Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 118, May 2019 | Page 23

O steo E ze ADVERTORIAL ® THE JOINT SPECIALIST T This article is for anyone who has joint pain… and anyone looking to avoid it in the future. hese days, 40 is the new 20 with the amount of physical activity and sports practise among the 40-plus age group rapidly increasing. Epidemiological studies have concluded that high levels of physical activity, such as running 30km or more a week, multiplies the probability of developing osteo-arthritis by a factor of 2.4 1 . This is because running causes micro damage to the cartilage. Although some of the popular joint supplements on the market work in reducing pain and inflammation, they do not address the root cause of the problem. A key component in joint destruction is when the immune system goes out of control and starts attacking the cartilage. In other words, once a person starts down the road of joint pain, either early on or later in the process, at some point the immune system usually “goes wrong” and becomes a factor in the gradual destruction of joint tissue. That is why you need OsteoEze Platinum with clinically proven UC-II collagen. What is UC-II? Undenatured type II collagen (UC-II) is extracted from chicken sternum cartilage using a patented, low-temperature process that ensures the undenatured biological activity of the type II collagen. Through a complex process, small amounts (typically around 40 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. It also kick-starts the body’s natural repair mechanisms to repair the cartilage. The body is constantly repairing proteins that degrade or get injured, allowing us to renew ourselves 24/7. UC-II facilitates this joint repair cycle. Think of a pothole as damage to the cartilage, and that UC-II stimulates the hormone like a substance that is responsible for repairing the pothole. Study on Joint Mobility and Flexibility in Healthy Individuals A randomised, double‐blind, placebo-controlled study by Lugo et al 2 found that people who took UC-II exercised longer before experiencing joint discomfort, and recovered faster from joint discomfort after exercising, compared to the baseline group, while no significant changes were observed in the placebo group. What is the difference between native and hydrolysed collagen (i.e. UC II and other collagen products on the market)? Most collagen sold in dietary supplements is denatured, or hydrolysed, which is another way of saying that the chemicals and high-heat used to process and refine it have changed its molecular configuration. Hydrolysed collagen has value as building blocks to increase collagen production, but to receive this benefit, you need to consume it in large amounts, as much as 3 to 10 grams a day. But more importantly, when denatured, the collagen loses its immune-modulating ability. An undenatured extract is made using little or no heat and limited processing. UC-II, an undenatured collagen, works with the immune system, and a small dosage of 40mg daily is all that is required to help stop joint pain and cartilage destruction. 1. 2. (Cheng et al, Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 2000; 53:315-322) Lugo et al. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2013, 10:48 http://www.jissn.com/content/10/1/48 23