Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients: A Key Component of Proactive Healthcare

Fish oil, glucosamine and chondroitin. One of the largest studies on the supplemental use of these three nutrients shows their potential to play a beneficiary role in the body's anti-inflammatory processes. Inflammation has been associated with numerous diseases including cancer and cardiovascular ailments so these ground-breaking results may soon revolutionize our methods of practicing proactive healthcare. The results have also opened up the possibilities of safe and effective supplement manufacturing options for dietary supplement business owners interested in offering their customers natural options for anti-inflammatory benefits.1

What is Inflammation?

Inflammation is the body's protective response to injury, irritation or disease and is designed to initiate a process of healing. Without inflammation, injuries and infections would not heal resulting in life-threatening situations. There are several types of inflammation but the two basic types are acute and chronic. Acute inflammation may last a few days or weeks, but chronic inflammation is more prolonged.

Since its implications on health are so wide and varied, no one can say exactly how many Americans suffer from an inflammation-related health concerns. Chronic inflammation is constant and this type of low-level inflammation has the body continuously fighting low-grade infection even though none may be present. Some experts believe inflammation is the root cause of arthritis, hay fever, Alzheimer's, cancer, stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, diabetes and a host of other diseases. While there is no specific age range for inflammatory health concerns, the onset of many of these diseases just mentioned is generally after 40.

The Study Results

The exciting study analyzed data from a nationally representative sample of 9,947 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. According to the team of scientists, a regular intake of supplements that contain fish oil, glucosamine and chondroitin were observed to lower markers of inflammation by 17%, 22% and 16% respectively.

Research scientists from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle and the University of Washington, Seattle say that the level in reduction of C-reactive protein (CRP) is similar to the results produced by taking statin. CRP, a protein found in the blood, is an established marker of inflammation. CRP is produced by the liver and levels rise in response to inflammation.

Other studies have also shown that an intake of omega-3 fatty acids (found abundantly in fish oil) for one month reduced inflammation and pain in more than 60 percent of patients who suffered from nonsurgical neck or back pain. About 59 percent said they no longer needed to use non-steriod anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce pain.2

A similar experiment was conducted using chondroitin sulfate supplements in comparison to NSAIDs. The group that took chondroitin sulfate was seen to experience anti-inflammatory benefits that lasted up to 3 months after the end of the trial.3

In patients with osteoarthritis, glucosamine, was observed to reduce inflammation allowing for reduced doses of NSAIDs. Glucosamine is often combined with chondroitin sulfate and used as a low-risk alternative to NSAIDs.4

How do these 3 nutrients work in the body to reduce inflammation?

Scientists believe these three nutrients reduce inflammation by blocking an enzyme called cyclooxygenase (COX). COX is responsible for producing prostaglandin, hormones that initiate inflammation.5

Manufacturing Anti-Inflammatory Supplements

The new research affirms that keeping inflammation under control is a key component of proactive healthcare. Supplement business owners should start educating their customers about inflammation and its possible consequences on health. Partner with a contract supplement manufacturer that has received GMP certification by NSF and can offer you a range of convenient manufacturing solutions including in-house label design, packaging, and fulfillment services. You can quickly and efficiently get your anti-inflammatory supplements up and running in the market by finding a supplement manufacturing firm that meets high-quality manufacturing qualifications and ensures timely delivery of your products.

References:

1. Association Between Use of Specialty Dietary Supplements and C-Reactive Protein Concentrations, Am. J. Epidemiol. (2012) doi: 10.1093/aje/kws186 First published online: November 8, 2012.


2. Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) as an anti-inflammatory: an alternative to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for discogenic pain, Surg Neurol. 2006, Apr;65(4):326-31. PMID: 16531187. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16531187)


3. Comparison of the antiinflammatory efficacy of chondroitin sulfate and diclofenac sodium in patients with knee osteoarthritis, J Rheumatol. 1996 Aug;23(8):1385-91, PMID: 8856618. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8856618).


4. Glucosamine, Mayo Clinic. mayoclinic.com/health/glucosamine/NS_patient-glucosamine)


5. Effects of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate on Cartilage Metabolism in OA: Outlook on Other Nutrient Partners Especially Omega-3 Fatty Acids, International Journal of Rheumatology Volume 2011 (2011), Article ID 969012, 17 pages, doi:10.1155/2011/969012. hindawi.com/journals/ijr/2011/969012/