Aging causes wear and tear on joints and bones. Green-lipped mussel as a supplement may helpful in joint mobility and cartilage maintenance and general well being.
Perna canaliculus, Green-lipped mussel is a New Zealand shellfish, the extract of which has been shown to be useful in the treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid Arthritis, bursitis, ankylosing spondylitis, lyme disease, skin inflammation, Connective Tissue Repair and sports related injuries.
Green-lipped mussels containing the ocean's natural mineral balance, similar to that found in our body, are produced in the Marlborough Sounds region which is located at the top of the South Island of New Zealand. The deep, clean and cool waters of the Marlborough Sounds provide an ideal environment for raising mussels.
The Green Lipped Mussel is grown using a series of buoys and ropes to which a growing line, a single rope, is attached. Mussel spat is attached to the rope. After three to six months, these ropes are lifted and the young mussels removed then seeded at a sparser rate onto a thicker and much longer rope, where they remain until harvested at their peak which may take anywhere from 12 to 18 months for 90 -120 mm mussels. All through the farming season, shellfish health and the ocean purity are rigorously monitored under environmental code of practice of the industry to ensure that the growing environment is free from pollution and other contaminants. The shell is removed and the edible portion is freeze dried using low temperatures and vacuum to remove the water. This preserves the integrity of the bioactive molecules and ensures the stability of the activity of the many nutrients. The average yield of a dried whole Green Lipped Mussel is as follows: Protein (as amino acids) 60 – 62 % ; Complex Carbohydrates 12 – 13 % ; Chondroitin Sulfates 11 – 12 % ; Lipids 4 – 5 % ; Minerals 5 – 6 %.
The Green Lipped Mussel is ranked among the top ‘eco-friendly seafoods' according to the US environmental agency Blue Ocean Institute. Green Lipped Mussels contain Omega-3 which are necessary to support our body. In addition, these Green Lipped Mussel extracts also contain natural proteins, minerals and mucopolysaccharides. These Mussel Extract substances are increasingly being recognized as being helpful in general well being, joint mobility and cartilage maintenance.
As our body ages, it suffers normal wear and tear on its joints and bones causing inflammation of joints. Inflammation produces pain and causes further damage to the joints. Our body produces several chemical mediators of inflammation. People suffering from rheumatoid arthritis tend to have higher levels of these mediators in their body than in people with symptom-free arthritis. Studies indicate that controlling the production of inflammatory mediators in our body may help improve arthritic conditions and inflammatory bowel disease (including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease).
In supplement form, green-lipped mussel is available as a lipid extract or a freeze-dried powder. It is important to recognize that some people are allergic to shellfish or iodine and they must consult a medical doctor before attempting any use of Green Lipped Muscle Extracts. Also, Freeze-dried powder contains significantly more of the protein fraction responsible for allergic reactions than lipid extract as such. Which form of supplement to use should also be carefully evaluated before starting Green Lipped Supplements.
Side effects of Green Lipped Muscle Extract are not uniformly reported by all studies. Members of the Australian Rheumatism Association have reported side effects, such as upset stomach, gout, and skin rashes, occurring in people taking New Zealand green-lipped mussel extracts. Another study reported occurrence of nausea, flatulence, and fluid retention in some of the study participants.
No interaction between Green Lipped Muscle extract or powder and other drugs has been reported.
