A recent study concluded that glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate were no more effective at slowing cartilage loss in arthritis than sugar pills.43 The results of various studies regarding the effectiveness of glucosamine and chondroiton sulfate have been debated for years, but it now appears that the debate is over. The study, funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health, confirms the findings of other studies showing glucosamine and chondroiton sulfate have little or no effect in stabilizing or preventing cartilage loss. Dr. Jolanda Cibere, Rheumatologist and osteoarthritis investigator at the Arthritis Research Center of Canada, also recently completed a six month double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation on the effectiveness of glucosamine concluding there was no benefit for joint health maintenance. With millions of Americans, their pets, and horses suffering from osteoarthritis and the news that glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are ineffective, what options do consumers have?
A collaboration of researchers from Kentucky, Missouri, and Ontario, Canada have the answer: a new and effective dietary supplement ingredient called MHB3TM, a special hyaluronan biopolymer that is taken orally. Pre-clinical and clinical studies indicate MHB3 is the first supplement ingredient actually proven to protect joints and fight arthritis. The biomacromolecule hyaluronan is found throughout the body with high concentrations in synovial fluid and cartilage. With trauma, osteoarthritis and aging, hyaluronan breaks down and deteriorates more rapidly than it can be restored. MHB3 helps replenish the natural hyaluronan in the body which:
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Unlike other joint supplement ingredients that use processed animal by-products, MHB3 is microbially synthesized and has no Chinese origins.
The most critical difference between MHB3 and other joint products is the controlled pre-clinical and clinical testing that confirms its bioavailability, safety, and efficacy. 36,37,38,39,40
In a preclinical investigation, Dr. Ian Welch and his fellow researchers from the University of Western Ontario confirmed that MHB3 bioactive hyaluronan protected cartilage in an in vivo animal model of osteoarthritis. Cartilage health, in the case of osteoarthritis, can be assessed objectively by a histopathological grading scale. The Osteoarthritis Research Society International Working Group has established an assessment system with metrics reflecting both the depth of the progression of osteoarthritis into articular cartilage and the extent of the surface of the cartilage involved.44 "As you can see in the accompanying images, the effect of MHB3 in supporting healthy articular cartilage was dramatic," Dr. Welch concluded.
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| Sagittal section of knee joint post-MCL/ACL resection showing loss of articular cartilage, poor bone remodeling, and formation of osteophytes. | Sagittal section of knee joint post-MCL/ACL resection showing healthy articular cartilage with no indication of poor bone remodeling or osteophyte formation. |
In a human clinical trial of MHB3, Douglas W. Kiburz MD, FAOOS, West Central Missouri Orthopedics, used the biopolymer orally with 50 subjects suffering from Chronic Joint Symptoms for one month. "I spend most of my professional time helping people deal with joint pain and inflammation by prescribing drugs, injecting joints and in the worst cases replacing joints entirely. Because we just can't inject or replace every joint that aches, the idea of systemically supporting cartilage had tremendous appeal to me and my patients," Dr. Kiburz said. "We conducted an open label study to assess its effectiveness with people. Over 80% of study participants reported good to excellent results." The surgeon continued, "With results like that, MHB3 based products will make glucosamine and other joint supplements obsolete." The clinical trial also concluded that the use of MHB3 is safe, there having been no side effects, drug interactions or contra-indications.