The Benefits and Properties of Pure Collagen
The Role of Collagen in Joint Health and Function

Do you have a pain in the neck? (And I don't mean the kids, your spouse, or you boss either.)
Do your knees ache, or you wrists hurt when you hold something?

It may be that your body is trying to tell you something, so listen up! 

Many people experience severe pain in their joints on a daily basis. There are millions of people in the world that suffer from the crippling pain of arthritis, but most of us really don't understand exactly "why" the pain is there. In many people, the pain is caused by damage or trauma to cartilage or simply by life long wear and tear on the joints.

What is Arthritis, and What Causes it?

The forms of arthritis that most of us are familiar with are osteoarthritis and rheumatiod arthritis. Osteoarthritis is usually caused by overuse, abuse, and injury. It is by far the most common form of arthritis.

Some experts believe that merely the aging process, and so many years of gravity working on the weight-bearing joints, is a major contributor to this type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is not considered an autoimmune disorder, like rheumatoid arthritis is, in which the body attacks itself as it would a foreign invader. 

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most well known of the autoimmune types of arthritis. In the case of RA, the cartilage in the joints is attacked. Though many sufferers notice that the problem gradually gets worse over the years (as they would for osteoarthritis), many experience a sudden 'flare-up' after a particular illness, often times a viral infection.

Why does cartilage fail?

Repeated stress to a joint can weaken or damage cartilage, leading to discomfort and reduced mobility. Cartilage repairs itself very slowly, due to poor nutrient supply and the fact that joints are seldom given the time to rest. The abnormal buildup of free radicals from many causes, including diet, inflammation and infection, triggers release of excess enzymes that break cartilage down, and inhibits production of proteoglycans and chondroitin sulfate. 

What is Cartilage?

Cartilage has two key structural components; very strong collagen fibers which are made of protein, and a reinforced gel, which is made of proteoglycans (actually chondroitin sulfate molecules) which weave through the collagen fibers in every direction, and water, which fills up the space in between.

The collagen and the proteoglycans are manufactured by cells called chondrocytes (which also contain chondroitin sulfate) scattered about the cartilage matrix, they also dispose of worn out collagen and proteoglycans. Free-floating chondroitin sulfate, with its sulfur atoms, grab nutrients for the chondrocytes.

Since cartilage does not have a network of blood vessels to bring in oxygen and nutrients and carry away waste products, it depends on the steady ebb and flow of fluid for nourishment and cleansing.

What are Chondroitin Sulfates?

Chondroitin sulfates are long molecular chains that have a negative electrical charge and are composed of sugar units that very effectively attract and capture fluid giving cartilage it's sponge-like quality.

Without enough chondroitin sulfate, cartilage integrity seriously declines. Chondroitin sulfate production declines with age, is disrupted by stress or injury, and is also inhibited by the very anti-inflammatory and corticosteroid drugs often prescribed for arthritis. 

What does Glucosamine do?

Glucosamine sulfate makes up 50% of hyaluronic acid, which is the "base" of the proteoglycans (chondroitin sulfate molecules), and also is a key factor in stimulating the chondrocytes to produce new collagen, proteoglycans and chondroitin sulfate to replace the old.

A deficiency of glucosamine can reduce the rate of production of these important macromolecules thereby leading to specific tissue weakness.

The tissues containing these glucosamine macromolecules include tendons and ligaments, cartilage, synovial fluid, mucus membranes, several structures in the eye, blood vessels, and heart valves.

Glucosamine helps to reduce pain and improve joint function in those afflicted with osteoarthritis. It has also been shown to inhibit at least two of the enzymes that degrade cartilage and has certain antireactive properties. 

Can Supplements Help Ease the Pain of Arthritis?

For some people, taking supplements of glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and collagen, have shown improvement in mobility and a lessening of the pain associated with arthritis.

Depending on the particular type of arthritis you experience, glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate goes to work in different ways. 

If you suffer from RA, it acts an oral tolerization agent, instructing the body to stop the immune response to the cartilage in the body. This natural response is the way that our bodies remain relatively free from immune or allergic reactions to most of the foods we eat. If we did not have this ability, we would eventually starve.

For those suffering from osteoarthritis, glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate provides the critical building blocks that restore a healthy state to the cartilage in the joints. 

Supplements of glucosamine sulfate may help to restore normal chondrocyte metabolism, which in turn may facilitate reversing cartilage breakdown and reducing pain.

Glucosamine sulfate can increase the chance for positive results in a short period of time for a variety of problems including: breakdown and inflammation of the synovial fluids, damage to the tissues, ligaments and muscles, inflamed disc and sciatica nerve, inflamed joints associated with aging, loss of elasticity in the invertebral discs. 

Chondroitin sulfate supplements help diminish the cartilage-destroying enzymes in joints affected by osteoarthritis. Chondroitin sulfate also accelerates wound and ulcer healing by helping chondrocytes form collagen fibers to close the opening, promotes cardiovascular health by activating a fat-digesting enzyme called lipoprotein lipase on the inner surface of the capillaries, which helps blood flow through the capillaries. 

It is also important to note that the combination of the proteoglycans (glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate) combined with the use of proteins (collagen) not only protects the cartilage, but also provides the building blocks required to rebuild lost cartilage to restore the joint to a normal state. 

Glucosamine/Chondroitin Supplements Vs. Traditional Treatments for Arthritis

Improvements occur more slowly with glucosamine sulfate than with over-the- counter arthritis medications (NSAIDs), but eventually glucosamine overtakes the NSAIDs in terms of effectiveness.

In one study that compared glucosamine sulfate to ibuprofen, pain scores decreased faster in the first two weeks in the ibuprofen group, however, by the fourth week of the study, the group receiving the glucosamine sulfate was doing significantly better than the ibuprofen group. In another study 30 patients with osteoarthritis were divided into two groups, half received glucosamine sulfate, while the control group received a traditional arthritic drug formula.

Both groups showed improvement in the early stages of the study, with the glucosamine sulfate group improving to a significantly greater extent after the first several weeks. By the end of the study, the control group using the arthritis formula reverted almost to pretreatment levels.

In addition, glucosamine sulfate is virtually free of side effects, there are no known contraindications, it is readily absorbed from the intestines, stays in the blood for several hours and very little is excreted. In contrast, conventional arthritis medications can cause relatively severe side effects.

Current medical treatment for osteoarthritis simply suppresses symptoms, and since it does not address the underlying causes, it actually promotes the disease process.

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