Seaweed Minerals Address Osteoarthritis

LAS VEGASThe rising incidence of osteoarthritis in the aging U.S. population, coupled with a desire for more natural prevention and treatment options, bodes well for ingredients for joint health with scientific substantiation. At SupplySide West, Joy Frestedt, Ph.D., president and CEO at Frestedt Inc., noted several minerals, including copper, zinc and magnesium, have shown benefits to joint health, including mitigating the severity of osteoarthritis; these findings are borne out by recent research on a natural seaweed-derived mineral supplement, which appears to exert protective effects on the joints.

Two studies on the seaweed mineral supplement (SMS) examined its effects on knee OA symptoms including pain, stiffness, range of motion and walking distance, as well as the need for concomitant use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The first trial, which included 70 subjects with moderate to severe knee OA, randomized subjects to receive glucosamine sulfate, SMS, a combination of both, or a placebo. After 12 weeks, subjects taking only SMS or only glucosamine showed significant improvements in pain measures and walking distance; there was no effect with placebo or the combination treatment.

The second trial included 22 subjects with severe knee OA, randomized to receive SMS or placebo for 12 weeks. Intervention did not appear to reduce pain or stiffness scores on the WOMAC scale; however, there was a 50 percent reduction in NSAID reduction in the SMS group. Subjects taking SMS also had increased flexion and walking distance.