A key ingredient in joint and mobility s – Dr. Dobias Natural Healing

Green-lipped mussel and osteoarthritis treatment: How one of nature’s most powerful anti-inflammatories works

Are you worried about your dog’s mobility and health? Dive into this blog to better understand the health benefits of the green-lipped mussel for dogs and how it can help relieve osteoarthritis symptoms and reduce the use of anti-inflammatory medications.

Mobility is the key element in keeping our canine friends healthy and happy for many years to come. Thinking back to my first dog, Skai, I am so grateful that she was able to go hiking with us in the mountains even at age 15.

But while he seemed unstoppable, eventually stiffness and pain began. Seeing your dog slow down is difficult for any pet parent because mobility is everything to them — it’s joy, freedom, and life itself.

Fortunately, there are natural ways to support your dog’s mobility and increase their lifespan, one of which is the Perna mussel or green-lipped mussel.

In 2009, a study was called for An evidence-based systematic review of the green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus)(1) confirmed that the New Zealand green-lipped mussel provides a clinically significant positive effect in the treatment of osteoarthritis (joint inflammation).

This study included a review of nine clinical trials, focusing on the effects of green-lipped mussels on OA pain and mobility, but confirmed that too green-lipped mussels improved gastrointestinal symptoms in OA patients taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which is widely used in human and veterinary medicine. These drugs are known to cause gastrointestinal, kidney, and liver effects, resulting in deeper imbalances in the body.

But that’s not all, what makes the green lipped mussel so beneficial for dogs and humans lies in the powerful nutrients it contains.

What’s so special about green-lipped mussels?

A recent study conducted by a Japanese research team focused on the compounds behind the green-lipped mussel’s positive effects on joint health, pain management, and mobility – the bioactive glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)(2).

Marine invertebrates such as mussels are a rich source of these highly sulfated and rare glycosaminoglycans. Perna canaliculus is one of the best resources produced on a large scale in New Zealand.

Glycosaminoglycans from the green-lipped mussel, mainly chondroitin sulfate (CS) and heparan sulfate (HS), show several remarkable biological effects:

1. Encouraging nerve growth: Certain chondroitin sulfate chains, especially those with a specific type of sugar pairing (GlcA-GalNAc(4,6-O-disulfate)), have been found to help create connections between nerve cells. This discovery suggests possible uses in the fields of neurology and regenerative medicine, where promoting nerve growth and repair is needed.

2. Treating joint health and osteoarthritis: Chondroitin sulfate is commonly used for its potential benefits to joint health, especially in the treatment of osteoarthritis. It is believed to contribute to the maintenance and repair of cartilage, the connective tissue that lines and cushions the joints.

3. Anti-inflammatory pduties: Both chondroitin sulfate and heparan sulfate possess anti-inflammatory properties, which are useful in reducing inflammation in cases of arthritis.

4. Tissue homeostasis (stability) and cell proliferation (creation and growth): GAGs play critical roles in cellular phenomena such as cell proliferation, cell adhesion, differentiation, and tissue homeostasis.

Another study, this time examining the effects of a diet enriched with green-lipped mussels in dogs with osteoarthritis(3), noted that there was a significant increase in the levels of Omega-3 fatty acids acid in their blood after 60 days. Owners have also reported improvements in their dogs’ pain and activity levels after switching to this diet.

Why I chose to add green-lipped mussels to JointButter

For those of you who missed the latest news, JointButter, our new product and the world’s first fermented joint and mobility support supplement for dogswill soon be added to our product line up.

I have researched countless nutrients, herbs, and superfoods for years to come up with the best possible formula that will make a clear difference for our dogs’ joint health and mobility.

That’s how I discovered the green lip mussel and its powerful anti-inflammatory and joint-repair properties. Glycosaminoglycans (GAG) from Perna mussels have a unique structure and bioactivity, making it a popular ingredient in canine and human mobility formulas.

While I also added chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine to JointButter, the addition of a whole food source of GAGs from Perna mussels significantly boosts the potency of the supplement and increases the spectrum of available glycosaminoglycans.

How are green-lipped mussels raised and harvested?

Produced exclusively in New Zealand, green-lipped mussel production involves several steps.

The seeds are first collected and planted in a hatchery. Once they hatch as larvae, they attach themselves to rocks, long ropes, and other hard surfaces.

Once attached, a metamorphosis into juvenile and successively into adult mussels follows. Green-lipped mussels are ready to harvest in 26 to 48 months.

A note on green-lipped mussel production sustainability

In developing JointButter, we didn’t just focus on the quality and science-backed effectiveness of the ingredients we selected; we also paid attention to their environmental sustainability.

The regions where Perna mussels are harvested are under the stewardship of producers in successful partnership with the Mussel Reef Restoration Trust and Revive Our Gulf Foundation.

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• Is Green Lipped Mussel Harvest Sustainable?

Article references:

1. ”Green-lipped mussel review” by Catherine Ulbricht and team. PMID: 22435354 DOI: 10.1080/19390210802690191