluronic acid granules in human skin with age, until a complete
absence of these granules was seen in individuals 60 years or older.
These variations in HA levels with age could, according to the
researchers, account for the decreased turgidity, wrinkled appearance
and altered elasticity of skin tissue.9 Further research was
needed to determine the effect of exogenously administered HA on the
suppleness of human skin.
In a
laboratory study conducted in 1998, researchers analyzed the effects of
HA given to live human skin cells. Whereas the cells on their own had a
low rate of renewal, hyaluronic acid added to the cells resulted in
increased proliferation of skin cells in the collagen matrix. This
showed that supplementing skin cells with HA caused a significant
increase in the ability of cells to go through the cell cycle.10
One of the major benefits of this may be hyaluronic acid’s ability to
continually renew skin tissue to help maintain a youthful appearance of
the skin.
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