According to a study, chicken collagen can provide relief from rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. A randomized, controlled trial has found that Chicken type II collagen (CCII), a protein extracted from the cartilage of chicken breast, is a safe and effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.
Researchers tested the novel treatment in 503 rheumatoid arthritis patients by comparing it to the established antirheumatic drug methotrextate. Rheumatoid arthritis patients who received a 12-week course of CCII capsules showed significantly improved joint function, with fewer and milder adverse effects than those taking methotrexate. According to Wei, “We’ve shown that CCII is a promising alternative therapeutic strategy that may be used as a nutritional supplement against rheumatoid arthritis”.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease caused by the body mounting a response against its own cartilage – the rubbery tissue, composed mainly of collagen, which cushions and lubricates joints. By dosing rheumatoid arthritis patients with collagen in the form of CCII capsules, the researchers believe that ‘oral tolerance’ can be developed.
According to the study author “Oral tolerance is a reduction in autoimmune activity caused by repeated dietary exposure to the offending substance. Treatment of autoimmune diseases by induction of oral tolerance is attractive because of the few side effects and easy clinical implementation of this approach. Indeed, our work confirms that treatment with oral CCII leads to improvement in rheumatoid arthritis with no significant side effects”.
References:
1. Wei Wei, et al. A multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled phase III clinical trial of chicken type II collagen in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Research & Therapy, December 2009. 11:R180. doi:10.1186/ar2870
