What Is Biolane and What Are Its Benefits for Joint Health?

Derived from New Zealand, and better known as green-lipped mussel extract, Biolane is a promising potential solution for joint issues, reducing pain and inflammation to improve functionality and mobility. Biolane is known for its high omega-3 fatty acid content as well as its combination of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), bioactive peptides, and vital minerals. But those with joint issues have a few questions, such as: what is it that makes Biolane a standout choice for joint health, how does the supplement work, and how can those with joint pain incorporate it into their routines?

Understanding Biolane: New Zealand Green-Lipped Mussel Extract

Biolane is a natural extract of New Zealand green-lipped mussels (also known as greenshell mussels or by the scientific name Perna canaliculus). Biolane is also a time-tested supplement ingredient, as it was the first extract of green-lipped mussels that was available on the market, first used almost half a century ago. 

Biolane is extracted from green-lipped mussels using a highly specialized freeze-drying process that maintains the bioactivity of its ingredients and thus maximizes its benefits. The beneficial components are preserved through this process and include carbohydrate and protein fractions as well as omega-3 fatty acids, beneficial glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), lipids, amino acids (the building blocks that make up proteins), and essential minerals.

How Biolane Supports Joint Health

New Zealand green-lipped mussel benefits are thought to specifically extend to joint health, as well as more general anti-inflammatory effects. Scientists are still in the process of researching how, exactly, green-lipped mussel extract exerts these benefits. However, one of the strongest hypotheses attributes the benefits to the extract’s high concentration of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, which have demonstrated compelling anti-inflammatory properties and are believed to help to maintain the structure and functionality of joint cells. Green-lipped mussel extract may also show antioxidant activity, with its bioactive peptides “scavenging” and neutralizing free radicals to possibly reduce their inflammatory effects; this is likely an additional factor in its ability to reduce joint pain and inflammation while improving joint function. 

In a study of green-lipped mussel extract’s effects in rats, the supplement was found to reduce not only pain and inflammation but also destruction of cartilage, localized catabolism of the joints (i.e., breakdown), and joint injury.

Who Can Benefit from Biolane?

Biolane is thought to be useful in many - but not all - cases of joint inflammation. Interestingly, while green-lipped mussel supplements such as Biolane may have notable benefits for symptoms of osteoarthritis, the supplement apparently does not have evidence supporting its use in those with rheumatoid arthritis. 

More specifically, in several clinical trials of six to 47 participants which lasted between three and six months, it appeared that green-lipped mussel had no more of an effect than placebo for those with rheumatoid arthritis. By contrast, It appears that in several trials with 30 to 80 participants, green-lipped mussel extract (taken in combination with painkillers such as NSAIDs) may have had more benefits than a placebo in minimizing pain and increasing function and quality of life for those with osteoarthritis. Eighty-seven percent of those who took green-lipped mussel powder (which is the form also found in Biolane) seemed to demonstrate significant improvement in response to this supplementation. (Interestingly, the powder form was thought to be slightly more effective than the lipid extract form, which may have led to significant improvements for 73 percent of the study participants.)

Who Should Not Take Biolane?

Although green-lipped mussel extract, such as Biolane, is considered to be safe for most people, there are several groups of people who should avoid taking this supplement. The first is those with shellfish allergies, since green-lipped mussels are a form of shellfish that may trigger allergic reactions in this group. In addition, because there is insufficient safety information in those who are pregnant or lactating, these individuals should also not take Biolane. Those who take blood thinners may also need to avoid Biolane, as it may interact with this class of medications. Keep in mind that supplementing with green-lipped mussel extract may cause mild side effects, including gastrointestinal upset (i.e., nausea and flatulence).

How to Incorporate Biolane Into Your Routine

The easiest way to incorporate Biolane into your supplement routine may be by taking a joint supplement that contains this extract. The best supplement for joint health is thought to be Body Kitchen ProMobility, which contains a combination of Biolane as well as two other potent ingredients that are thought to have definitive benefits for joint health: FruiteX-B® calcium fructoborate and AprèsFlex® boswellia serrata extract.

How ProMobility Works

Body Kitchen ProMobility is believed to improve the health of the joints by several key mechanisms. The first is that the supplements’ ingredients help to reduce the breakdown of cartilage in the joints, which is essential for proper joint function and for minimizing joint pain. The second is that it may support the body’s innate ability to maintain and regrow joint tissue such as cartilage and connective tissue. It may do so by neutralizing inflammatory enzymes that contribute to joint deterioration. As a result, those who take ProMobility may experience reduction in stiffness and pain as well as experience an increase in the range of motion of their joints and in their full-body flexibility.

About the Other Ingredients in Body Kitchen ProMobility

Besides Biolane green-lipped mussel extract, Body Kitchen ProMobility also incorporates two additional ingredients also thought to have anti-inflammatory benefits for the joints as well as the entire body.

The first is FruiteX-B® calcium fructoborate, a patented synthetic form of this mineral complex, which incorporates boron, calcium, and fructose. Also known as a sugar borate, since it contains a boron atom attached to sugar molecules, the natural form of this synthetic compound is found in various plants. Especially when taken on a consistent basis for at least three months, FruiteX-B® is estimated to improve joint comfort and reduce pain by 87 percent, with more than ten years’ worth of research to support its effectiveness and minimal side effects. In addition to its possible benefits for joint pain, it may also help to reduce inflammation throughout the body, balance levels of blood lipids, support cancer treatment, and reduce symptoms of osteoporosis.

The second ingredient in Body Kitchen ProMobility is AprèsFlex®, which is a patented form of two extracts that are derived from the boswellia serrata tree (originally used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine). A total of four high quality, double-blind clinical trials have shown that AprèsFlex® may have reduced symptoms of arthritis (especially osteoarthritis), lower levels of systemic inflammation, and minimized overall joint pain. In one of these studies, six months of supplementation with AprèsFlex® may have reduced joint stiffness by a whopping 72 percent, and it also seems to have improved joint comfort by 70 percent. One of the most impressive features of boswellia serrata extract is how quickly it seems to start working, beginning to possibly relieve symptoms of joint pain after just five days of taking AprèsFlex®. It is thought to also begin to work at doses as low as 100 mg per day, which is the dosage found in Body Kitchen ProMobility.

Talk to Your Doctor Before Starting Any Supplement

When taken at safe, evidence-based doses, the ingredients found in Body Kitchen ProMobility tend to be well-tolerated for most people. However, it is important to speak with a qualified medical professional before you begin taking a supplement such as ProMobility. A doctor who is familiar with your medical situation and any specific health conditions you may have is the only one who can safely advise on whether this supplement will be beneficial for you and whether it is likely to interact with any of your prescription medications.

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