Bone density and cartilage
Globally, hip fractures in men and women are expected to increase by 310% and 240% respectively by 2050. The combined lifetime risk of hip, forearm and spine fractures is nearly 40%, which is comparable to the lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease . The lifetime risk of hip fracture for unmarried women is 1 in 6, while the lifetime risk of breast cancer is 1 in 9. In Europe, disability caused by osteoporosis is more common than disability caused by cancer. The main disadvantages of treatments related to osteoporosis are the high cost and the unpleasant side effects. In addition to osteoporosis, osteoarthritis affects approximately 12% of the population in the United States.
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It comes as no surprise that maintaining healthy bones is important. A good diet and a healthy lifestyle are indispensable in this. However, there is a lot of evidence that shilajit, a traditional Ayurvedic medicine associated with various health benefits, has a direct impact on maintaining and improving bone density and cartilage production.
Bone density
In 2016 an important study was done for this called: “Shilajit extract reduces oxidative stress, inflammation, and bone loss to dose-dependently preserve bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with osteopenia: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial”. A 'double blind study' means that some of the participants receive a placebo who do not know this, and that the researchers do not know who receives a placebo and who does not. In this study, 60 postmenopausal women between 45 and 65 years old with osteopenia (bone loss) were treated for 48 weeks in 3 groups. Group 1 received a placebo, group 2 received 250mg Shilajit daily and group 3 received 500mg Shilajit daily.
In this study, bone density was measured at weeks 0, 24, and 48 in the lumbar spine (lower back) and femoral neck. Circulating markers of bone turnover were measured at weeks 0, 12, 24, 48. In case you don't know what bone turnover is: Bone turnover is a lifelong process involving bone resorption followed by replacement with new bone that has little to no shape change. Calcium is transferred from bone fluid to the bloodstream by osteoclasts dissolving bone (bone resorption).
Following the results, it was found that the placebo group had a progressive deterioration in bone density and turnover. Both groups receiving Shilajit saw a dramatic improvement in bone density and turnover compared to baseline measurements at week 0.
Shilajit's improvements are attributable to reducing the accelerated bone turnover, inflammation and oxidative stress that occur with estrogen deficiency. Especially in women at higher risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures, daily supplementation with Shilajit promotes bone density in postmenopausal women with osteopenia.
Cartilage
The study "Potential pharmaceutic effect of Shilajit (mumie) on experimental osteoarthritis in rat" from 2018 examined Shilajit's potential to treat osteoarthritis. The study was conducted on rats with osteoarthritis that were divided into two groups. One group was treated with Shilajit and the other group served as a control group.
The results showed that the rats treated with Shilajit had significantly less pain and inflammation than the control group. In addition, the cartilage abnormalities and loss of cartilage surface in the treated group were also significantly reduced compared to the control group. These results suggest that Shilajit could potentially be used as an effective treatment for osteoarthritis.
The study also showed that Shilajit had a positive effect on the antioxidant status and blood cholesterol levels of the rats, contributing to the overall health of the body. The study concludes that Shilajit may be a promising treatment option for osteoarthritis and further studies are needed to explore its potential clinical applications.
Having study "Accelerating effect of Shilajit on osteogenic property of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs)" is about the effect of Shilajit on bone health.
This study looked at the effects of Shilajit on osteogenic properties (The formation of new bone tissue) of mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs). Researchers investigated whether Shilajit can contribute to faster healing of bone fractures by promoting the osteoblast differentiation of ASCs. Osteoblast differentiation is the process by which certain cells in our body turn into cells that help make our bone. These cells are called "osteoblasts" and help keep our bone strong and healthy. The research focused specifically on the combination of Shilajit with a hydrogel called alginate, which has a beneficial property for tissue engineering.
The study shows that Shilajit promoted osteoblast differentiation of ASCs in 3D cultures encapsulated in alginate, compared to 2D cultures with or without osteogenic medium. This is a liquid that contains certain substances that ensure that stem cells can change into bone cells. It is a kind of "food" that the stem cells need to grow and develop into bone cells. The results tell us that Shilajit not only has an osteoinductive effect, but also enhances the effectiveness of the osteogenic medium.
The results of this study are in line with previous studies showing that Shilajit can prevent osteoclastogenesis, the process by which osteoclasts are formed. These cells break down bone tissue. Preventing or stopping this process therefore ensures a higher bone density. It has also been shown that Shilajit can stimulate osteoblast differentiation and promote mineralization.
That is important to mention shilajit is a source of calcium, magnesium and biological macromolecules such as proteins, amino acids, nucleic acids and tides, carbohydrates and lipids, including collagen, an important protein for osteogenesis. Shilajit promotes osteogenesis through the stimulation of anabolic activities, such as increasing the synthesis of proteins, nucleic acids and transporting minerals in bone tissue.
Conclusion
The research showed that Shilajit contributes to the osteogenic properties of mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue, and that the combination of Shilajit with alginate can serve as a suitable material for tissue engineering and controlled drug delivery in regenerative medicine. Shilajit can promote osteoblast differentiation, improve bone mineralization, prevent osteoclastogenesis and support general health. Shilajit's potential for use in regenerative medicine is promising and therefore deserves further research and development.
Disclaimer:
The information provided in these blogs is based on third party research and sources. We have not conducted these studies ourselves and therefore cannot take responsibility for the accuracy, reliability or validity of the information.
In addition, we expressly state that the content of these blogs does not contain any health claims or guarantees. The information provided should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified health care professional before making any decisions based on the information in these blogs.