There are many components of shark
cartilage that are known to exert beneficial effects on bone and joint
health. Shark cartilage is a rich source of chondroitin and
glycoaminoglycans (glucosamine-like compounds), both of which have been
described as natural anti-inflammatory agents. In the case of
glucosamine-like compounds, prospective clinical trials in humans have
shown evidence of cartilage renewal in joints with advanced changes of
osteoarthritis. The role of type II collagen of foreign origin (shark,
chicken or bovine) in the induction of oral tolerization in immune
types of arthritis (e.g. rheumatoid disease) has been well documented.
Excellent clinical results in the improvement of inflammatory arthritis
with type II collagen have been reported.
Various
types of arthritis may be amenable to therapy with antiangiogenic
compounds such as shark cartilage. Animal studies show it has major
potential application in the treatment of pain and inflammation
associated with arthritis. Several researchers have reported a clear
association between neovascularization and osteoarthritis, adding
weight to the rationale of using cartilage to treat arthritis. Shark
cartilage is also a rich source of bioavailable calcium, which is
beneficial for patients with osteoporosis who require calcium
supplementation.
Animal Studies
Studies
in animals have shown quite promising results with the use of cartilage
for the treatment of arthritis of diverse forms. Rauis presented
important data to the British Small Animal Veterinary Association
Congress in 1991 on the beneficial effects of a prototype preparation
of Cartilade for the treatment of secondary arthritis in the dog.
Several beneficial outcomes were noted in these animal studies. Rauis
(1991) utilized the prototype Cartilade brand of shark cartilage in 10
dogs with lameness due to the following disorders alone or in
combination: joint fracture, hip dysplasia, joint dislocation,
spondylopathy and rupture of the cruciate ligament.
The
main beneficial effect in the study seemed to be reduction in the local
swelling and inflammation in the joints of the dogs. Rauis described
the overall effect on functional parameters in the dogs as
"impressive." In this nonlabel, non-blinded study, Cartilade appeared
effective and safe to administer in the treatment of canine
osteoarthritis.
Human Studies
Dr.
Robert Greenberg, DC showed a statistically significant benefit of the
administration of Cartilade for osteoarthnitis in seven patients who
tolerated the therapy well (Table 3). The successful use of shark
cartilage (Cartilade), in the treatment of osteoarthritis or
degenerative joint disease in six patients have been reported by Dr.
I.W. Lane. These six patients underwent nine outpatient visits during
which 9g/day of shark cartilage were administered orally for the first
four weeks of therapy and 4.5 gm/day were administered for the second
four-week period. Assessments were undertaken of the patient symptoms
and the tolerability of the shark cartilage. Of the six patients in the
study, three completed the entire assessment, whereas one patient
attended for several visits and two patients were seen on only one
occasion. Lane reports Orloff's observations (Orloff, 1989, reported as
a personal communication to Lane, 1991) as showing an approximate 50%
decrease in pain in the three patients completing the study and varying
degrees of amelioration of symptoms in others. In this study, there was
a confirmed reduction of pain during physical exercise in two patients.
Dr. John F. Prudden (1985) is to be credited
with pioneering studies of the use of bovine cartilage in the treatment
of arthritis of varying type and degree of severity. These studies were
based on the reasoning that abnormalities of the polysaccharide
component of cartilage was a key abnormality in the joints of patients
with osteoarthritis. This notion is supported to some degree by the
findings that a stimulation of protein-chondroitin sulfate synthesis
occurs as a consequence of the oral administration of articular
cartilage. Prudden (cited by Kirchhof and Kirchhof, 1995), performed
studies on patients with rheumatoid arthritis and reported favourable
responses on the subcutaneous administration of bovine cartilage
suspensions for periods up to 35 days. Thereafter, "booster" doses of
cartilage were given at intervals of approximately three to four weeks
in a manner determined by the therapeutic response of the patient.
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis showed progressive improvement in
joint symptoms aft er three months of therapy. Furthermore, Rejholec
undertook a five year, double-blind study of the effect of cartilage on
147 patients with osteoarthritis, showing improved symptoms compared
with placebo. One year following the studies of Rejholec, Brown and
Weiss published their findings of angigenic stimulators in the joint
fluid of patients with osteoarthritis. These findings added weight to
the rationale for the use of cartilage and other "antiangiogenic"
compounds in the treatment of osteoarthritis.