Research published in the journal Osteoarthritis & Cartilage provides further support for Lonza’s UC-II undenatured type II collagen, with new findings validating its benefits for cartilage health.
 
The study, “Oral Administration of Undenatured Native Chicken Type II Collagen (UC-II) Diminished Deterioration of Articular Cartilage in a Rat Model of OA,” utilized a rat model for osteoarthritis (OA), which resembles some of the characteristics of human OA, including articular cartilage deterioration, bone-spur formation and the loss of knee mechanical function, which results in significant changes in walking gait.
 
Twenty male rats were subjected to partial medial meniscectomy tear (PMMT) surgery to induce OA. Immediately after the surgery 10 rats received vehicle and another 10 rats oral daily dose of UC-II at 0.66 mg/kg for a period of 8 weeks. The dose of the UC-II ingredient selected for the study represents the clinically tested human equivalent dose of 40 mg per day, according to the company.
 
In addition, 10 naïve rats were used as an intact control and another 10 rats received sham surgery. Study endpoints included a weight-bearing capacity of front and hind legs, serum biomarkers of bone and cartilage metabolism, analyses of subchondral and cancellous bone at the tibial epiphysis and metaphysis, and cartilage pathology at the medial tibial plateau using histological methods.
 
Results found that immediate treatment with the UC-II preserved the weight-bearing capacity of the injured leg, preserved integrity of the cancellous bone at tibial metaphysis, and limited the excessive osteophyte formation and deterioration of articular cartilage.
 
Researchers concluded that a clinically relevant daily dose of UC-II when applied immediately after injury can improve the mechanical function of the injured knee and prevent excessive deterioration of articular cartilage.
 
UC-II undenatured type II collagen has been clinically studied in healthy adults [J lnt Soc Sports Nutr. 2013;] and has been shown to help improve joint comfort, mobility and flexibility in people with OA [Nutr J. 2016; Int J Med Sci. 2009]. Additionally, it has been shown to be statistically significantly more effective than the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin, as measured by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) [Lugo JP, et al. Nutr J. 2016]
 
Lonza’s UC-II ingredient and method of manufacture are patented (US Patents, 7,846,487 and 7,083,820; EP Patent EP 1 435 906; Canadian Patent CA 2459981C; and Japanese Patent JP 4800574 B2 additional granted patents and pending patent applications). The method of using UC-II undenatured type II collagen is also patented (US patent 9,066,926 and other pending patent applications).