NEW YORK, April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The GELITA Health Initiative has joined the World Health Organization (WHO)'s efforts to improve research, prevention and education for musculoskeletal disorders by becoming a partner of WHO’s worldwide Bone and Joint Decade. The Bone and Joint Decade (BJD) was launched at the start of this decade to “raise awareness and promote positive actions to combat the suffering and costs to society associated with musculoskeletal disorders such as joint diseases.”
RELATED INFORMATION:
The GELITA Health Initiative (GHI) was created by the GELITA Group, the leading worldwide manufacturer of gelatine and collagen hydrolysate. The goal of the Initiative is to promote collagen hydrolysate research in the area of degenerative joint disease. GELITA has been supporting scientific research of collagen hydrolysate and its beneficial effects since the late 1970s.
The Bone and Joint Decade was formed in 2000 in global partnership with the United Nations, the World Bank, and the World Health Organization and is made up of patient, professional, and scientific organizations, companies, healthcare providers, government and non-government organizations, and global and regional stakeholders concerned about the significant impact bone and joint disorders are having on society. The Decade’s goal is to “improve the health related quality of life for those with musculoskeletal disorders by advocating programs that improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment, advance research on prevention and treatment, empower patients to make decisions about their care and reduce the social and financial costs for musculoskeletal disorders to society.”
As part of the agreement GELITA, one of the few food ingredient companies invited to join the BJD, is now a member of the BJD Global Partner Roundtable, and will offer strategic recommendations for future BJD activities. Additionally, GELITA will assist in the development of topics for major musculoskeletal meetings.
MORE ON COLLAGEN HYDROLYSATE
Collagen hydrolysate (CH), a special type of gelatine with particular benefit for joint health, has the same amino acid composition as Type II collagen, which makes up approximately 70 percent of the joint cartilage and provides the joint with its tensile strength and stiffness. To date, several clinical studies have shown that collagen hydrolysate may be able to protect joints from damage, strengthen joints and reduce pain from conditions like osteoarthritis (OA). A study conducted by Moskowitz, et al. determined that CH reduced pain and improved physical function in patients with OA(1). Another study conducted in 1991 by Adam, et al. concluded that CH reduces pain and the need for analgesics in patients with OA(2). Additionally, an as-yet unpublished study by Rippe, et al., demonstrated significant improvements in joint function in patients with mild osteoarthritis of the knee after CH, calcium, and vitamin C consumption. A dosage of 10g per day of collagen hydrolysate was used for all three studies. Oesser and Seifert made significant progress towards the elucidation of CH’s mechanism of action in a 2002 study which demonstrated that CH stimulates cartilage cells (chondrocytes) to synthesize type II collagen, the type of collagen found in joints as well as intervenes in collagen turnover in joint cartilage(3).
For decades, collagen hydrolysate has had GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status from the Food and Drug Administration as an ingredient in food.
ADDITIONAL FACTS:
Chronic joint pain is one of the most common disorders in the United States, affecting approximately 70 million Americans. Osteoarthritis affects approximately 20.7 million adults in the United States(4). To date there is no cure; analgesics and antirheumatics only relieve pain or suppress the inflammation process. Joint disorders are an enormous health burden and the cost is expected to increase as the US population ages. Experts estimate the cost of osteoarthritis to be $33 billion in the United States alone(5).
The GELITA Group, the gelatine division of DGF Stoess AG, is the leading manufacturer of gelatine worldwide and is involved in the research, production and distribution of approximately 250 types of gelatine, including collagen hydrolysate. In addition to edible gelatine, the company also produces high quality gelatines for the pharmaceutical and photographic industries.
(1) Moskowitz RW. Role of collagen hydrolysate in bone and joint disease. Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism. 2000;30:87-99 30:87-99 (2) Adam M. “Therapy of osteoarthritis: What effect have gelatine products,” Therapiewoche. 1991;41:2456-2461 (3) Oesser S and Seifert J. Stimulation of type II collagen biosynthesis and secretion in bovine chondrocytes cultured with degraded collagen. Cell Tissue Res. 2003; 311:393-9. (4) The Arthritis Foundation, http://www.arthritis.org/ (5) Maetzel A. “The economic burden associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and hypertension: a comparative study,” Journal of Rheumatology. 2002;29:1811-3
The GELITA Health Initiative
CONTACT: Michelle Marinelli of Ketchum, +1-646-935-4131,michelle.marinelli@ketchum.com, for The GELITA Health Initiative
