Internationale Zeitschrift für Physikalische Medizin und Rehabilitation
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Eggshell Membrane+Fish Oil Combination (Move3®) Reduces Exercise-Induced Joint Pain, Stiffness and Cartilage Turnover in Healthy Adults: Results from a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study

Kevin J Ruff*, Kayce Morton, Sarah A Duncan, Mathew Back, Adam Ismail, Alan S Ryan

Background: Eggshell membrane supplementation has been shown to reduce exercise-induced joint pain and stiffness and lower urinary excretion of C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type-II collagen (uCTX-II), a marker of cartilage degradation, in healthy, postmenopausal women. This study was conducted to evaluate whether the combination of eggshell membrane and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ES-OM3) versus placebo would reduce levels of uCTX-II and alleviate joint pain or stiffness immediately following exercise and 12 hours post exercise in healthy men and women.

Methods: The study was a two-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Eighty-five healthy men and women (40-70 years) were randomly assigned to receive either 500 mg eggshell membrane with 1,500 mg fish oil concentrate (n=43) or 2,000 mg placebo (n=42) daily. Subjects performed an aerobic step exercise regimen (40 to 100 steps per leg) on alternating days. The primary endpoint was any statistically significant reduction in exercise-induced cartilage turnover as determined by levels of uCTX-II versus placebo, evaluated after 1 and 2 weeks of exercise. Secondary endpoints were changes in exercise-induced joint pain or stiffness versus placebo, evaluated immediately after exercise and 12 hours post exercise.

Results: ES-OM3 produced a significant reduction in levels of uCTX-II versus placebo after 1 (-12.9%, p=0.035) and 2 weeks of exercise (-17.7%, p=0.019). Compared with placebo, ES-OM3 supplementation significantly relieved joint pain (p<0.05) immediately after exercise and 12 hours after exercise (Days 3,5 and 7 and Days 2 and 8 respectively) and significantly improved levels of stiffness (p<0.05) immediately after exercise and 12 hours after exercise (Day 3, and Days 2,4,6 and 8, respectively).

Conclusion: In healthy adults who performed an aerobic step exercise regimen for two weeks, daily administration of a novel nutraceutical (Move3^®), consisting of eggshell membrane and fish oil (ES-OM3) decreased levels of CTX-II, a biomarker for cartilage degradation. ES-OM3 supplementation provided rapid relief of joint pain and stiffness immediately after exercise and 12 hours post exercise. Use of a nutraceutical such as ES-OM3 (Move3^®) is a promising new approach for alleviating joint pain and stiffness associated with exercise.

Trial registration: NCT 04215198