Joint problems in horses

Natural anti-inflammatory agents Green-lipped mussel, Curcumin and Black currant leaf contribute to healthy horse joints

Joint problems in horses

Joint problems are becoming more common. You see them more and more with the aging horse , but also with sport horses , where the joints are more demanded, flexible and strong joints determine the quality of his or her life to a high degree. In all cases, the musculoskeletal system of the horse can use care and support . In case of movement problems often regular drugs such as NSAIDs and corticosteroidsprescribed. Particularly when applied to the joint (intra-articular), it is becoming increasingly known that it al- lows the acute signs such as pain and irregularity, but in the long term it actually causes joint problems. In particular, damage to the cartilage is observed in the long term.

No side effects

The advantage of the use of natural anti-inflammatory drugs is the absence of side effects in the short and longer term with just as effective effect . A dietary supplement with Liquid Green-lipped Mussel, Curcumin and Black currant leaf helps the horse to keep moving smoothly. All of this contributes to maintaining natural freedom of movement . Not only for now, but also for later. This particularly natural combination contributes to the maintenance and recovery of supple and agile joints, ligaments and tendons. Any requested performance will quickly be brought to the desired level.

Good alternative to NSAIDs

Green lip mussel is anti-inflammatory and provides building materials for synovial fluid in the articular cartilage. Curcumin is also anti-inflammatory, but through other mechanisms, so that it complements the action of the green lip mussel. Black currant leaf is also anti-inflammatory. For horses where the original treatment has less or no effect, these products can be a good alternative. It can also be used in combination with regular medication. This always after consultation with the attending veterinarian and - when using regular medication - the possible interactionswith regular medication checks! For horses that use blood thinners and for this reason can not take NSAIDs, such a liquid combination product is a very suitable product.

Has been in use for a long time

In the equestrian sport the joint load is very high. Dutch and international (top) riders therefore have been using supplements with Liquid Green-lipped Mussel, Curcumin and Black currant leaf for almost thirty years to keep the joints of their horses in top condition. Although originally used in racing and show jumping, more and more horses are kept flexible in dressage and recreational use with these natural anti-inflammatories.

Green lip mussel: powerful and natural anti-inflammatory

Green lip mussel contains special Omega-3 fatty acids that competitively inhibit the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins and leukotrienes by COX and 5-LOX. In addition, the green lip mussel contains furan fatty acids that have an anti-inflammatory effect . Furthermore, this mollusk is rich in Glycosaminoglycans (including Glucosamine and Chondroitin-4 and -6 sulfate), which protect the cartilage against collagen degradation. It is best to choose a joint preparation that contains the entire mussel in its original and natural composition. These are lipids (furan fatty acids and many different Omega 3 fatty acids, including DTA, DHA, EPA, ETE and the rare ETA) plus all natural mussel tissues with anti-inflammatory proteins and cartilage-sustaining Glycosaminoglycans.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin in green lip mussel

The New Zealand Green-lipped mussel contains a high content of Glycosaminoglycans. It is mainly Glucosamine and Chondroitin-4 and -6 sulfate that protect the cartilage against collagen degradation. Articular cartilage consists of a matrix of the components collagen with a gel of water, proteoglycans and chondrocytes between them. Glucosamine is a body substance that serves as a building material for the synthesis of proteoglycans. This forms a shock absorber between the two parts of the joint. In horses with osteoarthritisand similar joint complaints, the function of this matrix is ​​disrupted. One of the causes may be that there is a shortage of proteoglycans causing the cartilage matrix to become malnourished and the resilience is lost. Glucosamine is also a building material for hyaluronic acid that increases the viscosity of the synovial fluid, increasing the lubrication function of this liquid.
Chondroitin is a constituent of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). These form an important component of collagen-rich tissues (cartilage, intervertebral discs, cartilage in the trachea, bones, vessel walls and the synovial fluid in joints). At the moment that glycosaminoglycans are bound to amino acids, proteoglycans are formed.

The lipids in green lip mussel

Fish oil contains only the Omega-3 fatty acids Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) The New Zealand Green lip mussel also contains ALA, SDA, ETE, DTA and the rare ETA EPA is converted under the influence of lipoxygenase into the Omega-3 fatty acid Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) DHA is converted by lipoxygenase (5-LOX) into class 3 eicosanoids, which are tissue hormones that, among other things, lower total cholesterol levels and inhibit inflammation, and ALA and SDA are converted into anti-inflammatory eicosanoids The rare Omega-3 fatty acid Eicosapentaenoic acid (ETA) gives a double inhibition of the inflammatory response by inhibition of both cyclooxygenase (COX), selective COX-2, and lipoxygenase (5-LOX)
.The Furan fatty acids in Greenlip mussel have an even stronger anti-inflammatory effectthan the Omega-3 fatty acids. It is a recently discovered fatty acid, whose mechanism of action is not yet fully known.

The proteins in Green-lipped mussel

By far the largest part of the Green-lipped mussel consists of proteins. According to some producers this is not important and therefore they do not use these proteins in their products. However, there are studies that show that the proteins of the Green-lipped mussel also have an anti-inflammatory effect. Another reason to choose a joint preparation in which the entire mussel - including the proteins - has been processed.

The power of Curcumin

Curcumin is a safe substance with marginal side effects, so it is a good alternative to treatments with NSAIDs. Studies with different animal models have confirmed that Curcumin has a positive effect on arthritic joints and that this effect depends on the dose. Experience shows that the dose of Curcumin in supplements for horses is more than sufficient.

How does Curcumine fight inflammation?Osteoarthritis back

Curcumin lowers cytokine production in different cell types in the joint, so that the inflammatory response stops . In addition, it inhibits the pro-inflammatory prostaglandins. In this way, the presence of an inflammatory process is not further 'communicated' to other cells and the vicious circle can be broken . Curcumin also inhibits the effects of cytokine signaling, reducing the production of cartilage-degenerating enzymes (MMPs, Matrix Metallo Proteinases) and COX-2 and 5-LOX. MMPs break the cartilage matrix in case of inflammation. When the production of MMPs is inhibited, cartilage degradation is thus directly reduced.
A central mechanism through which Curcumin effects many of these effects is to decrease the activity of the transcription factor NF-kB. Normally, this transcription factor is activated by stress stimuli, such as inflammatory factors (eg TNF-alpha and IL-1B), extreme mechanical stress or the presence of cartilage degradation products. Curcumin can counteract the production of these inflammatory factors by reducing the NF-kB activity and also reducing MMP activity. Curcumin further protects stem cells in the joint against pro-inflammatory cytokines. This makes cartilage maintenance possible.
Rheumatic synovia (which often show hyperplasia) is again given a normal thickness by Curcumin due to a controlled decrease in the number of cells. Because the inflammation also stops, the synovium can then function properly and promote lubrication . Through various mechanisms, Curcumin can thus intervene in the degenerative inflammatory process of joint disorders, such as arthritis and osteoarthritis.

More about Black currant leaf

The Ribes Nigrum (Black Berry) leaf provides a supporting role to the function of the adrenal glands and thus to the hormonal stress system. Stress is a major cause of health problems. Supporting the body, in addition to working on the causes of the stress (mental, emotional) can be an important support in achieving more stress resistance.
Black currant leaf has a cortisone-like effect because it directly stimulates the secretion of the adrenal cortex hormones, without iatrogenic consequences. Ribes Nigrumworks mainly on the primary inflammatory phase of inflammation, but is effective at all stages of inflammation of the mucous membranes, both in the airways, in the digestive tract and in the urinary tract. Black currant leaf has diuretic , uricosuric and a blood purifying effect . Excess uric acid can cause rheumatic complaints. The proanthocyanidins in Ribes Nigrum reduce the secretion of inflammatory chemokines stimulated by IL-4 and IL-13 and cause selective inhibition of COX-2. IL-4 and IL-13 are known inflammatory factors in, for example, atopic asthma.

Comparison with other Green-lipped Mussel products on the market

Green lip mussel as powder, capsules with powder, or powder compressed as a tablet, are often produced by heating or chemically processing the meat of the mussel. As a result, part of the operation is lost . Usually other producers have already removed the anti-inflammatory Omega-3 fatty acids and Furan fatty acids. So the dry powder does not approach the quality of the entire mussel.
Greenlip mussel extracts are another category of products. Here, one or a few ingredients are selected and concentrated in the final product. For example, some products contain an extract of only the lipids (Omega-3 fatty acids and Furan fatty acids) from the Green lip mussel. All tissues of the mussel are hereby selected away.
Although this can sometimes seem plausible, a part of the Green-lipped mussel is therefore not always used. The Green-lipped mussel has the largest health benefits in its origin - in its entirety and raw. Therefore choose a supplement in which the whole mussel is processed. Curcumin and Black currant leaf are valuable additions to such a formula.