Key stages of Osteoarthritis

Understanding Tear, Flare and Repair

Tear, flare and repair is a chronic worsening of the joint health repair process, present in Osteoarthritis.

Over time, our joints experience normal wear and tear. This occurs as a natural part of life and is perfectly normal. Our bodies are equipped to deal with this, under normal circumstances, with a healthy joint repair process that can adequately repair the low-level damage to the cartilage in the joints, and keep them cushioned and moving freely.

Unfortunately, this process can become compromised over time as persistent damage and repair occurs. Without the capability to fully restore the cartilage, the repair of the joint is weakened, and successive instances of the 'tear, flare and repair' cycle lead to permanent destruction of the cartilage tissue in the joints.

The persistent inflammation present in arthritic or compromised joints exacerbates this, whilst also providing discomfort. This is amplified further as the process worsens, and the bone sites within the joint capsule come together, causing more pain for people experiencing these joint conditions.

Cartilage Remodelling Balance - The LithoLexal Effect

Imbalanced Cartilage Remodelling

In joints that are considered arthritic, there is a gradual decline in the overall levels and production rate of cartilage matrix proteoglycans and collagens, and an increase in the activity of pro-inflammatory mediators. The main cartilage matrix proteoglycan is Aggrecan, in addition to the presence of Versican, which is assumed to play a role in regulatory and growth factors of cartilage matrix.

Evidence has shown that some of the initial steps in cartilage degradation are directly linked to a decrease in the density of key proteoglycans. When the presence and density of the proteoglycan decreases, it exposes the cartilage to some of the more destructive factors associated with joint degradation, and at advanced stages, collagenous cartilage degradation is thought to be irreversible.

So, early intervention is clearly key. Enter LithoLexal Joint Health.

LithoLexal Joint Health is a unique proprietary combination of a bioactive, naturally based, marine extract (LithoLexal) combined with specific cartilage proteoglycans (Vercilexal), enriched with vitamin C and D and manganese.

It has been scientifically formulated to help reduce inflammation and support natural cartilage formation in patients with osteoarthritis by modifying the disease progression by downregulating proinflammatory cytokines, reducing joint inflammation by inhibiting the COX-2 pathway and preventing the depletion of proteoglycans in joint cartilage.