Whether they’re boiled or poached, scrambled or baked, over-hard or over-easy, with yolk or without, the ways in which to eat an egg are limitless.  And the thing eggs come in – the egg shell – are similarly multifaceted, whether they’re tossed at contests and fairs (the egg toss), smashed on siding and sidewalks (thanks to Halloween pranksters) or buried in baskets of treasure (the Easter egg hunt).

But the egg isn’t all about fun and games or satisfying hunger pangs.  Because according to recent research done on the incredible, edible egg, it could play a role in relieving pain.

The study, published in the journal Clinical Rheumatology, found that arthritis sufferers’ symptoms of joint pain were significantly reduced after supplementing with 500 milligrams of eggshell membrane.  The researchers assessed the severity of each participant’s pain threshold with an osteoarthritis index, as developed by the Western Ontario and McMasters Universities.

Before the researchers came to their ‘egg’cellent conclusions, they recruited 67 volunteers, all of them having osteoarthritis (the most common form of arthritis, as it happens).  Over a 60 day period, approximately half of them supplemented with natural eggshell extract, the other half supplemented with a placebo.

By the end of the 60-day trial, not only did those supplementing with the egg shell membrane have a greater range of motion (reduced stiffness in joints) and experience less pain, but the effects were better than prior investigations analyzing the effectiveness of glucosamine and chondroitin in pain relief.  Glucosamine and chondroitin dominate the joint health supplement market, as the $810 million in purchases attests (in 2005).

Now, there is something of a caveat to this study.  As the researchers point out, nearly half of the participants dropped out of the study before its completion (43 percent).  That means one of two things:  The effects of egg shell membrane could be even better, or they could be worse.  The answer to that question will only come with future analysis.

Arthritis is the most common cause of disability in America today, affecting an estimated 46 million, or one in every five people.  While it’s overwhelmingly diagnosed among those over the age of 65, it’s no respecter of age, affecting one in 250 children.  And while arthritis affects men and women of all shapes and sizes, the obese are much more likely to get arthritis than those who are overweight or of normal weight (61 percent increased risk for obese, 47 percent for overweight, and 30 percent for people of normal weight).

Thus, the best defense to arthritis is a good offense, as the old saying goes.  Simple things you can do now to prevent arthritis include regular stretching, maintaining a healthy weight level, and regular exercise (preferably moderate exercise that’s low impact).  Basically the same things you should be doing on a regular basis already.

Sources
nutraingredients.com
cdc.gov