UC-II

A Solution to Rheumatoid Arthritis?

nutraceuticals

For anyone suffering from progressive cartilage damage, reprogramming the immune system with undenatured type II chicken collagen as found in UC-II is an essential component of his or her joint repair regimen.

Each week we take a closer look at natural ingredients and compounds that may provide positive health effects. This week, we take a look at the dietary ingredient UC-II, which is derived from chicken sternum cartilage and is known for supporting joint comfort, mobility, and flexibility. Let’s learn a bit more…

Undenatured collagen administered orally works with a healthy immune system to promote healthy joints by a process called oral tolerization. This process helps the body to differentiate between foreign invaders, such as bacteria, and elements that are good for the body, such as nutrients. The process of oral tolerization takes place in the small intestine where food is absorbed. Through a complex process, lymphoid tissue in the mucosal lining of the small intestine screens incoming compounds and serves as a “switch,” turning the body’s immune response on or off to foreign substances, depending upon what that substance is. In the case of undenatured type II chicken collagen, small amounts (typically around 10 milligrams) taken orally have been shown to correct a faulty immune response specifically targeted at the type II collagen present in bone joint cartilage — in effect, modulating the body’s immune response so it works correctly once again.

There have been a number of studies conducted with UC-II on both animals and humans, including research at the Harvard University Medical school — all of which have shown that the undenatured type II chicken collagen found in UC-II effectively reprograms the immune system to promote healthy joints and increase joint mobility and flexibility.

In a pilot clinical study, for example, 5 older women (58-78 years old) suffering from significant joint pain were given undenatured type II chicken collagen (10 mg/day) for 42 days. Improvements in pain reduction and joint flexibility were reported, along with reduced morning stiffness.1 In another study, researchers at Harvard Medical School found that six of ten rheumatoid arthritis patients taking undenatured type II collagen for three months showed substantial improvement, while one patient recovered completely. In addition, there were no side effects. And finally, in a 90-day, double-blind, placebo-controlled, follow-up study on patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis, Harvard scientists found that 28 patients taking undenatured type II collagen showed significant improvement compared to the placebo group, while four patients recovered completely.2

In a 2009 randomized, double-blind, clinical study, 40 mg of UC-II was more than two-times as effective as 1,500 mg of glucosamine + 1,200 mg of chondroitin in supporting joint health, comfort, and flexibility.1 UC-II outperformed the glucosamine/chondroitin combination using three different assessment tools: WOMAC, VAS, and Lequesne functional index. UC-II was also shown to improve quality of life. UC-II significantly decreased pain during daily activities. Some benefits of collagen supplements are improvement while walking on a flat surface, performing heavy domestic duties, ascending stairs, and while resting in bed. UC-II was also shown to be safe and well-tolerated with no known side effects.

What It Means
For anyone suffering from progressive cartilage damage (which ultimately means anyone suffering from rheumatoid arthritis or long term osteoarthritis), reprogramming the immune system with undenatured type II chicken collagen as found in UC-II is an essential component of his or her joint repair regimen.

A Word About Supplement Amounts
At a cost of over $17,000 per kilogram of active ingredient, UC-II is indeed an extremely expensive supplement ingredient. Fortunately, it only takes 10 mg a day of its active ingredient for the benefits of collagen to reach maximum effect. To make it clear, when we talk about a 10 mg dose, we’re talking about 10 mg of active glycosylated undenatured type II chicken collagen. But there are no readily available pure sources of this component. Standard hydrolyzed chicken collagen has virtually none. And most sources of undenatured collagen offer it in the range of 10-25% concentrations. In UC-II, for example, active glycosylated undenatured type II chicken collagen comprises 25% of the whole. That means it takes 40 mg a day of UC-II to get 10 mg of active undenatured collagen. If you look at some supplements, you may notice that several of the supplement providers who are using UC-II in their formulas have mistakenly used 10 mg of UC-II itself. That means they are only providing 2.5 mg of active undenatured collagen. Given the cost, it’s easy to see why, but from your perspective, you want a full 10 mg, which requires 40 mg a day of UC-II — or more from other sources. Another differentiation is that UC-II is manufactured in a GMP- certified facility from chicken sternum cartilage using a patented, low-temperature manufacturing process that ensures a particular level of undenatured type II collagen. Other forms of type II collagen sold as dietary supplements are denatured, or hydrolyzed.

References:
(1) Bagchi D, Misner B, Bagchi M, et al. “Effects of orally administered undenatured type II collagen against arthritic inflammatory diseases: a mechanistic exploration.” Int J Clin Pharmacol Res. 2002;22:101-110 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ 12837047
(2) Trentham DE, Dynesius-Trentham RA, Orav EJ, Combitchi-D, Lorenzo C, Sewell KL, Hafler DA, Weiner HL. “Effects of Oral Administration of Type II Collagen on Rheumatoid Arthritis.” Science 1993; 261:1727-1730.