Collagen Ingredient Tests Positive for Joint Health Support---------------------------------------------------------------------
November 2009
A patented collagen ingredient may be twice as effective as glucosamine and chondroitin supplements for joint health, according to the results of a randomized, double-blind study.
The undenatured type II collagen known as UC-II might reduce pain, stiffness and immobility associated with osteoarthritis, according to findings published in the International Journal of Medical Sciences.
The new study compared a daily dose of UC-II (40 mg) with a combination of glucosamine (1,500 mg of glucosamine HCl, USP Grade) and chondroitin (1,300 mg, USP Grade).
Looking at markers of joint health in 52 volunteers experiencing joint pain and stiffness in the knees from osteoarthritis, researchers led by Siba Raychaudhurl, MD, from the University of California Davis report that the effects were superior to those recorded in previous clinical investigations for glucosamine and chondroitin.
"The clinical benefits we saw in osteoarthritic patients taking UC-II, showing significant overall improvement in conventional osteoarthritis efficacy measures, are positive clinical indicators that UC-II is highly effective at supporting joint health," said Raychaudhurl. "While the overall benefits were impressive, it is important to note that reduction in pain and stiffness were seen as early as 30 days after taking UC-II."
The researchers assessed the physical function, stiffness and pain in the knees of 52 volunteers with an average age of 58.8 following 90 days of supplementation.
Compared to the established ingredients in the joint health market, the UC-II product was found to reduce pain during exercise by 20%, compared to eight percent for glucosamine and chondroitin.
Using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index as a measure of arthritis symptoms, the WOMAC score was found to have decreased by 33% and 14% in the UC-II and glucosamine plus chondroitin groups, respectively.
"Similar results were observed for visual analog scale (VAS) scores," added Raychaudhurl and co-workers. "Although both [UC-II and glucosamine plus chondroitin] reduced the VAS score, UC-II was found to be more effective with a 40% decrease after 90 days as compared to 15.4% in glucosamine plus chondroitin groups," they added.
International Journal of Medical Sciences 6(6):312-321, 2009
Originally posted August 2009
FDA: Arthritis drugs pose cancer risk
By Susan Heavey – Aug 4-------------------------------------------------------------------
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Blockbuster prescription drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions can increase the risk of potentially deadly cancer in children and teenagers, U.S. health regulators said on Tuesday in ordering stronger warnings on such medications.
The Food and Drug Administration, which urged greater caution with so-called TNF blockers last September, said an analysis of 48 reported cancer cases in children using the drugs "showed an increased risk of cancer, occurring after 30 months of treatment on average."
Eleven of the reported cases were fatal, the FDA said.
Anti-TNF drugs include Johnson & Johnson's Simponi or golimumab, and its Remicade or infliximab; Abbott Laboratories Humira or adalimumab; UCB SA's Cimzia or certolizumab pegol, and Amgen Inc and Wyeth's Enbrel or etanercept.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that can strike young people, causing pain, stiffness and swelling.
It affects about 20 million people worldwide.
The drugs are used to treat other inflammatory conditions, including the bowel disorder known as Crohn's disease.
TNF (tumor necrosis factor) blockers make billions of dollars for manufacturers, but it is unclear how much they earn specifically from sales for children and teens. Not all of the drugs are approved for use in children for all related conditions.
Last year, Abbott's Humira earned $4.5 billion worldwide, while Amgen and Wyeth's Ebrel earned $1.2 billion. J&J's Remicade had 2008 sales of $3.7 billion. Its newer drug, Simponi, was approved earlier this year. UCB's Cimzia, launched in 2008, had about $14.4 million in global sales.
The drugs already carry the strongest warnings possible about the risk of possible serious infections. A new caution about cancer in younger patients will be added to the so-called "black box", the FDA said.
EVALUATING THE CANCER RISK
The FDA said in a statement on its website that its year-long analysis of the increased cancer risk in children showed about half the 48 cases involved lymphoma, which targets the immune system.
Rates for cancer cases with J&J's Remicade "were consistently higher compared to expected background rates for lymphomas and all malignancies," the FDA said. Cancer rates for lymphoma were also higher for Amgen and Wyeth's Enbrel, but rates for all cancers were similar to background rates, the FDA said.
The FDA did not calculate cancer rates for Abbott's Humira and UCB's Cimzia "because of minimal use in pediatric patients." J&J's Simponi was not approved at the time of the time of the analysis.
The FDA said it had "identified new safety information related to the occurrence of leukemia and new-onset psoriasis" that would also be included on the drugs' labeling.
The FDA said it had reviewed 147 reports of leukemia in adults and children using TNF blockers, including 30 deaths.
While rheumatoid arthritis patients may already be at greater risk for the white blood cell cancer, "there is a possible association between treatment with **TNF blockers and the development of leukemia in all patients treated with these drugs," the FDA said.
The FDA also reviewed 69 cases of psoriasis and said it found a possible link between the skin disorder and use of TNF blockers.
Brian Kenney, a spokesman for Johnson & Johnson's Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc unit, which makes Remicade and Simponi, said the company would work with the FDA to adopt the new warnings.
Amgen and Wyeth also said in a statement that they would revise their product warnings and continue evaluating risks and benefits of Enbrel. Representatives for Abbott and UCB had no comment.
(Reporting by Susan Heavey; editing by Andre Grenon)
NB: **TNF Blockers - For 20+ years I have warned people about the RA drugs and other immune suppressing drugs used in alleged auto-immune disorders and cancer risk. I would wonder just how many people have suffered or or now suffering from iatrogenitically induced cancers.
Nettle seems to be the most effective herb in reducing tumour necrosis factor, alpha and interleukin 1b cytokines which in addition to helping blood it is extremely anti-inflammatory. It makes strong bones and has many other health promoting properties too.
And I also wonder why it is when those of us who are well versed in natural health are aware of the RA connection to wheat, gluten and gliaden allergy, why food allergy testing is not considered first in mainstream medicine. Read article below about niacin...
And since any product causing death is illegal under US law, why are these drugs on the market or being allowed to be marketed with warnings?
When you think of what B vitamins can do for your health, the first thing that comes to mind is probably increased energy, better nerve function or sharper attention and focus. It’s not likely, however, that you’d rank any of them among nature’s greatest anti-aging secrets—which is why you might be surprised to learn that at least one member of this family of nutrients has emerged as a real-life fountain of youth.
That vitamin is niacinamide—a unique form of vitamin B3 that plays a key role as the co-enzyme, NAD or NADP, in hundreds of your body’s enzymatic reactions. Most of niacinamide is converted in cells and tissues to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP). Niacinamide converts twice as readily to NAD/NADP as does niacin. Research has shown that a special life-extending protein—called silent information regulator 2 protein, or Sir2p—which is able to “silence” genes related to cellular aging is NAD-dependent.1
But that’s not all—research also shows that niacinamide supplementation can pack a powerful punch against the inflammation and joint destruction that accompanies many forms of arthritis, too. This B vitamin is able to mediate the activity of interleukin-1 (IL-1), the inflammatory cytokine that’s implicated in degenerative osteoarthritis—while inhibiting levels of nitric oxide (NO), high levels of which can contribute to cartilage destruction.2-3
Even diabetics can benefit from extra doses of niacinamide. In type 1 diabetics, supplementation with this form of B3 has been shown to slow down the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells, enhancing their regeneration and boosting pancreatic function.4 Clinical research also reveals that niacinamide can aid with metabolic control—lowering insulin doses and reducing damaging glycosylated hemoglobin levels among diabetic patients.5-6
Finally, niacinamide has been shown to provide significant benefits against stress, anxiety and sleep disruption—delivering all-natural relief that’s comparable to prescription sedatives.7-10 Add in its abilities to inhibit histamine release in bronchial asthma, its anti-mutagenic actions and its ability to minimize infarction in rats during the critical hours following a stroke and there seems to be no limit to this powerful B vitamin’s benefits.11-13
Bear in mind, however, that not just any B3 vitamin will do—you’ll have to take niacinamide specifically to get the unique spectrum of results. Luckily, you can order niacinamide readily and easily by contacting us.
References:
1. Imai S, Armstrong CM, Kaeberlein M, Guarente L; Transcriptional silencing and longevity protein Sir2 is an NAD-dependent histone deacetylase. Nature. 2000 Feb 17;403(6771):795-800.
2. McCarty MF, Russell AL. Niacinamide therapy for osteoarthritis—does it inhibit nitric oxide synthase induction by interleukin 1 in chondrocytes? Med Hypotheses. 1999 Oct; 53(4):350-60.
3. Kroger H, Hauschild A, Ohde M, Bache K, Voigt WP, Erlich W. Enhancing the inhibitory effect of nicotinamide upon collagen II induced arthritis in mice using N-acetylcysteine. Inflammation 1999 Apr;23(2):111-5.
4. Kolb H, Bukart V. Nicotinamide in type 1 diabetes. Mechanism of action revisited. Diabetes Care. 1999 Mar;22 Suppl 2:B16-20.
5. Pozzilli P, Visalli N, Ghirlanda G, Manna R, Andreani D. Nicotinamide increases C-peptide secretion in patients with recent onset type 1 diabetes. Diabet Med 1989 Sep-Oct;6(7):568-72.
6. Vague P, Vialettes B, Lassmann-Vague V, Vallo J. Nicotinamide may extend remmision phase of insulin-dependent diabetes. The Lancet. Mar 1987 ltr
7. Akhundov RA, Sultanov AA, Gadzhily RA, Sadykhov RV; [Psychoregulating role of nicotinamide]. Biull Eksp Biol Med. 1993 May;115(5):487-91.
8. Mohler H, Pole P, Cumin R, Pieri L, Kettler R. Nicotinamide is a brain constituent with benzodiazepine-like actions. Nature. 1979 Apr 5;278(5704):563-5.
9. Kryzhanovskii GN, Shandra AA. Effect of diazepam and nicotinamide on convulsive activity of various types]. Farmakol Toksikol. 1985 Jul-Aug;48(4):21-5.
10. Akhundov RA, Zagorevskii VA, Voronina TA. [Nootropic activity of nicotinamide and its structural analogs]. Biull Eksp Biol Med 1990 Oct;110(10):384-6.
11. Werbach M. Nutritional Influences on Illness, 2nd ed., 1993 pp 114-115, 117, 19.
12. Pero RW, Axelsson B, Siemann D, Chaplin D, Dougherty G; Newly discovered anti-inflammitory properties of the benzamides and nicotinamides. Mol Cell Biochem 1999 Mar;193(1-2):119-25.
13. Ayoub IA, Lee EJ, Ogilvy CS, Beal MF, Maynard KI; Nicotinamide reduces infarction up to two hours after the onset of permanent focal cerebral ischemia in Wistar rats.Neurosci Lett 1999 Jan 4;259(1):21-4.
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