Whilst general well-being supplements such as ProHealth are excellent in supporting optimal health and condition in companion animals, there is also a need for more targeted nutrition. ProJoint has been designed to address the condition of joints and support their integrity. Whilst Lillidale recognises the importance of the condition of the microbiome as the major player in dog health, ProJoint supports joint care and internal anti-inflammatory mechanisms.
Where the inclusion of prebiotic elements (beet pulp pectins, oat glucans and green-lipped mussel oligosaccharides) helps optimise the microbiome, absorbed nutrients have a role to play in joint condition. The oligosaccharides involved also affect gut permeability, and immunomodulatory processes and so play a role in anti-inflammatory processes:
The release of cytokines includes both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory agents such as Il1-β and TNF-α and their counterparts. Inflammation is the natural first step to perceived damage/disease/dysfunction. Inflammatories tend to ring-fence the compromised area to allow rectification. Then, anti-inflammatories are released to wash away the debris. With chronic systems, such as joint damage, the cycle is stuck as pro-inflammatory systems are constantly being reinforced. The presence of oat & GLM glucans can help reduce this effect.
Those pro-inflammatory factors specifically impact joint conditions and can cause the degradation of collagen II, a prime component of cartilage. Cartilage, generated by articular chondrocytes, caps the bones at the joints encapsulated by synovial fluid to enable smooth flexing.
Pro-inflammatory factors both stimulate oxidative and depress antioxidative enzymes, leading – in the joints – to telomere erosion that depresses collage II synthesis. This is exacerbated by an increase in oxidative stress that can suppress proline, whilst increasing lipid peroxidation, both factors that retards collagen synthesis. At the same time, pro-inflammatory components stimulate the release of inflammatory metal proteases that stimulate collagen breakdown.
Wear and tear is one of the principal causes of joint degradation, but genetic/breed concerns such as dysplasia & crucial ligaments are also contributory factors.
Exercise creates oxidative stress and inflammatory cues, wear and tear cause inflammation and, especially as a dog ages, the ability to recover and regenerate tissue declines.
ProJoint has been developed to address these systems by two supporting mechanisms: the provision of components that help the normal antioxidative & anti-inflammatory cycles and the supply of the building blocks of cartilage and bone formation.
Inflammation
As explained, there is an interaction between inflammatory cues and oxidation parameters and components of ProJoint help address both these systems.
ProJoint contains several ingredients that supply a spectrum of PUFA, especially DHE & EPA. These are long-chain omega-3 fatty acids from both salmon oil and green-lipped mussel that have been shown to have an interaction with anti-inflammatory cues:
Summary of different mechanisms by which n-3 fatty acids inhibit activation of the pro-inflammatory transcription factor NF-kB. COX, cyclooxygenase; GPR, G-protein coupled receptor; PPAR, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor. Dotted lines indicate inhibition.
By supporting the relevant receptors, anti-inflammatory cytokines, etc., may be restricted.
Additionally, long-chain PUFAs, including DHA and EPA, are base units in the production of Prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes. These are all involved in regulating the inflammation cycle process alongside omega-6-derived products. Of these, insulin-like growth factors and PGE2 are also involved in regulating bone development.
through the action of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase
Highlighted in the above diagrams are the role of antioxidative enzymes. Polyphenol bioactives, those for example supplied by curcumin (turmeric), MSM and some components of GLM (lyprinol) not interact with the generation of enzymes – iNOS, SOD & COX2 -but also mop up free radicals, affecting lipid peroxidation. In short, oxidative parameters that support proinflammatory processes are reduced.
ProJoint contains antioxidants from vitamins C, E and turmeric, MSM & green-lipped mussel, and PUFA from Sunflower & Salmon oil, and Green Lipped Mussel provide oils. These mechanisms help the build-up of collagen and so ligament and cartilage integrity.
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Rebuilding
ProJoint also supplies those building blocks that cartilage needs.
Glycosaminoglycans are a group of amino sugars (chains of sugars, including uronic acid with ammonic side chains) that include compounds like chondroitin, hyaluronic acid etc. Although relatively small molecules absorption is relatively low and including emulsifiers (as provided by oat surfactants) can help the production of nanoemulsions. These micelles (very fine particles of hydrophilic materials encapsulated in hydrophobic fats) can easily be absorbed and can be transported to their site of action, which are the chondrocytes and can then be synthesised into cartilage and other ligamentous tissues.
Glucosamine & chondroitin (naturally sourced from Green Lipped Mussel and vegetable sources) have been shown to have a complementary effect), probably due to the production of GAG through similar but separate mechanisms, whilst chondroitin additionally has a direct inclusion into proteoglycans. They are also believed to stimulate the production of chondrocytes, which positively affects the matrix of collagen.
Hyaluronic acid is not only incorporated into cartilage, but its presence appears to stimulate chondrocyte activity and the generation of glycosaminoglycans; it also reduces the synthesis of metalloproteinases and may have immunomodulatory effects.
ProJoint presents collagen amino acids. Collagen is a specialist protein with sequential amino acids where every third amino acid is glycine; the other two in the sequence could be any amino acid, although proline or hydroxyproline are the most likely in mammalian collagen. As digestion of collagen requires its reduction into small units of amino acids, ProJoint supplies the individual amino acids as a more efficient delivery system. Collagen is mostly found in fibrous tissues such as tendons, ligaments, and skin. It is synthesised in wound healing and muscle generation after damage caused by excessive exercise; it can be mineralised as bone (rigid) or cartilage (compliant) and is present in all areas of the body that require varying amounts of elasticity.
Structurally, three strands of amino acid chains, twisted into a triple helix, provide elasticity, which is critical for its function in tendons, ligaments, the vascular system, musculature and most connective tissue and organelles within the body. Of all the types of collagen present, the most prevalent is Type I.
Triple strand of Collagen
The presence of MSM lends a sulphated component that adds to the elasticity of the strands.
Coupled with anti-inflammatory support mechanisms via antioxidative processes, ProJoint provides a targeted approach to optimise joint condition.
Alongside this, the inclusion of glucans from green-lipped mussel, prebiotic pectins and glutamic acid supporting the microbiome, ProJoint will benefit joints.
Reference:
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