Managing Arthritis Pain and Discomfort: Why Mitochondrial Health Matters

By Dr. Eric Pearson, Chief Medical Officer, Vetirus Pharmaceuticals

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, a chronic disease of aging. Effective and safe long-term treatment for most OA patients is not available, creating a large unmet medical need. It is estimated that more than 150 million people globally suffer from OA. Many of the symptoms of OA are often overlooked or shrugged off as merely “getting old”. The truth is that Osteo Arthritis of the knee affects roughly 12% of all people 60 years or older, and this is just the tip of the iceberg in both undiagnosed and diagnosed arthritic conditions. As the population ages, the number of people with arthritis is projected to grow substantially. The Center for Disease Control is estimating that by 2030, in the U.S. alone, more than 67 million people will have physician diagnosed arthritis. The majority of these people will have OA.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease that causes progressive pain, loss of function, and in many cases, variable levels of disability. It mainly affects individuals over 60. Notable symptoms of OA include the degradation of cartilage, formation of bone spurs and cysts, loss of joint fluid and local and systemic inflammation. The destruction of cartilage plays the most important role in the course of OA. Articular cartilage is comprised of chondrocytes and extracellular matrix. Preventing these chondrocytes from damage is a key factor to the integrity of articular cartilage. Studies have regarded inflammatory response to be the primary cause of chondrocytes injuries and there is growing evidence regarding the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in OA and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Joint dysfunction and pain are the most common characteristics of all forms of arthritis. Mitochondria are both targets and sources of inflammation -associated injury in the synovial membrane, hence injury and death of synoviocytes trigger the release of pro-inflammatory mediators and the activation of inflammatory cells.

While OA has been viewed as a disease of increased joint stress due to heavy load bearing (excessive weight and obesity), recent scientific progress is pointing towards chronic inflammation as the driving factor in OA disease progression. As many healthy, younger patients are developing OA years after acute sports-related injuries, it became evident that more than simple overweight issues contribute to disease pathobiology.

Current treatments for OA include anti-inflammatories such as corticosteroids; non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) including Celebrex, ibuprofen (Motrin), and Naproxen (Aleve); pain relievers including acetaminophen (Tylenol) and opioids (Tramadol). While short-term partial relief is achieved with steroidal treatments, diminished long-term benefits and significant adverse events prevent long term dosing. Likewise, currently available NSAIDS offer anti-inflammatory action but have

unacceptable long-term adverse side effects including risks of bleeding, gastric ulcers, liver and kidney damage and cardiovascular events. Pain relievers such as acetaminophen have risks of liver toxicity and opioids, of course, are not suitable for long term administration. Ultimately, effective treatment of OA requires a safer, multi-faceted anti-inflammatory molecule able to affect a multitude of OA-related mechanisms with minimal or no adverse effects when used over long time periods. Astaxanthin (ASTX) is that molecule.

ASTX localizes into the mitochondria significantly decreasing oxidative stress while stabilizing the mitochondrial membranes. This stabilizing effect on the mitochondrial membranes has been shown using electron microscopy. (Dr. Mason Preston of Harvard University discovered this). This leads to decreased pro-apoptotic (cell death) mediators and increased anti-apoptotic (cell death) Stabilization of mitochondria and inhibition of these pathways will prolong cell life and contribute to joint matrix maintenance. Likewise, ASTX has been shown to upregulate PGC-1α, a master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis, as well as critical metabolic regulators such as CPT-1. All this scientific evidence, in both humans and animal models, highlight the capacity of ASTX to affect important mechanisms critical to osteoarthritis in humans (oxidative stress, inflammation) and underscores the enormous ability of ASTX to slow disease progression and improve symptoms of arthritis.

Vetirus Pharmaceuticals has developed a Natural Biologic compound to bring the benefits of all of this in one easy to use single dose formula named MitoPak™. In summary, it has the below properties:

1. Potent Antioxidant Properties: Mitopak is a powerful antioxidant, which helps protect joints from oxidative stress and inflammation that can lead to joint pain and degradation.

2. Anti-inflammatory Effects: Mitopak has demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce joint pain and improve overall joint health by decreasing the production of inflammatory mediators.

3. Cartilage Protection: Mitopak has been shown to protect cartilage from degradation by inhibiting the activity of enzymes responsible for breaking down cartilage, such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs).

4. Reduction of Joint Pain Symptoms: Studies have reported that Mitopak supplementation can help reduce joint pain symptoms, such as stiffness and discomfort, in people suffering from conditions like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

5. Improved Joint Mobility: Mitopak can improve joint mobility by reducing inflammation and promoting the health of joint tissues, making it easier for individuals to move and maintain an active lifestyle.

6. Enhanced Synovial Fluid Production: Mitopak has been found to enhance the production of synovial fluid, which lubricates and nourishes the joints, promoting overall joint health.

7. Supports Collagen Synthesis: Mitopak can support collagen synthesis, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity of joint structures such as tendons, ligaments, and cartilage.

8. Slows Age-Related Joint Degeneration: Mitopak ‘s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties can slow down the age-related degeneration of joints, helping to maintain joint health and function in older individuals.

9. Complementary to Conventional Treatments: Mitopak can be used as a complementary treatment to conventional therapies for joint pain and inflammation, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or corticosteroids, potentially enhancing their effectiveness or reducing side effects.

10. Sports Performance and Recovery: Athletes and active individuals can benefit from Mitopak supplementation, as it may help to reduce exercise-induced joint pain and reduces inflammation, and speeds up muscle recovery while supporting muscle strength, and improve overall sports performance.

All inflammation starts in your mitochondria. MitoPak™ stops the inflammation where it starts. Over 1200 scientific studies have concluded the safety of the active ingredients and they have a long history of use in both Humans and animals. MitoPak™ fights inflammation without harmful side effects found in NSAIDs. It supercharges your mitochondrial energy production, and its unique proprietary formula contains the most powerful known antioxidant allowing your body to function at peak performance,

MitoPAK™ is nature’s most potent anti-inflammatory and is:
• 110x stronger than Vitamin E
• 800x stronger than CoQ10
• 6000x stronger than Vitamin C

and has grown in popularity as more medical evidence supports its benefits. Regardless of your age, MitoPak™ positively influences mitochondrial function and preserves membrane structure while scavenging radicals. It is a natural therapeutic that reduces inflammation and speeds up muscle recovery without compromising muscle strength.

Vetirus Pharmaceuticals is focused on searching the world for developing Natural Biologics to advance their mission of changing the way we age in both human and veterinary medicine with purity and precision.

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