Bioiberica will present Oralvisc, a patented formula of glycosaminoglycans (hyaluronic acid and dermatan sulfate) and vitamin C intended to improve joint discomfort in overweight individuals, at Vitafoods 2017.
The company is a biotechnology company specialising in the research, production and distribution of biomolecules such us Chondroitin sulphate, Glucosamine, Heparin and Hyaluronic Acid.
“Obesity is a demonstrated risk factor for osteoarthritis,” said Daniel Martinez, Bioiberica Human Health R&D Director.
“It has traditionally been thought that the relationship between overweight and this disease was only due to mechanical overload factors, which caused a greater wear of weight-bearing joints such as the knees or hips.
“However, this does not explain why, for example, hand or elbow osteoarthritis is more common in obese people.”
Leptin
Martinez has presented new scientific evidence explaining the relationship between excess weight and osteoarthritis and the role of leptin.
Leptin is a hormone secreted by the adipocytes (fat cells) that regulates the body's energy metabolism. When there is a greater percentage of body fat, a greater quantity of leptin is released into the bloodstream.
This causes an inflammatory response in the joints, which then increases the risk of developing osteoarthritis.
“We know that metabolic factors associated to overweight also influence development of osteoarthritis and that high leptin levels contribute to joint inflammation and cartilage destruction. This is why leptin regulation is important,” said Martinez.
In clinical trial
In a clinical trial, treatment with Oralvisc as a nutritional supplement proved to be effective for the management of osteoarthritis in obese people.
It reduced levels of leptin and all pro-inflammatory mediators tested both in serum and synovial fluid.
After three months, patients treated showed significant reduction in joint pain from the second month of treatment and improvements in joint function, as measured with the WOMAC index.
“75% of people with osteoarthritis are overweight, a condition that has alarmingly increased in the last decades in developed countries,” said Martinez.
“In addition, 61% of menopausal women suffer joint pain because during menopause, women gain an average of 3–5kg.”
Bioiberica will be at Vitafoods 2017 on Stand F51.
On Thursday 9 May at 12:50pm, Daniel Martinez will present: “Innovative and scientifically proven ingredients for joint health and mobility” in the Innovation Theatre.
