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The Properties and Benefits of Pure Collagen
The Role of Collagen in Arthritis and Heart Disease ...
Is Collagen Type II A Cure For Arthritis And Heart Disease?
By Dr. Alex Duarte, O.D., Ph.D.
Collagen Type II and Arthritis According to the latest statistics,
50 million Americans suffer from some form of arthritis, either
rheumatoid or osteoarthritis, as well as a variety of other arthritic
conditions. All forms of arthritis share the common symptoms of
severe pain, loss of range of motion, and a diminished quality of
life. Add to this the fact that the number one killer in our country
today is still cardiovascular disease, and you have all of the conditions
necessary for a plethora of pharmaceutical and natural medicines
designed to reduce the severity of these diseases. Could it be that
one nutritional medicine called collagen type II can ameliorate
both disorders in an effective way? Safety also becomes an issue.
Currently modern medicines, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories
(NSAIDS), can cause occult bleeding, ulcers and even life threatening
side effects. Other approaches include natural medicines such as
fish liver oil, DI phenyalanine and shark cartilage. It may turn
out that the natural components of cartilage hold the greatest promise
of ameliorating both arthritis and heart disease.
I became interested in collagen type II as a treatment for arthritis
and heart disease while researching cartilage and writing my book,
"Jaws for Life, the Story of Shark Cartilage." In my research, I
discovered the medicinally effective ingredient in cartilage is
really due to the collagen type II fraction. We know that cartilage
is composed of four or five different kinds of collagen. There are
14 different kinds of collagen altogether, but the primary collagen,
the most predominant one, the most medicinal collagen, is collagen
type II. Collagen type 11 contains glucosamine sulfate which has
over 30 years of double-blind, placebo-controlled studies indicating
that it actually helps to rebuild the cartilage in arthritis joints.
We also know that it contains a high concentration of chondroitin
sulfate A, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory and also supports
the joint tissue. Collagen type II also contains a powerful, newly
discovered antioxidant proteoglycan called cartilage matrix glycoprotein
(CMGP), which can help reduce the oxidative damage to the joint.
In addition to these new discoveries, there are other ingredients
in collagen type II that make it more effective than just taking
glucosamine or chondroitin by themselves.
Another advantage of collagen type II over cartilage is that it
is much more absorbable, Researchers have recently demonstrated
about eight percent absorption of ground cartilage, whereas the
components of collagen type II have a much higher absorption rate
of 70 to 90 percent. This means considerably less collagen type
II has to be taken in comparison to cartilage. Most people have
to take 9 to 12 grams of cartilage in order to get a response, whereas
with collagen type II as little as two grams, and more commonly
three to four grams, are quite sufficient.
When people suffer from arthritis, there is a selective destruction
of collagen type II in the joint cartilage itself. Scientists know
that this particular component of cartilage is being attacked by
white blood cells and somehow this activates the immune system in
the rheumatoid arthritic patient to develop antibodies to collagen
type II. This then sets up an immune response to all of the cartilage
that is degenerating in the body. Thus, both wrists hurt, both knees
hurt, the hips, the back, etc. In osteoarthritis, we have a wear
and tear type of destruction of the cartilage with the release of
soluble collagen type II, but without the immune response. The end
result is the same. Pain, more pain, and loss of quality of life.
The question now becomes how does collagen type II turn off the
immune system in the rheumatoid arthritic. The answer is that collagen
type II's effectiveness is accomplished through "oral tolerance."
A few years ago, Dr. Howard Weiner from Brigham and Women's Hospital,
discovered that there is a part of the intestine called the GALT
(gut-activated lymphoid tissue), which is part of our immune system.
Basically, white blood cells in the GALT allow us to eat a variety
of different kinds of proteins without developing an allergy or
sensitivity to them. The system of oral tolerance was actually discovered
many years ago by German scientists who fed poison ivy to severely
allergic patients and effectively eliminated their allergy to poison
ivy. It goes back to the homeopathic principle of "like cures like."
The next step was to test oral tolerance of collagen type II on
human arthritic patients. Drs. Trentham and Weiner studied ten people
with severe rheumatoid arthritis. They eliminated the standard therapies
such as NSAIDS and methotrexate and fed the patients pure collagen
type II . At the end of the second month, six of the ten patients
showed substantial improvement and one showed a complete regression
of the disease that lasted 26 months with no side effects. The clinical
response in this study was defined as a 50 percent or greater reduction
in swelling and tenderness, a 50 percent improvement in morning
stiffness, as well as an improved 15 minute walk time and grip strength.
Thus, there were several objective and subjective criteria for measuring
success. These results are profound. As a matter of fact, this study
demonstrated a 70 percent response rate of the most severe cases
of rheumatoid arthritis with no side effect, with these patients
completely removed from standard medications. Even the other 30
percent of the group had improvement. And on the basis of this trial,
the same doctors conducted a phase II trial on 59 patients with,
again, severe active rheumatoid arthritis. Twenty-eight received
the collagen type II, while 31 received a placebo pill. What is
interesting is that those who were off all drugs and taking collagen
type II showed very significant stabilization and improvement, while
those on placebos continued to deteriorate. In fact, four collagen
type II patients showed a complete resolution of the disease, while
no patients in the placebo group displayed any remission. Again,
no side effects were detected. We see that oral ingestion of collagen
type II may well prove to be the most effective natural means of
arthritis management regardless of the form of the disease.
The question becomes, now, how exactly is collagen type II working
to produce these incredible results. It appears the mechanism of
action is immune suppression through white blood cells located in
the GALT. These white cells devour some of the collagen type II
and then instruct the rest of the immune system to stop attacking
collagen type II, as these white cells identify it as friend and
not foe. Once the immune system is alerted to stop attacking the
collagen type II, there seems to be a proliferation of T-suppressor
cells. These are also known as T8 cells. Ultimately, this decreases
the number of inflammatory cytokines that are partly responsible
for the inflammatory reaction in rheumatoid arthritis. Part of the
other reason, and this is precisely why it works in osteoarthritis,
is that collagen type II has such a high concentration of glucosamine
and chondroitin, which 30 years of double-blind, placebo-controlled
studies demonstrate a strengthening of the cartilage, as well as
an increase in new cartilage cell production. These ingredients
also have anti-inflammatory properties and insure maximum water
concentration in the cartilage itself, which acts as a cushion during
normal physical activity.
Collagen type II also contains proteoglycans that inhibit blood
vessel formation in joints and reduce enzyme attacks on the cartilage
itself. Thus, there is a rejuvenation of the cartilage producing
cells and a decrease in the destructive biochemistry of the joint.
Additionally, many of these proteoglycans found in collagen type
II support the lubricating fluid of the joint called the synovial
fluid. These proteoglycans increase the thickness and lubricating
effectiveness of this fluid.
When a person who has arthritis begins to take collagen type II,
they should wait of a period of four to eight weeks before they
make a decision as to whether or not the product is working. It
takes this length of time in most people to get significant results.
I have seen some individuals eliminate pain within one week, but
this is the exception, not the rule. Collagen type II is available
in 500 mg. capsules. It should be taken in divided doses throughout
the day - 20 minutes before eating, preferably with a small amount
of orange juice as this improves absorption. In lieu of the fact
that there are no side effects with collagen type II, this would
seem to be the product of choice when suffering from any form of
arthritic condition.
Consider the following letter received from Mrs.Z.E. from Tucson,
Arizona: "I've been using collagen type II for two and a half months
and have noticed a significant improvement in the chronic joint
pain I had been experiencing. I have suffered from the pain of arthritic
immobility of one of my fingers for several years. The bonus is
the complete remission of pain in the other joints as well. I am
confident that this product has been dramatically instrumental in
the improvement of my condition, and I know it will continue to
be a part of my daily routine. Because I have always been very resistant
to taking pain killers, collagen type II has been nothing short
of a blessing." (Testimonial on file, Mrs. Z.E., Tucson, AZ.)
In review, we now know that collagen II components are truly chondro-protective
agents because they: 1) resist protein cartilage digesting enzymes;
2) reprogram destructive chondrocytes and cytokines, reducing inflammation;
8) promote new cartilage cell synthesis and proteoglycan synthesis;
4) enhance the production of the joint fluid, hyaluronan, to produce
a thick effective, lubricating, synovial fluid for the joint itself;
5) protect the surface of the cartilage from oxidative damage and
enzyme digestion; 6) act as a powerful anti-inflammatory and pain
modulator.
Collagen Type II and Heart Disease Medicines such as aspirin and
NSAIDS, as well as natural therapeutics such as fish liver oil or
antiarthritic herbs, cannot compete with the overall biochemical
power of collagen type II. It may turn out also that collagen type
II is one of the most cardio-protective agents ever discovered.
From a recent analysis, I've found that collagen type II is 14.2
percent chondroitin sulfate A. Chondroitin sulfate A is a natural
proteoglycan that is found in the lining of our arteries, our nasal
septa, and even the cornea of our eye, as well as in the collagen
tissue throughout the body. Chondroitin sulfate A (CSA) has a powerful
antithrombogenic or anticoagulant affect, which, in essence, prevents
blood clots and has been shown to reduce the incidence of stroke.
In Japan, CSA is used by more than 20,000 people every day and in
the 20-year history of its use, no cases of toxicity have been reported.
CSA was tested for over 25 years by Dr. Lester M. Morrison. In 1968,
Dr. Morrison formed a group of 120 patients with coronary artery
disease. The patients were divided into two groups, 60 receiving
CSA therapy, and 60 serving as controls. Both groups took their
standard medications, or their fat-restricted diets, based on their
regular doctors' advice. Dr. Morrison, as well as other researchers,
had discovered earlier that CSA literally reduced the cholesterol
and other lipids in the blood and actually "cleared" cholesterol
from the lining of arteries, including the aorta. After three years
into the double-blind study, the 60 human subjects receiving CSA
experienced four coronary incidents, including three fatal heart
attacks. The control group, the group that did not receive the CSA,
but rather just their standard heart medication, had 29 coronary
incidents, including six fatal heart attacks and ten nonfatal attacks.
After four years, the control group had 36 heart attacks, while
the CSA group had only six. Five years into the study, the control
group experienced 38 heart attacks, while the CSA group only six.
After six years, there were 42 heart attacks in the control group
and only six in the CSA group, and the death ration of the CSA group
compared to the control group was 4:14. This indicates a 600 percent
reduction in the incidence of fatal heart attacks simply by taking
oral CSA on a daily basis, regardless of what other type of therapy
is employed.
Each year we have 500,000 deaths from acute coronary incidents and
an equal number of surviving cases of acute coronary thrombosis.
Imagine reducing this number by a factor of 600 percent, all because
of the natural substance found in collagen type II. Medical science
has led us to some amazing breakthroughs, in high tech treatments
for diseases. Because cardiovascular disease is the number one killer
in the United States today, it seems that much of the research and
development has been focused in the area. Although things such as
artificial hearts, balloon angioplasty, valve replacement and by-pass
surgery are lifesaving procedures that have added years to the lives
of many, they are not procedures that most people would like to
have done. This is because they are costly, painful and risky. They
don't address the cause of the disease. Yet CSA seems to be more
effective over the long haul and addresses the cause and not just
the symptoms. Unfortunately, many people suffering from heart problems
view these procedures as the only options. I say now that here is
another option --- CSA-rich collagen type II.
Collagen type II has also found some support in the research for
the amelioration of autoimmune disease caused by breast implant
poisoning, as well as amelioration of Menier's disease and progressive
myopia. It has also been touted to help in weight loss. However,
I make none of these claims and although future research may demonstrate
that it is effective in these areas, alleviating arthritis and heart
disease is sufficient enough. It is exciting to see researchers
at the forefront of medicine now using natural products to demonstrate
that nature indeed has a cure.
* About the Author: Dr. Alex Duarte, O.D., Ph.D., is a nationally
recognized lecturer, author, and radio and television personality.
He has appeared on hundreds of radio shows throughout the United
States, and has his own radio program airing weekly, where he educates
his listening audience on how alternative health care can improve
not only their health but quality of life as well.
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