ESM Technologies and joint-venture partner Stratum Nutrition are pleased to announce a new, pre-clinical study reporting the beneficial effects of triple-action NEM® brand eggshell membrane on multiple indices of inflammation and arthritis in collagen-induced arthritic rats, the gold-standard animal model of human rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The study was published in Modern Rheumatology (DOI: 10.1080/14397595.2016.1259729), and supports and extends previous research showing the benefit of NEM® for pain and stiffness in humans with osteoarthritis and in a rodent model of osteoarthritis.
This study was conducted at Bolder BioPATH, Inc. (Boulder, CO) in rats with developing collagen-induced arthritis. Rats received once daily either NEM® (52 mg/kg body weight corresponding to the human equivalent dose of 500 mg/day), methotrexate, or vehicle control. Treatment with NEM® resulted in a significant reduction in ankle swelling within two days after measurable swelling began. Histopathologically, NEM-treated rats had significantly less inflammation, cartilage damage, bone resorption, and pannus formation in both their ankle and knee joints compared to vehicle control animals. Serum CTX-II (collagen type II C-telopeptide) and COMP (cartilage oligomeric matrix protein) were reduced by 32% and 40%, respectively, on Day 13 in NEM-treated rats. Synovial Interleukin (IL)-1β, a key mediator of inflammation, was reduced by 50% in NEM-treated rats when evaluated by knee lavage.
Co-author Dr. Alison Bendele, a pioneer in developing and validating animal models of inflammation and arthritis, comments on the study: “Using the gold standard animal model of RA, a strong study design that included all required controls along with a comparator drug (methotrexate), and the use of validated, complementary indices of efficacy including physical, histological, and biochemical assessments, we found that supplementation with NEM® significantly improved every index to meaningful degrees. These results provide impressive new evidence for the immune modulating activity of NEM® in the context of collagen-induced inflammation and arthritis, along with a solid rationale for continuing this line of research.” This study, along with additional published studies, provides further substantiation for NEM® supporting a healthy inflammatory response.
For more information on this study or other previously published studies, please contact Dr. Kevin Ruff at: kruff@esmingredients.com.
