Double blind, placebo controlled study of the mussel Perna canaliculus (New Zealand Green-lipped mussel) in gonarthritis (arthritis of the knee)

This carefully designed, placebo-controlled clinical study in 53 patients with arthritis of the knee showed that GLME was a very effective treatment for arthritis, when judged using both objective means of assessment (mobility measures) and subjective measures (patient perception of symptoms). By concentrating on patients with arthritis in just one joint (the knee) the researchers were able to eliminate the variables associated with diffuse arthritis and study a greater number of indices of disease in more detail. The two most debilitating features of arthritis – pain and loss of function – both responded well to treatment. Interestingly, those with moderate disease showed greater improvement than those with advanced arthritis.

Introduction

Seatone is a lyophilized extract of New Zealand grddn-lipped mussels (Perna canaliculus). This product, extracted from the mussel gonads, has been scientifically investigated for more than ten years and has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties both in animal experimentation and in random (clinical) trials on rheumatoid arthritis and arthritis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of long term treatment with Seatone against placebo in arthritis of the knee. The choice of gonarthritis as a model of chronic degenerative arthropathy is justified by the frequency of this arthritic site and the chronic nature and relative stability of the pain and joint constraint, at least in its femorotibial manifestation.