Shark Cartilage for Arthritis

Often touted as a miracle cure, shark cartilage is available in stores and can be a little expensive. A lot of research has gone into showing that the use of shark cartilage gives relief to people with joint problems, however there is not much scientific data to prove it. In the early 1990s there was a TV report which spoke about sharks not getting cancer, and since that time there have been many studies to see the other qualities of sharks. The shark's skeletal structure is made of strong cartilage, which is rich in nutrients. Exploiting this factor there are many health supplements which boast that shark cartilage in their products are beneficial to humans.

Cartilage is a connective tissue and in most animals when they grow it turns into bones, but in sharks their structure is made up cartilage. The only cells that are found in a cartilage are chondrocytes and collagen, protein and sugar are some of the other compounds of a cartilage. Studies have claimed that shark cartilage is beneficial in reducing inflammation and helps people with arthritis problems. The benefits of shark cartilage also extend towards facilitating free joint movement.

Shark cartilage is used because it is thought to have components that boost the immune system. The cartilage from the shark also has amino acids and minerals which are beneficial for humans. Some of the other things that it contains are glycosaminoglycans and mucopolysaccharides, these are used by the body to heal torn ligaments and rejuvenate tissue. Ingredients that decrease pain and improve the range of movement in joints are glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, and these are available in shark cartilage for joint relief. Shark cartilage supplement has also been known to be effective against swelling and reduces the progression of osteoarthritis.

Some experiments that have shown that shark cartilage is effective are :

• There have been studies to see, can shark cartilage cure arthritis, but these have been done on small scales. In one experiment out of the 20 people who were given shark cartilage capsules for joint pain relief, 18 claimed immediate relief which lasted for a period of six weeks and more. Two people claimed they had some relief from their arthritis problem.
• Another study which used cartilage injections on 30 patients along with regular medicines and gave 30 people a placebo along with their regular medicine. Almost 90 percent of the people who were given the injection claimed that their condition improved, while only 5 percent claimed that their condition got better from the group which was given a placebo.

Shark Cartilage Side Effects

In complementary medicine, shark cartilage is used in powder or capsule forms, although in some places it is also available in paste form. It is not a medication and hence you will not need a prescription to buy it. There are no known serious side effects of this supplement but there have been instances when people have experienced stomach pain and nausea after taking shark cartilage supplements. Cartilage is thought to block the formation of blood vessels and can be effective against tumors but can also be dangerous for pregnant women and people with blood pressure problems. People have also experienced skin rash and other allergies after they started taking shark cartilage. It is also advisable not to take these supplements if you have heart and kidney problems and cartilage is also known to raise calcium levels in the blood.

Although, there is very less scientific data to conclusively prove that shark cartilage is effective, there are people who swear by the benefits of shark cartilage.