Undenatured UCII Collagen (knees)
 

I've tried so many arthritis supplements but the UCII product was suggested by a friend who sent her sister a bottle to start with, her sister deals with RA, and my friend got a bottle for herself as her knee is giving her fits (osteo)...so I've added this to my nightly regime...one close to bed:

http://www.jissn.com/content/10/1/48

Price is right and I'm using Now UCII. Wouldn't it be great to get some more relief.

I'm closing in on 2 months on UCII and believe it's giving me some support. Long time chronic joint issues don't change overnight. Price is right to stay with it.

Well, I'm in 3rd month with UCII and feeling pretty good, improvement I believe. One bottle is two months worth. Still taking 1 before bed.

I just talked to now foods product consultant about taking more and probably no need. She said their clinical trials were based on 1 before bed. Depending too on how advanced OA is, relief can take longer or shorter time. Foods we need to eliminate..she did mention working to eliminate gluten which I do a lot.

Then she said taking with Celedrin could help too. Celedrin addresses pain while UCII addresses collagen growth. I've taken Celedrin over the years but may look into it again to take with UCII.

But, so far, liking this collagen product. C

Are you eating the undenatured collagen?

If so, it will be broken down into its (very common and non-essential) amino acids by digestive enzymes in the gut in just the same way as any other protein that you eat.

It is very unlikely that an intact protein like collagen can cross the gut wall, entering the bloodstream and equally unlikely that it can pass from the bloodstream into cells of a tissue where it might be of putative benefit.

No Kiwii I'm not eating undenatured collagen. I take a 40mg capsule of the UCII nightly now into my 3rd month. Here is info from Scripps San Diego. I'll give it at least 3 more months. I have said this before, I'll do all I can to NOT do a surgery on my knee. I pay dearly for a hip job that I didn't plan on. I expected quite the opposite.

http://newhope360.com/ingredients/ne...benefits-uc-ii

Caroline, thank you for that link - it was very interesting.

I agree that eating glucosamine hydrochloride or chondroitin sulfate may help people with osteoarthritis,

However, I disagree with you about UC-II, which seems to a registered trade-name for undenatured collagen. A quick Google shows that there are many comp/alt med sites which offer to sell it.

Eating collagen (it does not matter if it is denatured or not) makes no sense as treatment for osteoarthritis.

A close analogy which may help you;

People with Type 1 diabetes need daily doses of insulin to stay alive. Those doses are delivered by injection. Eating insulin would
be pointless - it would (in the same way as any other protein) be broken down into its amino acids in the gut with no therapeutic benefit. That is why people who need insulin do not eat it.

Eating collagen is just as pointless for somebody with osteoarthritis as it is for somebody with Type 1 diabetes eating insulin.

Ok if you disagree. I don't agree with everything for sure. I'm doing fine with my decision so far and do take glucosomine for about a year steady now. I took great lakes hydrolyzed collagen, check out the reviews from 1000's, but after a while with this product I was getting histimine issues, so stopped it and with the UCII I'm fine. C

Here is an impressive LONG report on UCII and a lot of discussion for RA sufferers too. My friend's sister deals with RA and started on it but don't know if she stayed with it. Relief doesn't come overnight, for sure. But I would think the shorter time one deals with these arthritis issues the sooner UCII could help...the more chronic the longer.

http://www.hammernutrition.com/downl...n_research.pdf

I'm so thankful for all those people who think and work alternatively as they are doing. I can still remember my mother 30 some years ago working with shark cartlidge and MSM when they hit the marketplace.

Caroline, thanks for the link to that very interesting paper.

The authors make a plausible case that eating undenatured collagen may help people with RA (which is an auto-immune disease with an inflammatory component) through its ability to intact with gut components of the immune system, though the number of subjects in their study is not large. This whole area (the importance of the parts of the immune system found in the gut) is a "hot topic" for immunologists.

I am not convinced that it is relevant to osteoarthritis which is generally thought to be a "wear and tear" injury of joints, without an inflammatory or auto-immune component.

Kiwi, are you challenged with arthritis, any type. Many of us with this plague will just about try anything. Years ago I tried a pharma anti inflammatory drug and ended up in the ER with stomach ulcer. So I try just about everything within reason and OFTEN "stuff" that a friend tells me about...a friend who deals with CFS and knee is giving her issues, plus her sister dx'd with RA a year ago, gave me info on UCII.

Caroline - Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

As someone with progressing OA who's unable to take the usual pain relievers (ie: NSAIDS, Ibuprofen, Codeine etc) due to their interaction with medications I'm on for Addison's Disease, I'm having to look for other possible treatments.

As I've learned through experience and particularly from others here on NT it pays to do thorough research before trying anything. I've read the two studies you cited here about UC-II and one other:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2764342/

From the studies UC-II does look as though it may have some therapeutic effect for both RA and OA and may be worth further investigation - (sorry kiwi - the traditional determination that OA doesn't include an inflammatory process is being revised:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3638313/ ).

It is interesting to note that all three studies were funded or partly funded by either InterHealth Nutraceuticals Inc or the InterHealth Research Centre - the manufacturer of UC-II. Not that there is anything wrong with this - the involvement has been disclosed - just that, to date, I haven't found an independent study - yet.

I'll discuss this information with my Rheumatologist next time I see him - meanwhile caroline or kiwi or anyone else, if you come across any independent studies a link posted here would be appreciated.

Caroline, I have mild osteoarthritis in one shoulder. Regular massage from my physiotherapist helps.

Thanks for that reference bluesfan - the authors make a convincing case for an inflammatory component in OA. I will discuss the option of OTC anti-inflammatories with my physiol the next time that I see her.

Like you I have not found any independent evidence that undenatured collagen can help with OA but will keep looking.

Kiwi, if all my stuff was "mild" I would NOT be doing what I do. 20 some yrs ago I was much much milder...after hip job and aging, it's not mild now. 20 yrs I was still going to the gym and walking all over the place...stopped dancing about 60 or so. I danced a LOT in my life...just talking to a friend who did not know me when I was a dancer and I kinda filled in her that I started dancing at 12 and kept dancing, stopped while married, and picked it back up when marriage went south. So many dancers and huge runners etc end up with replacements.

Kiwi - Oh that I could have regular massage for my OA - but it just sets off the darn PN . . . ice in small doses helps.

Re the independent studies - I mentioned to Caroline in a PM that if alternative therapies seem to be effective they eventually get picked up and studied by conventional medicine (eg: medical marijuana). It's early days for UC-II so maybe we'll see some independent research in the future - given the prevalence of RA & OA this would seem likely.

On a similar but slightly different topic this might interest others:

http://www.vitaminc.co.nz/pdf/THE-CO...US-PAULING.pdf

Maybe it's too soon to say this but my 10 yr long shoulder issues I THINK are feeling the results of UCII...last night and again this morning when I do clockwise swings and often counter clockwise swings with my arms/shoulders, I do the swings 20-30 swings and no pain. I would get pain into 10 swings before last night. I bend at waist and do swings, arms hanging down. I do these nightly before I go to bed. ummmm

An update of sorts, I'm in my 5th month with UCII and I'll continue with it. No miracle but I believe it does some good. I still have my mind on PRP or Stem Cells or Prolozone injections but can't bring myself to spending the money. The MD who does the first two, gives no guarantees and everyone is different and depending how chronic joints are..chronic issues could take 2-3 sessions. My issues were milder years ago.

How is everyone else in the arthritis world?