Which Type of Green Lipped Mussel Extract Is More Health Efficient?

Green lipped mussel extract can be found in various forms, from capsules and dietary powders to gels and topical ointments.

In humans, these products are generally used for healing arthritis and asthma symptoms, improving the functioning of the cardiovascular and immune systems and strengthening the muscles and bones. Then, these shellfish are used for producing foods and supplements for pets suffering from joint problems.

But despite having similar effects, gels and supplements containing green lipped mussel extract aren't always produced through the same methods, so let's take a look at the techniques used in manufacturing shellfish dietary supplements and creams and see how they influence the properties and benefits of GLM extracts.

The mussel powder

Dietary supplements that come as green lipped mussel powders are usually obtained through a special extraction technique which allows them to keep most of their active ingredients (around 90%) as long as the used shellfish is freshly harvested.

However, some producers use frozen or freeze-dried mussels in order to reduce the costs involved by importing fresh seafood and to prevent shellfish from getting altered during the transport. But the procedure of freezing the green lipped mussels affects their composition as lots of the ingredients contained by these shellfish are sensitive to extreme temperatures.

Then, some other components are destroyed when the mussels are defrosted and dried, so the final green lipped mussel extract in this situation is poorer in nutrients and active ingredients and provides less health benefits compared to the one obtained from fresh seafood.

The oil made from green lipped mussels

For obtaining the shellfish oil, most producers use an extraction technique that uses the mussel powder as raw material. Unfortunately, during the manufacturing process most of the ingredients in green lipped mussel powder are lost and only 8-10 percents of all the active principles are retained.

Obviously, the health efficiency of oils is also reduced compared to powders; studies show the anti-inflammatory properties of supplements made from GLM oil are 10-12.5 times less pronounced in comparison with those provided by supplements containing powder.

Gels containing green lipped mussel extract

Gels and topical ointments made of New Zealand shellfish contain, most of the times, GLM powder extracts together with additional amounts of glycosaminoglycans or chondroitin sulphates, substances that help in reducing the inflammations and promote the regeneration of the damaged tissues in arthritis sufferers.

But besides these components, green lipped mussel creams also include chemical substances which are meant to maintain the color, consistency and properties of the extracts and to ease the absorption of the gel into the skin's layers.

The particular composition of these products is obtained through more complicated techniques which unfortunately alter lots of the ingredients in raw green lipped mussels so again, the final product is less efficient compared to fresh shellfish when it comes to improving the overall health and reducing arthritis symptoms.

Thus, regardless of the method through which these supplements are obtained, green lipped mussel extract coming as powder is always more health efficient than oil or gel, as it provides higher amounts of antioxidants, chondroitin and glucosamine, substances involved in restoring the normal functionality and structure of arthritic joints.