Effect of New Zealand Greenshell™ mussel on osteoarthritis biomarkers and inflammation in healthy postmenopausal women : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Nutritional Science, School of Health Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Date
2023
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Massey University
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Abstract
New Zealand GreenshellTM Mussel (GSM) showed chondroprotective effects in a pre-clinical study using a rat model of metabolic osteoarthritis, warranting further assessment in a human study. This PhD project aimed to assess the effect of GSM supplementation on cartilage degradation biomarkers in humans, and to develop novel biomarkers through a metabolomic approach. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, longitudinal clinical trial was carried out in overweight postmenopausal women who were given 3 g/day whole meat GSM powder or placebo (sunflower seed protein) for 12 weeks. Plasma samples from the pre-clinical rat trial were assessed through an untargeted metabolomic approach, followed by metabolomic analysis of plasma samples from the clinical trial.
In participants with active knee pain, the cartilage turnover biomarker C-terminal telopeptide of type II collagen was significantly lower in GSM participants compared to placebo at weeks 6 and 12. GSM significantly reduced joint pain and improved knee-related symptoms. GSM but not placebo altered the faecal microbiota population and reduced the rate at which body fat accumulation increased. However, no changes in inflammatory cytokines were found.
The metabolomic analysis of rat plasma samples revealed that GSM supplementation regulated the alteration in plasma triglyceride and other lipids caused by a high-fat diet. In the plasma of human participants, GSM supplementation increased long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), ceramide, and some other lipids. In both rats and humans, GSM suppressed the sphingomyelin synthesis pathway. Polar metabolites including threonine, histidine and pipecolic acid were significantly impacted in both rat and human and are potential metabolic biomarkers for the impact of GSM powder supplementation in metabolic osteoarthritis.
In conclusion, consumption of GMS powder may provide cartilage protection and reduce joint pain, particularly in women with symptomatic knees. However, no significant impact was observed on circulating inflammatory cytokines, suggesting that GSM may exert anti-inflammatory effects at the microenvironmental rather than systemic level. The bioactive compounds present in GSM powder such as omega-3 PUFA and chondroprotective glycosaminoglycans may be responsible for the beneficial effect through inhibiting the breakdown of type II collagen in cartilage, regulating gut microbe abundance, improving body composition, and the metabolite profile which needs to be investigated in future research.
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Keywords
Osteoarthritis, Prevention, Alternative treatment, Overweight women, Diseases, Perna, Therapeutic use, New Zealand