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Information for Health Care Practitioners

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INFORMATION FOR HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS - Shark Cartilage for Human Use


Shark Cartilage and Osteoarthritis
Shark cartilage is an excellent source of chondroitin sulphate (CS). It is one of the main constituents of shark cartilage. Consistently excellent results were obtained in medical trials:

  • CS was administered to patients in a single dose of 800 mg or 400 mg twice daily. Five days of treatment lead to a significant increase of concentration and molecular mass of the hyaluronan and decrease of lysosomal enzyme.
  • CS decreased pain and increased functional parameters in OA patients.
  • CS prevented lesions and reduced severity of such lesions.
  • In some trials, treatment of 500 mg of CS daily showed reduction of spontaneous pain, pain at rest and pain after exertion. Biopsies showed improvement in the inflammation and in the anatomy.
  • Radiographic evidence of reversal of OA was seen.
  • Effectiveness in pain relief, stiffness and effusion was reported in 60-80% of patients. The dose used in this particular trial was 800mg twice a day for 8 weeks.
  • A multi centre study carried out on 255 patients showed similar results.
  • Even from the most prudent point of view CS preparations appear to offer the prospect of the correction of phylogeny in the treatment of Osteoarthritis. Furthermore shark cartilage does not carry greater health risks compared with the use of steroid and non-steroidal inflammatory agents, which are efficient symptomatic agents but potentially negative for the process of osteoarthritis and harmful to important organs.


References:
  • Biochemical and pharmokinetic aspects of oral treatment with CS by Conte et al: Drug Res 45 (11) No. 8 1995
  • Piptone VR: Drugs EXP Clin Res 17 (3) 1991
  • Rovetta G.: Drugs Exp Clin Res 17 (53) 1991
  • Pipitone et al: F.Curr ther Res 52 (608) 1992
  • Bassleer et al: Int J tissue React 14 (231) 1992
  • Setmikar I: Int J Tissues React 14 (253) 1992
  • Conte A et al: Litera Rheum 14-35 1992
  • Hatulidoc N et al: Therm Res 44-845 (1988)
  • Pharmacological Approach to Glycosaminoglycans Drugs Exp. Clin. Res XVII (1) 9-20 (1991)
  • Maier R Wilhelm G: Neue Experimentelle Ergebnisse uber Korperdestuktion and Protektion: Der Kassenartz 22.6 1982
  • Jenore P et al: Lesion degeneratives du genou: Der informierte Arzt Gazette Medicinale 7: 1986
  • Glucosamine Salts and Chrondroitin Sulphates by Luke et al: Inner Path Nutrition Houston, Texas - Townsend letters for doctors, January 1994
  • Burkhard D. & Gohsoh P: Lab evaluation of anti-arthritic drugs as potential chondro protective agents: Sem. Arth Rheum. 17 (2) Supplement 1.3. 1987
  • Gross D et al: Sulfatmedikation zur Behandlung von Arthrosen Therapie Woche 33.4326. 1983
  • Crivelle et al. Der Informierte Arzt Gazette Medicinale 3. 1987


Shark Cartilage and Osteoporosis and Osteogenesis
Local application of CS preparation to the site of a removed bone fragment showed to speed up bone reformation. In 66 patients with confirmed osteoporosis, treatment with CS resulted in an increased Ca # pool, an increase in intestinal absorption, an increase in cation deposition in bones and a reduction in the speed of osteolysis. In alveolar osteolysis a daily dose of 1.5g showed regression of osteo lytic process. All patients reported less pain. In various forms of osteoporosis CS caused disappearance of spontaneous pressure and pain.

References:
  • Garzyn et al: Clin. Eur 25.2 1986
  • Saveriano et al: Clin. Eur 24.5 1985
  • Camus JP: Verification de action de acid chrondroitine. Laboritories Gremy Longuet Paris 1972


Shark Cartilage as an Antislecrotic Agent
CS has been studied extensively in humans as an antisclerotic agent with outstanding success. When CS was administered orally to humans for long periods, artherosclerotic changes were observed and death from cardiovascular disease was almost eliminated in arteriosclerotic patients.

References:
Morrison LM and Schjeide OA. Prevention and treatment of ischemic heart disease in human patients in coronary heart disease and the Mucopolysaccharides (Glycosaminocans) CC Thomas, Springfield, 1974, 185.
Teratogeneses
Pregnant rabid rats were given between 0.1-1g/kg with feed. They had a normal pregnancy. There was no malformation of fetus or the young. However a decrease of weight between 10-20% was observed compared with controls.
References:
Camus: Verification de action de acid chrondroitine. Laboratories Gremy Longuet Paris 1972.
Toxicity of CS
No technical possibility of defining LD50 of the product or simply singling out a minimum toxic dose. No toxicity at 100mg/kg given to rats for 5 days. Also no anaphylactic reaction seen nor any local dermal irritation or anaphylaxis.
References:
Camus: Verification de action de acid chrondroitine. Laboritories Gremy Longuet Paris 1972.
Shark Cartilage and Cancer
References:
  • Sharks don't get cancer
  • Sharks still don't get cancer


RECOMMENDED READING:
The Power of Cartilage - Dr. Stephen Holf M.D.

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