| New Zealand's indigenous people, the Maori believe | | | | pathway but there is also another important |
| that eating green lipped mussel leads to a long and | | | | inflammatory pathway called the 5-lipoxygenase |
| healthy life. Maori were on to something special making | | | | pathway that if blocked will reduce inflammation. |
| mussel part of their daily diet. This delicious shellfish has | | | | From this research the anti-inflammatory fraction was |
| a special property that coastal Maori benefited from. | | | | isolated from Green Lipped Mussel, stabilized and |
| Arthritis was very rare amongst them while Maori living | | | | encapsulated. This patented extract is called Lyprinol. |
| inland tended to suffer much more frequently. It wasn't | | | | Comparisons made between Lyprinol and other |
| until the early 1970s that New Zealand Green Lipped | | | | anti-inflammatory supplements showed it to 175 times |
| Mussel (Perna canaliculus) was studied earnestly to | | | | more potent than the plain green lipped mussel |
| see if there were indeed anti-inflammatory properties | | | | powder. Similar comparisons showed Lyprinol 175 |
| associated with this unique shellfish. | | | | times more potent than salmon or evening primrose oil |
| Initially Green Lipped Mussel was dried and powdered | | | | and 200 times more potent than flax seed oil. When |
| before being weighed and encapsulated for testing as | | | | Lyprinol was given to study participants at the same |
| a dietary supplement. Initial tests however highlighted | | | | dosage level (5mg/kg body weight per day)it |
| some problems in spite of statistically significant | | | | outperformed both the anti-inflammatory drugs, |
| improvements in arthritis scores being noted. Green | | | | indomethacin and ibuprofen by a ratio of 2:1. Lyprinol |
| Lipped Mussel is high in sodium and purine. Those on a | | | | was discovered to work by blocking the |
| low sodium diet found green lipped mussel | | | | 5-lipoxygenase pathway. What was equally |
| supplementation and those with gout found that the | | | | encouraging though was that after excluding those |
| extract triggered an attack. There were also a number | | | | with an allergy to shellfish, side-effects were |
| that had allergies to shellfish and couldn't participate. | | | | extraordinarily low. |
| While Green Lipped Mussel is still sold in this same | | | | Results are not instant though. It takes some time for |
| powdered form and many people still reap the | | | | Lyprinol to reach full effect usually around the 2 to 3 |
| anti-inflammatory benefits scientists were very curious | | | | month mark. Initial dosages are 2 to 4 capsules taken |
| to know just what fraction of the powdered extract | | | | daily with food in divided doses. After six weeks if |
| was responsible for the reduced pain and inflammation. | | | | improvement is noticed then slowly reduce dose to 1 |
| The purpose of the research was twofold in that the | | | | to 2 capsules daily as a maintenance dose. The daily |
| scientists wished to found something useful for treating | | | | dose differs from individual to individual. The aim is to |
| inflammatory conditions and also to find out more | | | | find the smallest dose that provides the desired effect. |
| about the inflammatory process itself. | | | | Those arthritis patients that also had asthma noticed |
| Inflammation is caused by a complex series of | | | | an improvement in both conditions. Asthma is also an |
| biochemical reactions in the body. One of the important | | | | inflammatory condition that leads to bronchoconstriction |
| pathways leading to inflammation is known as the | | | | or narrowed airways that make breathing difficult. |
| cyclo-oxygenase pathway or the COX pathway. | | | | Reducing the inflammatory pathways in the lungs leads |
| Cyclo-oxygenase is an enzyme that converts | | | | to less bronchoconstriction and easier breathing. Many |
| Arachadonic acid into inflammatory substances. If the | | | | Lyprinol users report reduced wheeze and less need |
| COX enzyme can be blocked then inflammation is | | | | for bronchodilator use. |
| vastly reduced. Arthritis drugs like Celebrex block this | | | | |