While joint health is a common category across all ages, postmenopausal women have an increased risk of developing joint issues. Why? Estrogen protects joints and reduces inflammation. When estrogen levels drop during menopause, inflammation can increase, the risk of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis can go up, and the result can be painful joints.[i]
Here are a few staggering statistics backing up the previous statements:
- It is estimated that over 50% of women experience joint pain or arthritis at the time of menopause. The complex of symptoms has been linked to the joint and tendon response to the decline in sex hormones and loss of muscle volume associated with aging. The diagnosis of “arthritis of menopause” has been identified since 1925.”[ii]
- Menopause is associated with the onset and progression of osteoarthritis (OA) in women. The risk of hand OA peaks in women after menopause with ≥3.5-fold higher rates in women aged 50–60 years when compared to men of similar age.[iii]
With the glut of joint products in the marketplace, companies must look for innovative ingredients and delivery methods. Innovation should contribute to better results and consumer compliance. The following is a quick list of ingredients to help innovate your product line:
Astragalus (as JointIQ® from Nuliv Science)- In-vitro research shows that JointIQ® provides multiple benefits for joint health by inhibiting cartilage matrix breakdown. Its beneficial effects on MMP, collagen, and HA expression levels in chondrocytes indicate its potential as a therapeutic candidate in preventing cartilage degeneration and joint tissue disorders.[iv]
Boswellia- There are several branded ingredients from boswellia. In short, studies with boswellia have shown a fast reduction in pain and improved knee function.[v]
Chondroitin Sulfate- Studies with Chondroitin sulfate show decreased joint pain.[vi]
Collagen (native Type II)- 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. [vii] [viii] [ix]
Collagen peptides (as Fortigel® from Gelita)- Studies with Fortigel® show improvements in mobility and promote cartilage tissue growth.[x] [xi]
Glucosamine Sulfate- Studies with glucosamine sulfate have shown benefits in reducing in the need to take NSAIDs[xii] and risk of knee OA.[xiii]
Hyaluronic Acid Matrix (as Mobilee® from BioIberica®)- 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.[xiv] [xv] [xvi] [xvii]
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) (as Levagen®+ from Gencor Pacific)- Studies with Leaven® have shown improvements in joint pain (in just three days), stiffness, function, and Quality of Life.[xviii]
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) (as HydroCurc® from Gencor Pacific)- Studies with HydroCurc® show it 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.[xix] [xx]
Ideally, formulations should combine several of the ingredients mentioned above where the mechanisms of action differ. Addressing the immediate relief of pain and ingredients that support connective tissue health (decrease destruction or support production) provides the consumer with a multipronged approach to their joint health needs. Then, taking these joint health ingredients and combining them with hormonal support ingredients, you will have a formulation targeting the specific needs of a postmenopausal woman.
References:
[i] https://www.prolianceorthopedicassociates.com/news/the-link-between-menopause-and-joint-pain#:~:text=The%20primary%20female%20hormone%2C%20estrogen,result%20can%20be%20painful%20joints.
[ii] Blumer J. Arthralgia of menopause – A retrospective review. Post Reprod Health. 2023 Jun;29(2):95-97. doi: 10.1177/20533691231172565. Epub 2023 May 1. PMID: 37127408.
[iii] Mahajan A, Patni R. Menopause and Osteoarthritis: Any Association ? J Midlife Health. 2018 Oct-Dec;9(4):171-172. doi: 10.4103/jmh.JMH_157_18. PMID: 30692810; PMCID: PMC6332715.
[iv] https://www.alliedacademies.org/articles/therapeutic-potential-of-astragalus-membranaceus-saponins-in-osteoarthritis-through-inhibition-of-cartilage-matrix-degra.pdf
[v] 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
[vi] 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.
[vii] Bakilan et al. Eurasian J Med (2016); 48: 95-101
[viii] Mannelli et al. Osteopor. Int. 2015, vol. 26, pg. 184.
[ix] Scarpellini et al. J Orthopaed Traumatol (2008) 9:81–87
[x] 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.
[xi] 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.
[xii] 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.
[xiii] 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.
[xiv] Torrent, A. et al. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 2009;17:S278-279
[xv] Torrent, A. et al. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 2010;18:S246-247
[xvi] Sanchez, J. et al. Genes Nutr, 2014;9:417
[xvii] Martinez-Puig, D. et al. Mediterr J Nutr Metab, 2013;6:63-68
[xviii] 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
[xix] 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
[xx] 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