Eggshell Membranes May Provide Osteoarthritis Relief

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It occurs when the cartilage between people’s joints wears down. A recent study suggests that taking a supplement with 500 mg of eggshell membrane may reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Eggshell membrane contains high levels of protein, as well as moderate levels of glucosamine, chondroitin sulcate, hyaluronic acid, and collagen.

Participants in the study included 44 people between the ages of 32 and 95. They were given either a supplement containing 500 mg of eggshell membrane or a placebo daily for 60 days. They were asked to answer ten pain-related questions at the 1-, 30 and 60-day marks.

At the 10-day mark, one quarter of the participants who received the supplement reported 14% improvement in seven out of nine painful symptoms. These included going up and down the stairs, getting in and out of a car, pain when walking on level ground and pain when sitting with legs bent for an extended period of time. At the conclusion of the study, 75% of the participants reported improvements, with a 35.6% improvement in pain symptoms.

Additionally, there was a 29.3% reduction in stiffness in participants who received the supplement.

Researchers from Weber and Weber GmbH and Co. in Germany conducted the study. It was published on July 20, 2014, in the Journal of Arthritis.

Previous studies suggest that eggshell membrane may have skin health benefits in addition to the relief from arthritis pain that this study highlights. If you’re looking for the benefits seen in this study, your best bet is to take a daily supplement that contains eggshell membranes.