Collagen to reverse Arthritis, heart Disease - Glucosamine Chondroitin alternative

I am taking Collagen type II on a regular basis.

Pain in my knees used to be unbearable, but after starting on that specific Collagen, there has been a pain reduction about 40-50%, putting it in the bearable range. I use other pain alternatives, in previous posts - this post is about my research on Collagen type 2, still in the "to be tested further league of nutritional medicine supplements"
I find it completely invaluable

This is excerpted from
http://www.springboard4health.com/books_online/collagen/collagen_typeII.html

According to the latest statistics, 50 million Americans suffer from some form of arthritis, common symptoms of severe pain, loss of range of motion, and a diminished quality of life.

The author of "Jaws for Life, the Story of Shark Cartilage." writes:


When people suffer from arthritis, there is a selective destruction of collagen type II in the joint cartilage itself. Scientists know that this particular component of cartilage is being attacked by white blood cells and somehow this activates the immune system in the rheumatoid arthritic patient to develop antibodies to collagen type II. This then sets up an immune response to all of the cartilage that is degenerating in the body. Thus, both wrists hurt, both knees hurt, the hips, the back, etc. In osteoarthritis, we have a wear and tear type of destruction of the cartilage with the release of soluble collagen type II, but without the immune response

There are 14 different kinds of collagen , but the primary collagen, the most predominant one, the most medicinal collagen, is collagen type II. If derived from chicken cartilage, it has greatest number of anti-inflammatory and joint supporting proteoglycans, include glucosamine sulfate which has over 30 years of studies indicating it actually helps rebuild cartilage in arthritis joints.
It also contains a high concentration of chondroitin sulfate A, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory and also supports the joint tissue. These two components are in highest concentration in chickens compared to any other cartilage source.
In addition, collagen type II also contains a powerful, newly discovered antioxidant proteoglycan called cartilage matrix glycoprotein (CMGP), which can help reduce the oxidative damage to the joint. In addition to these new discoveries, there are other ingredients in collagen type II that make it more effective than just taking glucosamine or chondroitin by themselves.

Another advantage of collagen type II over cartilage is that it is much more absorbable, Researchers demonstrated about 8% absorption of ground cartilage, whereas the components of collagen type II are at 70 to 90 percent.
This means considerably less collagen type II has to be taken in comparison to cartilage. Most people have to take 9 to 12 grams of cartilage in order to get a response, whereas with collagen type II as little as two grams, and more commonly three to four grams, are quite sufficient.

When a person who has arthritis begins to take collagen type II, they should wait of a period of four to eight weeks before they make a decision as to whether or not the product is working. It takes this length of time in most people to get significant results. I have seen some individuals eliminate pain within one week, but this is the exception, not the rule. Collagen type II is available in 500 mg. capsules. It should be taken in divided doses throughout the day - 20 minutes before eating, preferably with a small amount of orange juice as this improves absorption. In lieu of the fact that there are no side effects with collagen type II, this would seem to be the product of choice when suffering from any form of arthritic condition.