Many patients turn to various dietary supplements and preparations in the hope of improving the condition of their musculoskeletal system, but the medical view on their effectiveness often differs from advertising promises. Dr. Uladzimir Pikirenia spoke about the mechanisms of action of popular joint remedies and explained why their intake may not bring the expected benefits.
Illustrative image. Source: Vecteezy.com
Are chondroitin and hyaluronic acid beneficial for joints?
Chondroitin and hyaluronic acid are the most widely advertised substances in the field of joint treatment. From a scientific point of view, both belong to glycosaminoglycans — a group of long carbohydrates (polysaccharides).
As Pikirenia notes, even by their mechanism, these substances simply cannot produce any effect when taken orally. The fact is that polysaccharides, entering the gastrointestinal tract, break down into shorter components — oligosaccharides, disaccharides, and monosaccharides. As a result, they enter the blood in the form of ordinary glucose and are then used by the body for its own needs: building fatty tissue or as an energy source.
The expert states that all calories received by a person from consumed hyaluronic acid and chondroitin simply go to sustain vital activity. No specific effect on joints, pain reduction, or improvement in skin quality occurs.
To achieve an effect, hyaluronic acid must be administered through fillers or injections directly under the skin. As an example, the doctor cites heparin — a substance from the same group with a similar mechanism of action. It is prescribed to reduce thrombosis, but is never used in tablet form, only in injections, because otherwise it is ineffective.
Uladzimir Pikirenia. Photo: Uladzimir Pikirenia / Facebook
Are collagens beneficial for joints?
Another well-known remedy that the specialist draws attention to is collagen. This is a protein that makes up approximately 20-30% of a person's body weight and is found in large quantities in meat products.
As Pikirenia notes, during digestion, under the action of gastric juice and pancreatic enzymes, collagen, like any other protein, breaks down into amino acids. Accordingly, the collagen that a person consumes in the form of supplements cannot in any way reach the joints or skin in an unchanged form.
"Eating collagen capsules will have the same benefit as eating brawn," notes Pikirenia.
Moreover, about 30% of the amino acids in collagen are glycine. According to the doctor, instead of buying expensive preparations, one can simply eat pork ears, brawn, or even ordinary chicken breast. 100 grams of chicken breast contains significantly more glycine than an entire package of a pharmacy preparation.
Is alflutop beneficial for joints?
A preparation called "Alflutop" is sold as a solution for injections directly into the joints. The expert draws attention to the composition of the medicine: 90% water and 10% broth from small fish, such as sprats and anchovies.
As Pikirenia argues, patients are actually offered to inject "filtered broth" into the joint, which is unlikely to help with pain.
He emphasizes that there are no studies — neither international nor quality local ones — that confirm the effectiveness of this remedy. "A joint is a place where there should be no bacteria, damage, and so on. And when an injection is made, it is always a risk of additional damage. Therefore, this is something that definitely should not be tried for joint problems," notes the expert.
What really helps joints?
Instead of wasting money on ineffective remedies, the doctor recommends focusing on real methods of prevention and support.
1. Active lifestyle and proper loads. Movements without strong friction and vertical compression are beneficial for joints. The ideal option is a swimming pool. Swimming provides active movement, improves blood flow, but at the same time, the joint surfaces are not compressed or rubbed against each other under the weight of the body.
2. Weight normalization. Excess weight creates enormous stress on the knees, hip joints, and spine. No dietary supplements can compensate for the physical destruction of joints due to excess weight.
3. Quitting smoking, which negatively affects blood vessels and circulation, directly worsening the nourishment of joint tissue.
Adhering to these simple rules will bring significantly more benefits to your body than any fashionable preparations.
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