Lyprinol by Ray Sahelian, M.D. (natural medicine and healing database)

The New Zealand green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) is the source of an extract with a product name of Lyprinol. Claims have been made that the preparation may be helpful in the management of inflammatory diseases. Results of clinical studies to date have been contradictory, but there is some evidence that green lipped mussel extracts have some anti-inflammatory capabilities, and may play a role in asthma and arthritis and maybe even inflammatory bowel disease.  


Lyprinol 50 mg
60 Softgel Capsules
 

Lyprinol is a unique, stabilized marine lipid extract to provide nutritional support for healthy joint function.
 • Stabilized marine lipid extract for joint support*

Lyprinol Supplement

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Joint Power Rx
Physician Formulas --
Formulated by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Because joint pain is so debilitating, glucosamine and chondroitin alone are sometimes not enough. This powerful formula includes 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)

Glucosamine sulfate, Chondroitin sulfate, MSM, CMO complex, Boswellia serrata extract, Curcumin, Cat's claw extract
Devil's claw extract. Grape seed extract, Sea Cucumber

Click the link in blue above for Lyprinol

Composition of Lyprinol
New Zealand green-lipped mussels and their associated stabilized lipid extracts contain sterols, stanols and fatty acids.

What the research says about Lyprinol
Osteoarthritis
A lipid-rich extract, prepared by supercritical fluid (CO2) extraction of freeze-dried stabilized New Zealand green-lipped mussel powder ( Lyprinol ) has shown significant anti-inflammatory activity when given to animals and humans. When treated p.o. with Lyprinol, Wistar and Dark Agouti rats developed neither adjuvant-induced polyarthritis or collagen(II)-induced auto-allergic arthritis. This was achieved with doses < NSAIDs, and 200 times < of other seed or fish oils. Lyprinol subfractions inhibited LTB4 biosynthesis by PMN in vitro, and PGE2 production by activated macrophages. Much of this anti inflammatory activity was associated with omega-3 PUFAs and natural antioxidants [e.g. carotenoids]. In contrast to NSAIDs, Lyprinol is non-gastro toxic in disease-stressed rats at 300 mg/kg p.o., and does not affect platelet aggregation [human, rat]. Clinical studies, either controlled or randomized, have demonstrated very significant anti inflammatory activity in patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and other inflammatory conditions. Lyprinol is a reproducible, stable source of bioactive lipids with much greater potency than plant/marine oils currently used as nutritional supplements to ameliorate signs of inflammation.

Lyprinol and Rheumatoid Arthritis
See study below. Rheumatoid arthritis patients who took Lyprinol were able to reduce their medications.

Asthma and Lyprinol
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways mediated, at least in part, by leukotrienes and other lipid mediators. Experimental studies have shown that lipid extract of New Zealand green-lipped mussel, Perna canaliculus ( lyprinol ), is effective in inhibiting 5'-lipoxygenase and cyclo-oxygenase pathways responsible for production of eicosanoids, including leukotrienes and prostaglandins. The aim of this study was to assess its effect on symptoms, peak expiratory flow (PEF) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in expired breath condensate as a marker of airway inflammation in patients with steroid-naive asthma in a double-blind randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Forty six patients with asthma received two capsules of marine lipid extract ( Lyprinol ) or placebo b.i.d for 8 weeks. Each capsule of lyprinol contained 50 mg omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and 100 mg olive oil, whereas placebo capsules contained only 150 mg olive oil. There was a significant decrease in daytime wheeze, the concentration of exhaled H2O2 and an increase in morning PEF in the lyprinol group compared to the placebo group. There were no significant side-effects. The authors conclude that lyprinol, the marine lipid extract of New Zealand green-lipped mussel may have some beneficial effect in patients with atopic asthma.

Lyprinol and Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Lyprinol ( stabilised lipid extract of New Zealand green-lipped mussel ): a potential preventative treatment modality for inflammatory bowel disease.
J Gastroenterol. 2005 Apr;40(4):361-5. Tenikoff D, Murphy KJ, Le M, Howe PR, Howarth GS.Child Health Research Institute, Women's and Children's Hospital, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Lyprinol (Pharmalink International), the stabilised lipid extract of the New Zealand green-lipped mussel, is currently used to relieve symptoms of arthritis. We investigated the effect of pretreatment with Lyprinol on experimentally induced inflammatory bowel disease in mice. Conclusions: These findings provide preliminary evidence that Lyprinol may be potentially useful in ameliorating symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease. The benefit, however, is unlikely to be due to the omega-3 fatty acid content. Dose-response evaluation of Lyprinol in experimental inflammatory bowel disease is warranted.

Lyprinol allergy
Q. I am allergic to shellfish, would Lyprinol cause an allergic reaction to people who are allergic to shellfish?
   A. Lyprinol is extracted from the New Zealand green-lipped mussel which is a shellfish. Shellfish allergies can be caused by certain proteins in seafood. Since Lyprinol oil does not have protein, the risk of shellfish allergy from taking Lyprinol should not occur. As of 2008 no Lyprinol allergy has been reported in the medical literature. We suggest you consult with your healthcare provider for the final decision as to the appropriateness of Lyprinol for your particular health condition.

Lyprinol Research Update
Efficacy and tolerability of a combination of Lyprinol and high concentrations of EPA and DHA in inflammatory rheumatoid disorders.
Adv Ther. 2004 May-Jun;21(3):197-201.
This 12-week drug-monitoring study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Sanhelios Mussel Lyprinol Lipid Complex on 50 adult men and women with inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis. A total of 34 patients required drug therapy before and during the study. By the end of the Lyprinol study, 21 (62%) patients were able to reduce their dosage and 13 were able to terminate drug therapy. At the end of the Lyprinol treatment period, 38% were regarded symptom free, and the number of patients with severe pain decreased significantly from 60% at baseline to 25% at the completion of the trial. A significant effect was observed for each investigated parameter. The special combination of Lyprinol and omega-3 fatty acids was generally very well tolerated. This dietary supplement with Lyprinol may therefore be considered an effective and well-tolerated component of treatment regimens for inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis.

Lyprinol (tm): a potential preventive treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)?
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2004 Aug;13(Suppl):S94.
Fish oil and the stabilised lipid extract of New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel ( Lyprinol trade mark ) are considered beneficial in treating arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. Unlike fish oil, it is uncertain whether any benefit seen with Lyprinol is due to its omega-3 fatty acid content. We compared the effect of Lyprinol and fish oil pre-treatments on experimental induction of IBD in mice. Methods- Male C57BL/6 mice aged 6 weeks were gavaged daily for 13 days with 150microl of olive oil (OO, n=7), Lyprinol (5mg in OO; n=8) or fish oil (FO, 55mg EPA/DHA; n=8). Mice consumed 2% dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) for 6 days from day 7 to induce colitis. Body weight and disease activity index (DAI) scores were recorded daily; colonic inflammation was assessed by myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and histopathologic damage to the ileum and colon. Results- FO treatment had no significant benefit compared with OO. By day 12 of the trial, OO treated mice had gained 15% body weight, FO treated mice had gained 6+/-5% and Lyprinol treated mice had gained 21%: Lyprinol treated mice had a lower DAI score. Compared with FO, Lyprinol treated mice had smaller crypt area losses (distal colon), lower caecum and colon weights and a trend for lower overall colitis severity in the distal colon. MPO activity was not significantly affected by either Lyprinol or FO vs. OO. These findings indicate that Lyprinol may be potentially useful in ameliorating symptoms of IBD. The lack of effect of FO indicates that the benefit of Lyprinol is attributable to components of the stabilised lipid extract other than its omega 3 content. A dose-response evaluation of Lyprinol in experimental IBD is warranted.

Clinical efficacy and safety of Lyprinol, a patented extract from New Zealand green-lipped mussel (Perna Canaliculus) in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip and knee: a multicenter 2-month clinical trial.
Allerg Immunol (Paris). 2003 Jun;35(6):212-6.
To validate the clinical efficacy and safety of Lyprinol (a patented extract from Perna Canaliculus), a 5-LOX inhibitor in patients with arthritis. In this multicenter trial, 60 patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee and hip were included to receive Lyprinol at a dose of 2 capsules twice a day. After a 4- and 8-week treatment period, the following parameters were analyzed: visual analogue scale; Lequesne functional index; global assessment by patients; global assessment by physician; and adverse effects. RESULTS: Lyprinol treatment led to significant improvement of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis as determined by all efficacy measures. After a 4- and 8-week treatment period, 53% and 80% (respectively) of patients experienced significant pain relief, and improvement of joint function. There was no reported adverse effect during this clinical trial. CONCLUSION: Lyprinol was very effective and is a promising anti-inflammatory product that relieves the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis, without adverse effect.

Bierer TL, Bui LM. Improvement of arthritic signs in dogs fed green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus). J Nutr. 2002 Jun;132(6 Suppl 2):1634S-6S.           
Couch RA, Ormrod DJ, Miller TE, Watkins WB. Anti-inflammatory activity in fractionated extracts of the green-lipped mussel. N Z Med J. 1982 Nov 24;95(720):803-6.
Emerlyanov, A. Treatment of
asthma with lipid extract of New Zealand green-lipped mussel: a randomised clinical trial. Eur Respir J. 2002 Sep;20(3):596-600.
Halpern GM. Anti-inflammatory effects of a stabilized lipid extract of Perna canaliculus ( Lyprinol ). Allerg Immunol (Paris). 2000 Sep;32(7):272-8.

Lyprinol questions
Q. Can Lyprinol be taken the same day as glucosamine or chondroitin?
     A. Probably, as long as the Lyprinol and glucosamine dosages are reasonable and not excessive.

Q. Can Lyprinol be used daily for many months or years?
     A. We can't say for sure since such extended human studies have not been done.

Q. I am allergic to bivalve mollusks, ie. oysters, mussels, scallops. May I take Lyprinol?
   A. I am not sure exactly how the manufacturing process of Lyprinol is done to know whether there are any residues of shellfish protein that could be a problem to those with severe allergies to shellfish. Thus far I have not heard of anyone having a bad reaction or an allergy to Lyprinol.