If you know me, you know I often refer to the comprehensive system of components that make up the integrated “organ” of the joint.  When people ask me about treating joint soreness in their horse, I tell them that there are a few joint support formulas available in today’s market and understanding the integrated workings of the joint will help them choose the right one.  As a veterinarian of many years, and a competitive rider, the reason I formulate Myristol the way I do is because I absolutely believe it to be the most effective, proven mix of the finest ingredients available. It was designed to optimize the activity of four different ingredients that have been shown to support joint health in a broad spectrum approach. This combination of ingredients targets the many different challenges to joint health, rather than simply having an effect on isolated components of the problem.

Cetyl Myristoleate

Cetyl myristoleate (CM) is a monounsaturated omega 5 fatty acid with strong anti-inflammatory effects.  The more commonly known omega 3 fatty acids (polyunsaturated fatty acids or PUFA’s) help regulate production of prostaglandins, naturally occurring compounds that have strong physiological effects.  One of these prostaglandins, known as PGE2, is a major component of the inflammatory process that takes place in joints.  

Cetyl myristoleate seems to exert a stronger anti-inflammatory effect toward joint inflammation than do the omega 3’s, and in a human clinical trial it was shown to significantly improve knee joint function in people with osteoarthritis.  CM is also thought to modulate the effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inhibit the action of 5-lipoxygenase, a potent mediator of inflammation.  Another difference between the effects of PUFA’s and CM is that CM appears to have much longer lasting effects, which may derive from a reprogramming of T cells (lymphocytes) that have become involved in the inflammatory process.

Glucosamine

Glucosamine HCL is an amino sugar that is a precursor or building block for the matrix glycosaminoglycans (GAG’s) that gives articular cartilage its stiffness and ability to bear weight. The efficacy of glucosamine has been documented in numerous human and animal studies.

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)

MSM is a sulfur source, which is an important component of the matrix GAG’s. MSM also has anti-inflammatory properties and was shown to improve clinical signs associated with knee osteoarthritis in a human clinical trial.  MSM is also linked with efficacy at relieving muscle discomfort.

Hydrolyzed Collagen

Hydrolyzed collagen is a mixture of short and long chain amino acids that provides the building blocks for production of the specialized type II collagen present only in articular cartilage. The hydrolyzed collagen used in Myristol has been shown to stimulate chondrocytes (cartilage cells) to produce more of the specialized type II collagen that is unique to articular cartilage.

Promutase

The Promutase in Myristol PRO is an antioxidant blend of superoxide dismutase and catalase.  In an equine study using exercising racehorses, feeding this ingredient blend resulted in significantly lower muscle enzyme levels circulating in the blood stream over horses given a placebo.  This suggests that the antioxidant blend helped prevent damage to muscle cells that takes place during vigorous exercise.  This could be beneficial to horses that tend to develop muscle soreness or in those with a tendency to develop exertional myositis (tying-up syndrome).

This blend of joint health ingredients for Myristol was chosen so that numerous aspects of the joint disease or joint inflammation process were addressed.  The inflammation that results in the soreness and discomfort of joint inflammation is addressed by using cetyl myristoleate, and the support for the tissues that keep the articular cartilage biomechanically strong are provided by glucosamine, hydrolyzed collagen and MSM.  The other major musculoskeletal tissue involved in exercise is the skeletal muscle, and Promutase was added to help protect muscle tissue during exercise, and to improve recovery after exercise.