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Herbal Pharmacist

The Shotgun Approach to Joint Health: Supporting Your Joints with a Multidimensional Strategy

by | Dec 17, 2024 | Aging Gracefully, Bone & Joint, General Health, Joint Health, Men's Health, muscle health, Sleep

Joint health is a cornerstone of mobility and overall quality of life, especially as we age or engage in strenuous physical activities. From cartilage maintenance to inflammation management, the complexities of joint health necessitate a multifaceted approach. The “shotgun approach” to joint health involves combining scientifically supported ingredients to target various joint structure and function aspects simultaneously. Let’s explore this synergistic strategy and examine some key ingredients that make it effective.

Understanding the Shotgun Approach

The shotgun approach aims to address joint health holistically by targeting multiple pathways, including:

  • Cartilage health
  • Synovial fluid production
  • Reduction in joint swelling
  • Pain management

Rather than relying on a single ingredient, this method leverages the combined benefits of complementary compounds to promote overall joint health and resilience.

Key Ingredients in the Shotgun Approach

Boswellia Serrata

Benefits: There are several branded ingredients from boswellia. In short, studies with boswellia have shown a fast reduction in pain and improved knee function.[i]

Collagen Peptides (Fortigel®)

Benefits: Studies with Fortigel® show improvements in mobility and promote cartilage tissue growth.[ii] [iii]

Chondroitin

Benefits: Chondroitin Sulfate- Studies with Chondroitin sulfate show decreased joint pain.[iv]

Glucosamine

Benefits Studies with glucosamine sulfate have shown benefits in reducing in the need to take NSAIDs[v]and risk of knee OA.[vi]

HA Matrix (Mobilee®)

Benefits: Mobilee helps the body produce more HA, supports the reduction of inflammation (reduces prostaglandin E2), and reduces swelling caused by synovial fluid leaking from the synovial membrane.[vii][viii] [ix] [x]

HydroCurc®

Benefits: Studies with HydroCurc® show helps in multiple ways to support mobility concerns by improving exercise recovery, reducing lactic acid levels post-exercise, reducing joint pain and discomfort, and supporting overall joint health.[xi] [xii]

Native Type II Collagen (Collavant n2®)

Benefits: Studies show consuming native type II collagen positively impacts joint health by slowing down an adverse immune response, contributing to cartilage breakdown. Collavant n2 helps reduce joint discomfort, supports mobility, helps reduce the inflammatory response (cytokines), and slows down collagen breakdown.[xiii] [xiv] [xv]

Palmitoylethanolamide i.e. PEA (Levagen®+)

Benefits: Studies with Leaven® have shown improvements in joint pain (in just three days), stiffness, function, and Quality of Life.[xvi]

Why Combine These Ingredients?

Each of these ingredients addresses a unique aspect of joint health:

  • Cartilage Support: Collavant n2®, Glucosamine, Fortigel®.
  • Lubrication: Mobilee®.
  • Reduction of Joint Swelling: HydroCurc®, Boswellia, Levagen®+.
  • Pain Management: Levagen®, Boswellia®.

Combined, these compounds create a synergistic effect, delivering better results than any one ingredient alone. For example, HydroCurc®’s reduction in joint swelling effects complements Mobilee®’s lubrication benefits, while Fortigel® and Collavant n2® work together to regenerate cartilage.

Pair supplements with an anti-inflammatory diet rich in omega-3s, leafy greens, and whole grains for best results. Regular, low-impact exercise can also enhance joint mobility and strength. The shotgun approach to joint health is a proactive and holistic method that recognizes the complex needs of your joints. By integrating science-backed ingredients, you can support joint function, reduce discomfort, and maintain mobility for years.

Embrace the shotgun approach and empower your joints to keep up with the demands of your active life!

 

References:

[i] Sengupta K, Alluri KV, Satish AR, et al. A double blind, randomized, placebo controlled study of the efficacy and safety of 5-Loxin. Arthritis Res Ther 2008;10:R85

[ii] Zdzieblik D, Brame J, Oesser S, Gollhofer A, König D. The Influence of Specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides on Knee Joint Discomfort in Young Physically Active Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2021 Feb 5;13(2):523. doi: 10.3390/nu13020523. PMID: 33562729; PMCID: PMC7915677.

[iii] Clark KL, Sebastianelli W, Flechsenhar KR, Aukermann DF, Meza F, Millard RL, Deitch JR, Sherbondy PS, Albert A. 24-Week study on the use of collagen hydrolysate as a dietary supplement in athletes with activity-related joint pain. Curr Med Res Opin. 2008 May;24(5):1485-96. doi: 10.1185/030079908×291967. Epub 2008 Apr 15. PMID: 18416885.

[iv] Singh JA, Noorbaloochi S, MacDonald R, Maxwell LJ. Chondroitin for osteoarthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Jan 28;1(1):CD005614. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005614.pub2. PMID: 25629804; PMCID: PMC4881293.

[v] Rovati LC, Girolami F, D’Amato M, Giacovelli G. Effects of glucosamine sulfate on the use of rescue non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in knee osteoarthritis: Results from the Pharmaco-Epidemiology of GonArthroSis (PEGASus) study. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2016 Feb;45(4 Suppl):S34-41. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2015.10.009. Epub 2015 Oct 29. PMID: 26632505.

[vi] Runhaar J, Deroisy R, van Middelkoop M, Barretta F, Barbetta B, Oei EH, Vroegindeweij D, Giacovelli G, Bruyère O, Rovati LC, Reginster JY, Bierma-Zeinstra SM. The role of diet and exercise and of glucosamine sulfate in the prevention of knee osteoarthritis: Further results from the PRevention of knee Osteoarthritis in Overweight Females (PROOF) study. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2016 Feb;45(4 Suppl):S42-8. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2015.11.001. Epub 2015 Nov 19. PMID: 26806185.

[vii] Torrent, A. et al. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 2009;17:S278-279

[viii] Torrent, A. et al. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 2010;18:S246-247

[ix] Sanchez, J. et al. Genes Nutr, 2014;9:417

[x] Martinez-Puig, D. et al. Mediterr J Nutr Metab, 2013;6:63-68

[xi] Briskey D, Roche G, Rao A.  The Effect of a Dispersible Curcumin (HydroCurc®) Compared to a Placebo for Reducing Joint Pain in an Adult Population – A Randomised, Double-Blind Study.  Complement Med Res. 2022;29(6):429-436.  English.  doi: 10.1159/000524689.  Epub 2022 April 27.  PMID: 35477159

[xii] Tiekou Lorinczova, H.; Begum, G.; Temouri, L.; Renshaw, D.; Zariwala, M.G. Co-Administration of Iron and Bioavailable Curcumin Reduces Levels of Systemic Markers of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in a Placebo-Controlled Randomised Study. Nutrients 2022, 14, 712.  https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14030712

[xiii] Bakilan et al. Eurasian J Med (2016); 48: 95-101

[xiv] Mannelli et al. Osteopor. Int. 2015, vol. 26, pg. 184.

[xv] Scarpellini et al. J Orthopaed Traumatol (2008) 9:81–87

[xvi] Steels, E., Venkatesh, R., Steels, E., et al. A double-blind, randomized placebo controlled study assessing safety, tolerability and efficacy of palmitoylethanolamide for symptoms of knee osteoarthritis.  Inflammopharmacol 27, 475–485 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-019-00582-9