A2M: The Protein that Protects Against Arthritis Pain
Arthritis is one of the most common health problems in the world today. Whether patients present with arthritic indicators due to injuries or aging, the pain can be downright debilitating when stemming from knees, lower back and in the wrist/hand area.
Many people managing joint pain due to arthritis are instructed to follow an anti-inflammatory diet. While sugar is a widely known cause of inflammation, even reducing consumption of dairy products and certain carbohydrates can relieve arthritis pain. But why? The key lies in the connection between what the body consumes and how it reacts. As an example, wheat contains gluten which is a protein that can aggravate arthritic joints. Dairy proteins can aid in digestion, but can produce a negative impact on inflamed joints.
Once the connection between the proteins in the body and their impact on inflammation has been made, it is far easier to understand one of the most promising treatments in the regenerative medicine space today – A2M. Alpha-2-Macroglobulin (A2M) is a natural inhibitor of inflammation and works as a natural shield which effectively protects cartilage from the proteins that can cause arthritis. A2M naturally occurs in very low concentrations which aren’t enough to neutralize the harmful compounds that are responsible for arthritis. A2M can be concentrated for medical use by utilizing advanced processing techniques.
A recent study lead by Dr. Li showed extremely encouraging results. By processing a small amount of a patient’s own blood, the plasma can be filtered down to an A2M concentrate which, when injected into an arthritic joint, can reduce cartilage erosion and the space between joints. During the study, Dr. Li’s team further observed that:
“Enhancing anti-inflammatory factors as a therapeutic means to reduce levels of inflammation may prevent joint damage and maintain joint function in inflammatory arthritis…Our results suggest that A2M can efficiently inhibit inflammation, attenuate cartilage damage and bone resorption.”
When used in conjunction with other regenerative therapies such as platelet rich plasma (PRP), A2M is proving to be an incredibly promising tool for those seeking relief from joint pain and those suffering with arthritis pain.
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