Omega 5 Fatty Acids - cetyl myristoleate
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Immunodrin® Omega 5 is our proprietary blend of CFA's (cetylated fatty acids, cetyl myristoleate). It is clinically proven to maintain a healthy immune system and to promote a healthy immune response as well as to lubricate the joints. Synodrin compares it to the best lubricant for the joints. Immunodrin® is Synodrin's primary active ingredient in all of our joint health supplements, pain gels, and lidocaine cream.
Immunodrin® is an Omega 5 fat and is polyunsaturated. It is extracted from plants and can be more effective for some people than others. Synodrin's customers typically see improvements in mobility and reduced joint pain and stiffness within 2 weeks.
Omega 5 derived from healthy sources are believed to have a positive effect on cardiovascular health, blood sugar, and weight. Our bodies can produce Omega 5 fats on their own. As with most of our ingredients, you can get this ingredient from food. Common food sources of Omega 5 fatty acids are
- Full-fat/grass-fed dairy
- Tropical oils (unrefined, cold-pressed coconut and palm kernel)
- Saw palmetto
- Wild-caught salmon
- Macadamia nuts
- Pomegranate seeds
Studies indicate that Omega 5 interferes with the production of inflammatory prostaglandins and leukotrienes – which are credited with damaging the cardiovascular system. Omega 5 may also play a key role in the inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase, a mediator of inflammation. By acting in an anti-inflammatory capacity it helps promote an immune response in the body. The rationale is that the cause of your pain is your immune system attacking your joints. Once your immune system is supported, the attack on your joints should stop and the pain should be significantly relieved.
Omega 5 may also inhibit 5-lipoxygenase, a mediator of inflammation, thus, by acting in this capacity it helps to promote appropriate immune response in the body. Immunodrin Omega-5, our proprietary blend of CFAs, include cis - 9 - cetyl myristoleate, a compound synthesized from cetyl alcohol and mysristoleic acid. Myristoleic acid is found primarily in the seed oil from plants in the Myristicaceae genus, such as nutmeg. Studies have shown that this CFA is more effective when combined with glucosamine and other ingredients. With that in mind, Synodrin has developed what we believe is the most effective blend possible - IMMUNODRIN.
Clinical Findings
(The following is excerpted from Functional Foods & Nutraceuticals Magazine, March, 2002 )
Humberto Siemandi, M.D., Ph.D, conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in 1997 involving 382 patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. The patient group was selected to assess the effectiveness of CM against several rheumatic conditions.
One group of patients used 90g/day Cetyl Myristoleate (CM) complex containing 12 per cent CM. A second group took the same amount of CM complex plus glucosamine hydrochloride (GH), sea cucumber (SC) and hydrolysed cartilage (HC). The third group took a placebo.
Outcome was measured by patient response, physician assessment, joint pain, swelling scores and several measures of range of motion. Patients in the treated groups showed significant improvement in symptoms, especially after 60 days.
Patient and physician reports were similar: 63 per cent for the CM group; 87 per cent for the CM plus GH-SC-HC group; and 14 per cent for the placebo group. Many clinicians include glucosamine and chondroitin, which have been shown to improve arthritic symptoms, as part of a CM treatment protocol.
In 2000, researchers from the Genesis Center for Integrative Medicine in Washington state completed a six-week, open trial with CM complex. Thirteen pre-menopausal women diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis were treated with a 2,200mg/day oral dose of CM (15 per cent CM) for four weeks (total CM was 9.2g), followed by a two-week washout period. Researchers measured patient symptoms before supplementation, then at four weeks and again at six weeks (after a two-week washout period).
Arthritis symptoms were evaluated using the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale, which measures the patient's physical and psychological disability. Researchers also assessed hand-grip strength and associated inflammation. The trial participants experienced a 20 per cent reduction in pain, a 20 per cent increase in grip strength, and more than a 350 per cent improvement in their ability to complete household tasks. No change in inflammation rate was seen. Symptoms continued to improve even after the two-week washout period. Although this study was not published, the results are similar to those reported in 2001.
Raj Barathur, M.D., and colleagues conducted a large, double-blind, placebo-controlled study at the Medical Centre of Manipal, India. Results of this study were presented at the March—April 2001 meeting of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB). Sixty-four patients with chronic osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee were divided into two groups and evaluated three times during 68 days. Half of the patients were given three capsules twice daily containing 350mg of CM complex including 74mg of CM. The total amount of CM administered during the 68-day trial was 30 g. The other group of patients was given a vegetable oil placebo. Among the patients, a total of 37 joints were affected with OA. The McMaster Toronto Arthritis Patient Preference Questionnaire (MACTAR) was used to measure multi-joint function. Another test, Lequesne's Disease Severity Index (LDSI), identified knee pain, stiffness and loss of function related to OA of the knee. Physicians use a standard goniometer to measure loss or improvement of knee joint flexion. None of the patients was taking corticosteroids, had inflammatory or autoimmune arthritis or had had his or her gall bladder removed.
After 30 days, the CM group experienced a significant improvement in the MACTAR score (pre-15.6 and post-10.4) compared to the placebo group (pre-15.3 and post-13.1) and a reduction in the LDSI (pre-15.6 and post-10.6) compared with placebo (pre-15.8 and post-13.9). Greater ease of movement while performing activities such as walking and climbing stairs was also reported. Knee flexion motion range improved by 10.1 degrees compared to 1.1 degrees in the placebo group. These benefits continued after 60 days.
Absorption And Safety Of CM
Cetyl myristoleate appears to be a safe supplement and well tolerated by most patients, although there is no published information available on its absorption and metabolism. The digestibility of CM has been questioned, since some patients fail to respond and a few have reported digestive disturbances. Consequently, physicians may have advised taking high-lipase digestive enzymes to improve utilization. On the flipside is concern that hydrolysis of CM into cetyl alcohol and fatty acids in the gut might reduce its effectiveness.
Imagenetix, a marketer of CM products, sponsored an animal study at the University of Minnesota to help answer the question of digestion and absorption. Rats that had been on a purified diet for several days were divided into groups—one that continued on the diet and another that was fed chow containing two per cent CM. After two hours, the stomach and intestinal contents of the rats were collected and the intestinal mucosa scraped. Lipids were extracted, separated by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and hydrolysis was evaluated by the presence of cetyl alcohol. No cetyl alcohol was found in any sample from the rats that ate the CM-free chow. In those eating the CM diet, no cetyl alcohol was found in the stomach, intestinal contents or mucosa, indicating hydrolysis had not taken place. However, intact CM was found inside mucosal cells, demonstrating absorption.
While CM is capable of absorption in rats as an intact molecule, dietary and environmental factors may impair its absorption in humans. Presumably, that's why some people who don't respond well to oral CM may get better results with topical.
In an independent study, Hungarian researchers performed an initial dose range-finding toxicity study with rats. Four groups of 10 rats each (five male, five female) were given varying amounts of CM orally for seven days. One group served as controls and the other three groups received 500mg/kg body weight, 1,000mg/kg or 2,000mg/kg daily. None of the animals suffered any ill effects.9
A full 90-day subacute oral toxicity study followed in October 2000. Researchers gave 20 male and 20 female rats 600mg CM/kg body weight—a dose 10 times higher than what is recommended for humans. Test animals did not differ from controls in development, growth, weight gain or blood parameters. No toxicity symptoms were observed; even the highest doses were not lethal.9
Conclusions
CM appears to be safe both on the basis of animal studies and the absence of adverse reactions reported by patients.
Researchers have yet to prove cetyl myristoleate is the answer for arthritis, but it does appear to provide relief to some. CM is a promising ingredient considering the prevalence of arthritis, but more research and consistent raw materials are needed before this product sees success.
Marcia Zimmerman, CN, who wrote this article is also the author of Eat Your Colors: Maximize Your Health by Eating the Right Foods for Your Body Type (Henry Holt & Co., 2001).
1. Patents (4,049,824) Cetyl Myristoleate, May 3, 1976; (4,113,881) Method of Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis, September 12, 1978; (5,569,676) Method for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis, October, 29, 1996.
2. Diehl HW, May EL. Cetyl myristoleate isolated from Swiss albino mice: an apparent protective agent against adjuvant arthritis in rats. J Pharma Sci 1994 Mar;83:296-9. 3. Personal communication with Charles Cochran, D.C. January, 2002.
4. Siemandi H. The effect of cis-9-cetyl myristoleate (CMO) and adjunctive therapy on Arthritis and Auto-Immune Disease. Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients 1997 Aug/Sep; 58-63.
5. McAlindon T. Glucosamine and chondroitin for treatment of osteoarthritis: a systematic quality assessment and meta-analysis. JAMA 2000 Mar15;283(11):1469-75.
6. Barrager E. An open trial investigating the efficacy of cetyl-myristoleate complex (CMS) in the reduction of symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Genesis Centre for Integrative Medicine, Graham, Wash. 2000 Jul. (unpublished).
7. Barathur R, et al. A fatty acid ester complex (CMC) improves quality of life outcomes in osteoarthritis (OA) patients. FASEB J 2001;15:A265.
8. Gallaher DD, et al. Digestion and metabolism of cetylated fatty acids in rats. University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minn, 2001 (unpublished).
9. Somfai-Relle S, et al. Seven-day oral dose-range finding toxicity study of cetyl-myristoleate complex powder (CMC) in rats. Pharmaceutical Control and Development Laboratory Co., Ltd. Budapest, Hungary. 2000 Jul. (unpublished).
Synodrin's proprietary blend of Omega 5 CFAs, Immunodrin®, is considered to be safe and Omega 5 fatty acids are good for your heart, weight and blood sugar.
We have very rarely in our years of producing this product had anyone say they experienced side effects. When they did, they almost always had other medical issues like dialysis or another major medical condition. If you do experience an adverse reaction, we want to know about it. We also offer a money back guarantee so that you can try our product with as little risk as possible. But as always, we urge you to consult a physician if you have questions or specific needs.
Health Disclaimer
Any statements on this site or any materials or supplements distributed or sold by Synodrin ® have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have any medical condition. We suggest consulting with a physician before using any of our products. The results on all products are not typical and not everyone will experience these results.