Help for Arthritis
A successful clinical experiment by Harvard Medical School using a natural
substance.
The Denver Post carried this article in September, 1993.
Read the full text, and see
how you can use this information!
The Denver Post,
Friday September 24, 1993
Chicken Protein halts swelling, pain of arthritis patients in
trial
WASHINGTON - A protein from chicken bones stopped the pain and swelling of
rheumatoid arthritis for patients in a clinical experiment, and experts say the
novel treatment holds promise for control of the crippling disease.
Dr. David Trentham, of Beth Israel hospital and Harvard Medical School in
Boston, said that a collagen solution made from chicken cartilage and swirled
into patients' morning orange juice appeared to arrest the progress of
rheumatoid arthritis in a small group that was studied.
The technique, which he called "oral tolerization", seems to "teach" the body
to stop inflaming the tissue around joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is thought to
be an autoimmune disease caused by rogue cells of the immune system attacking
membranes in joints.
Trentham said that swallowing protein that is similar to the membrane of the
joints "reinstructs the body to cease the attack on the body's own joints".
All 28 patients taking the collagen during the three-month trial got relief
from their disease and four went into remission, said Trentham. The disease
became worse in 31 patients who received a placebo..
A report on the study is to be published today in the journal Svience.
Dr. Arthur Grayzel, senior vice president for medical affairs of the
Arthritis Foundation, said he was quite encouraged by the study and believes
oral tolerization techniques have the potential of halting rheumatoid arthritis.
But he cautioned that a much larger trial of the collagen treatment should be
undertaken.
The study used 60 rheumatoid arthritis patients selected from a group who had
not responded well to conventional treatment.
A group of 28 were given daily solutions of what is called type II collagen
derived from chickens.
"It is purified from chicken simply because that is the least expensive way
of making it, and we can be sure it is free of viral contaminants," said
Trentham.
After three months, it was clear that the drug was beneficial.
Researchers cautioned that the collagen used in the experiment is not the
same as the collagen found in cosmetic and health food stores."
(Note:The chicken protein compound mentioned in the news article has been
patented, and is not generally available.)
What can you do? See here.
HOME |
