Description

Arthritis is an inflammation of one or more joints, characterized by pain, stiffness (especially in the early morning or after exercise), swelling, deformation, and/or reduced mobility. There are many different forms of arthritis. Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative arthritis, is caused by abnormal damage to the cartilage at the ends of bones. In some patients, it is caused by injury or congenital abnormalities in the proteins that make up cartilage. Generally, it seems that aging, an unbalanced diet, and an inappropriate lifestyle are the causes of this disease.

Once the cartilage tissue changes from smooth to rough or breaks into small pieces, the cartilage is gradually destroyed, and the normally smooth surface becomes irregular. Osteoarthritis usually occurs in joints that bear weight, such as the spine, knees, hips, and back. It is usually preceded by pain and symptoms of stiffness (often stiffness first, then pain), but swelling is not always present. In a small number of cases, osteoarthritis can cause disability. As the condition progresses, the bones can become more fragmented, increasing the likelihood of fractures. When osteoarthritis is more severe, bones can overgrow into osteophytes, known as bone spurs. These bone spurs can be detected with X-rays, usually near degenerative cartilage in the neck or waist. However, these changes typically do not alter the appearance of the affected area.

There are more than 28 types of peptides that make up collagen, with the more common types I, II, and III collagen accounting for about 90% of the total. Type II collagen forms joints. When collagen from pork bones and other sources is cooked at high temperatures, the collagen structure is destroyed, becoming denatured collagen. Additional supplements can only be used as general collagen and, therefore, cannot reduce the damage and inflammation of joint cartilage. Many studies have confirmed that the use of 'non-denatured type II collagen' (UC-II) can provide flexible maintenance for key parts. To achieve higher efficiency and longer-lasting effects, it is combined with glucosamine, chondroitin, and curcumin. In addition to providing resistance to compression in articular cartilage, it can also improve inflammation and significantly reduce pain in patients with primary osteoarthritis. Therefore, this research evaluated the effects of UCII, glucosamine and curcumin supplementation on knee pain and inflammation.