Green-lipped mussel extract?
Otherwise called green orb mussels or Perna canaliculus, green mussels are molluscs native to New Zealand and which are - as their name so well suggests - mussels with green shells.
Since time immemorial, these mussels have been part of the diet of Màori living on the coast and whose effects have been studied by researchers since the 1960s.
Nowadays and in our latitudes, we find the famous green mussel marketed in the form of extracts in capsules or oil in capsules and used as a natural food supplement intended to reduce inflammatory phenomena and relieve painful joints in dogs.
Perna canaliculus, a natural anti-inflammatory against joint pain
Although all the scientific studies do not validate the therapeutic effectiveness of the green mussel, there are nevertheless strong presumptions as to its anti-inflammatory properties, useful for relieving joint pain in dogs and in particular those which are linked to osteoarthritis.
Perna Canaliculus owes its anti-inflammatory effects to its omega-3 content. As for its benefits on joint he alth, they would come from its richness in chondroitin sulphate, amino acids (glutamine), vitamins (E and C) and minerals (zinc, copper, manganese). These nutrients are called "chondroprotectors" : they have the reputation of acting in concert to protect cartilage and help regenerate joint tissue damaged by inflammation.
Its absence of contraindications and side effects means that green mussel extract can be given to a dog with joint pain in addition to conventional or alternative drug treatment prescribed by a doctor. veterinary.Beforehand, it is obviously necessary to check that the dog in question does not have a seafood allergy.
How to choose the right green mussel extract?
As with any product, there are different qualities of green mussel extracts on the market. It is then up to the consumer to take care to properly decipher the labels before making any purchase.
So be careful to choose a product made in New Zealand, the only place in the world where the precious green mussels are found. This place of manufacture will thus guarantee that the mussels used are fresh enough so that their components of interest - omega-3, vitamins and chondroprotectors - are not already altered at the time of the manufacture of the product.
Similarly, be careful when choosing a dietary supplement:
- from a cold extraction process, more respectful of the compounds of interest in the mussel which degrade under heat,
- intended for human consumption (and not of quality for human consumption, nuance!), whose manufacturing processes are much better controlled than animal supplements.
Green-lipped mussel extract is marketed as a powder sold in bulk, in capsules or in tablets and as an oil in capsule or gel.
Better choose the capsules that protect the green mussel extract from oxygen and heat (by placing them in the refrigerator) which are known to degrade the interesting components of the product.
Photo credit: Richard Giddins from London, UK [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]