Anti-Osteoarthritis
Efficacy
Salmon oil
The efficacy of fish oil has been demonstrated in an open study without control
(Miller et al., 1992) and in four randomised, double-blind, controlled trials in dogs
with osteoarthritis (Schoenherr, 2005). The administration of a diet with 2.5% fish
oil significantly improves the tolerance for loading the joints.
There is an acceptable mechanism of action for the positive effect of fish oil in
dogs with osteoarthritis: fish oil inhibits inflammation in the joints and depresses
the degradation of cartilage matrix. The effective component of fish oil is the
omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The intake of
EPA by the dog stimulates the production of weak pro-inflammatory eicosanoids
at the expense of strong pro-inflammatory eicosanoids, leading to an anti-inflammatory reaction (Vaughn et al., 1994). Incubation of isolated cartilage tissue in a
medium with EPA inhibits the breakdown of proteoglycans (Curtis et al., 2000).
The ingestion of fish oil by dogs lowers the plasma concentration of the cytokine
IL-1β (Freeman et al., 1998). This causes a diminished secretion of the matrixmetalloproteinase-3 by chondrocytes (Cook et al., 2000), which in turn inhibits the degradation of collagen type II and proteoglycans in the cartilage matrix.
Gelatin hydrolysate
The positive effect of gelatin hydrolysate on osteoarthritis in the dog has been
shown in an open, non-controlled study (Weide, 2004) and in a double-blind,
placebo-controlled investigation (Beynen et al., 2009). A diet fortified with 2.5%
gelatin hydrolysate significantly improves mobility and reduces stiffness, lameness
and pain.
Gelatin hydrolysate stimulates the synthesis of cartilage matrix and inhibits its
degradation. Collagen in the cartilage matrix and gelatine hydrolysate have an
unique amino acid composition in that they are very rich in glycine, proline and
hydroxyproline. After oral administration to mice of radioactive gelatin hydrolysate,
the radioactivity is specifically found in the cartilage (Oesser et al., 1999).
The amino acids in gelatin hydrolysate stimulate the synthesis of collagen in
cartilage (Lippiello et al., 1977). Upon intake of gelatin hydrolysate by dogs, the
blood cononcentrations of glycine, proline and hydroxyproline rise and the plasma
content of matrix-metalloproteinase-3 falls (Weide, 2004), causing stimulation of
synthesis and inhibition of degradation of cartilage matrix.
Beta-1,3/1,6-glucans
In an open study without control (Nordberg Veterinary Clinic, Oslo, 2003, unpublished) and in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Beynen and Legerstee,
2009) the efficacy of beta-1,3/1,6-glucans has been demonstrated. A diet with
0.08% beta-1,3/1,6-glucans leads to increased mobility and decreased stiffness,
lameness and pain in dogs.
The intake of beta-1,3/1,6-glucans has an anti-inflammatory effect and inhibits
the breakdown of cartilage matrix. Providing a diet with beta-1,3/1,6-glucans to
pigs lowers the plasma concentrations of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-6 and
TNFα, and raises the concentration of the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10 (Li et
al., 2006). The lowering of TNFα depresses the production of matrix-metalloproteinase-3 (O’Connor and Fitzgerald, 1994), which leads to inhibition of collagen degradation in the cartilage matrix.
Combination of ingredients
The three functional ingredients in SANIMED Anti-Osteoarthritis each have
a documented, positive effect on osteoarthritis in dogs. Since the underlying
mechanisms of the three ingredients are different, it may be anticipated that the
combination acts synergistically.