Poor joint health is a significant burden to society. Millions of people suffer from some form of joint-related disorder or disease, most often osteoarthritis (OA). It was hypothesized that chicken eggshell membrane (EM) is effective in the regeneration of cartilage and/or immunomodulation (oral tolerance), and as such relieves pain and stiffness in joints commonly affected in arthritis. We tested this hypothesis in a double-blind, placebo-controlled EM intervention study. Of 150 male and female volunteers, 40–75 years of age and diagnosed with knee OA, 75 were randomly assigned to the EM intervention group and 75 to the placebo group. During 12 weeks, subjects received a daily capsule containing either 300 mg of EM or a placebo. The main primary dependent variable consisted of self-reported pain ratings on a Numerical Rating Scale Pain (NRS-P) 6 weeks after study start. As secondary dependent variables served NRS-P scores collected after 12 weeks, and Knee injury and self-reported Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores [KOOS]). NRS-P scores decreased for both groups at approximately the same rate, but only EM relieved self-reported pain scores obtained with the KOOS questionnaire starting 1 week after initiation of treatment. This effect was significant for two of five KOOS category scores, that is, “Pain” and “Daily Life” functioning, aggregate pain, and functioning scores composed of complaint ratings for a wide variety of daily activities. These scores showed long-lasting improvement, and demonstrated that EM extract successfully reliefs knee OA pain and contributes to daily life functioning.

中文翻译：

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轻度处理的天然蛋壳膜可缓解与膝骨关节炎相关的关节痛：随机双盲安慰剂对照研究

关节健康不良是社会的重大负担。数以百万计的人患有某种形式的与关节有关的病症或疾病，最常见的是骨关节炎（OA）。据推测，鸡蛋壳膜（EM）在软骨再生和/或免疫调节（口服耐受性）方面有效，因此减轻了通常受关节炎影响的关节的疼痛和僵硬。我们在一项双盲，安慰剂对照的EM干预研究中验证了这一假设。在150名年龄在40-75岁之间且被诊断患有膝关节炎的男性和女性志愿者中，有75名被随机分配到EM干预组，而75名被随机分配到安慰剂组。在12周内，受试者每天接受包含300 mg EM或安慰剂的胶囊。研究开始后6周，主要的主要因变量包括在数字评分量表疼痛（NRS-P）上自我报告的疼痛评分。作为次要因变量，提供了12周后收集的NRS-P评分以及膝关节损伤和自我报告的骨关节炎结果评分（膝关节损伤和骨关节炎结果评分[KOOS]）。两组的NRS-P评分均以大致相同的速度降低，但只有EM可以缓解患者在开始治疗后1周内通过KOOS问卷获得的自我报告的疼痛评分。对于五个KOOS类别得分中的两个得分，此效果非常显着，即“疼痛”和“日常生活”的功能，总体疼痛以及由各种日常活动的投诉评分组成的功能得分。这些分数显示出持久的进步，