Cetyl myristoleate ( CMO ) is the common name for cis-9-cetyl myristoleate, a compound made in the body of humans and certain animals by the combination of cetyl alcohol and mysristoleic acid. The rational for the use of CMO is that it may inhibit the production of inflammatory prostaglandins and leukotrienes. CMO is a natural medium chain fatty acid found in certain animals, including cows, whales, beavers, and mice. As a nutritional supplement it is extracted in a highly purified from beef tallow and then placedin capsules and tablets. CMO is also available in creams and lotions for topical application.
    CMO was discovered in 1972 by Harry W. Diehl, Ph.D., a researcher at the National Institutes of Health. At the time, Dr. Diehl was responsible for testing anti-inflammatory drugs on lab animals. In order for him to test the drugs, he first had to artificially induce arthritis in the animals by injecting a heat-killed bacterium called Freund’s adjuvant. Dr. Diehl discovered that Swiss albino mice did not get arthritis after injection of Freund’s adjuvant. Eventually, he was able to determine that cetyl myristoleate CMO was the factor present naturally in mice that was responsible for this protection. When CMO was injected into various strains of rats, it offered the same protection against arthritis. It has been proposed that CMO acts as a joint “lubricant” and anti-inflammatory agent.

CMO, 400 mg, 60 Capsules - Physician Formulas
Developed by Ray Sahelian, M.D.
Cetyl Myristoleate
Fatty Acid Complex for Joints, from beef tallow

CMO contains concentrated extract of the fatty acid  cerasomal-cis-9-acetyl-myristoleate from natural bovine source.  CMO is not found in any vegetable oils or other common foods.  CMO is found in low amounts in animal connective tissue.

CMO contains the identical compound referenced in published clinical trials.

Usage: Take 1 CMO capsule daily in the morning, or as directed by your qualified health consultant.

CMO Supplement Facts
CMO - Cetyl Myristoleate Extract  - 400 mg
    (Fatty Acid Complex)

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Joint Power Rx with CMO
Formulated by Dr. Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Because joint pain is so debilitating, Glucosamine and Chondroitin alone are not enough. This powerful formula includes CMO and several additional herbal extracts and nutrients that play a role in joint health.  

Joint Power Rx Supplement Facts:
Serving Size: 4 Capsules
Servings Per Container: 30 (1 month supply)

Glucosamine sulfate (from shellfish)
Chondroitin sulfate
MSM
CMO complex
Boswellia serrata extract
Turmeric
Cat's claw extract
Devil's claw extract
Grape seed extract
Sea Cucumber

Click CMO link above in blue for more information

CMO Research Update
People with the wear-and-tear kind of arthritis of the knee may benefit from a proprietary cream containing a blend of cetylated fatty acids. Pain relief and improved functional performance may be experienced as early as half an hour after the cream is applied to the affected joint.

Synthesis of cetyl myristoleate and evaluation of its therapeutic efficacy in a murine model of collagen-induced arthritis.
Pharmacol Res. 2003 Jan;47(1):43-7.
University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, NV
Cetyl myristoleate ( CMO ) was reported by Diehl and May [J Pharm Sci 83 (1994) 296] to block inflammation and prevent adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats. To verify this earlier work, we have synthesized pure CMO and tested its anti-arthritic properties in a collagen-induced arthritis model in DBA/1LacJ mice. Multiple intraperitoneal injections of CMO resulted in a significantly lower incidence of disease and caused a modest but significant diminution in clinical signs in those mice that developed arthritis. CMO administered in daily oral doses of 20 mg kg(-1) also reduced the incidence of arthritis and caused a small reduction in the clinical signs in mice that developed arthritis. Although the protective effect of CMO in collagen-induced arthritis observed in the present study was less dramatic than that reported earlier, our results confirm the anti-arthritic properties of pure CMO.

Cetyl myristoleate (CMO) isolated from Swiss albino mice: an apparent protective agent against adjuvant arthritis in rats.
Diehl HW, May EL.
Department of Pharmacology, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond 23298.
 J Pharm Sci 1994 Mar;83(3):296-9.
Cetyl myristoleate CMO was isolated from National Institutes of Health, general purpose, Swiss albino mice that were immune to the polyarthritis induced in rats with Freund's adjuvant. This substance, or material synthesized from cetyl alcohol and myristoleic acid, afforded good protection against adjuvant-induced arthritic states in rats. In limited comparisons, cetyl oleate, also found in Swiss albino mice, gave lesser protection, whereas cetyl myristate and cetyl elaidate, the trans-isomer of cetyl oleate, appeared to be virtually ineffective. Dosage of the protective compound as well as the site of injection of Freund's adjuvant was important. Research CMO.

CMO supplement emails
Q. I am a Registered Massage Therapist in British Columbia Canada. I have recently tried your CMO product for my own chronic lumbar DDD. I am certainly impressed with the results! I tried going without CMO after my 1st bottle was finished, and the symptoms returned over a week. I then re-ordered, and am now back on the product, feeling great again. I want to try the Joint Power Rx compound next. If it is as sucessful as the CMO, I seriously want to look at providing this product to my patients.

Q.  I have been using Cmo for the past 8 months now with great success. I have been recommending it to my patients. One patient has just pointed out a slight inconsistency regarding when to take it. The label says with food. The info page on your web site (which I have printed and give as handouts) says to take cmo on an empty stomach! Which is the most effective?
     A. Most of the time supplements are better absorbed on an empty stomach, but they are well absorbed with food, too, so it may not make much of a difference, however, studies have not been done comparing the two approaches with cmo, hence it is difficult to predict with cmo which option is better.

CMO (Cetylated Fatty Acid Complex)
CMO and Arthritis