ReumaCollagen®

Under the Research Agreement, entered into between the Department of Pharmacy – University of Naples Federico Il and GE.FO. NUTRITION S.r.l., the influence of some components allowed in dietary supplements on the intra- and extracellular formation of collagen, a structural glycoprotein abundantly present in cartilage, was evaluated in an in vitro model system. Arthritis (or rheumatoid arthritis) is a chronic, autoimmune disease that manifests itself through chronic inflammation of the joints.

Its occurrence affects about 2% of the population, is not closely correlated with age, and is more common in women than in men. Current treatment of this degenerative joint disease includes three categories of drugs: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), glucocorticoids such as dexamethasone, and anti-rheumatic drugs (Peng-Thim and Keng-Hong, 2007).

Osteoarthritis is a condition due to the natural aging of connective tissues. It is accompanied by the onset of pain and is correlated with the disruption of the structural integrity of cartilage, the deterioration and eventual loss of elasticity of which are the result of an anabolic and catabolic imbalance of cartilage tissue, with an alteration in matrix composition resulting in a progressive decrease of type Il collagen in the cartilage matrix (Koepp H, et al, 1999; Buckwalter JA et al., 2000).

The therapeutic approach consists of taking medications (analgesic drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, chondroprotective drugs such as hyaluronic acid, used intra-articularly), combined with lifestyle modification (dietary regimen leading to weight loss (if the subject is overweight or obese) and taking glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, diacerin, S-adenosyl-methionine dietary supplements). When drug therapy is no longer effective, surgical treatment with implantation of hip and knee prostheses can be reached.

Inflammatory processes in the joints and surrounding tissues result in joint pain and deformity, leading to progressive destruction of cartilage and bone (Feldmann et al., 1996). Because the long-term use of pharmacological agents used in the treatment of arthritis and osteoarthritis causes severe side effects (Weisman, 2005), especially in the early stages of the disease, the use of certain plant extracts has been proposed to relieve pain, which is a regular symptom of this disease.

In addition, preclinical studies have shown that administration of hydrolyzed collagen stimulates collagen tissue regeneration, increasing not only collagen synthesis but also the synthesis of minor components (glycosaminoglycans and hyaluronic acid) and helping to reduce and prevent joint pain, bone density loss, and skin aging (Teresa Figueres Juher et al. 2015).