A randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study on the efficacy of a unique extract of green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) in horses with chronic fetlock lameness attributed to osteoarthritis.
Authors: Cayzer J, Hedderley D, Gray S
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary A randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial examined whether a lyophilised green-lipped mussel extract (Biolane®) could reduce clinical signs of osteoarthritis in horses presenting with chronic fetlock lameness. Researchers assessed 26 horses over 56 days, administering either 25 mg/kg bodyweight daily of the mussel extract or placebo, with lameness severity, joint flexion response, pain, swelling and heat evaluated using standardised clinical methods and ordinal logistic modelling. Horses receiving the active treatment demonstrated statistically significant improvements: lameness severity decreased substantially (P<0.001), pain on joint flexion improved markedly (P<0.001), and joint pain reduced notably (P=0.014) compared to placebo controls. These results provide the first robust evidence that this particular mussel extract preparation has genuine therapeutic benefit beyond placebo effect for fetlock OA. For practitioners managing chronic fetlock lameness, this work supports the inclusion of green-lipped mussel supplementation as part of a multimodal approach, though results should be contextualised within individual cases and integrated with farriery, physiotherapy and veterinary management rather than viewed as a standalone intervention.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Green-lipped mussel extract (LPPC) shows measurable clinical benefit for fetlock OA lameness in horses with significant pain reduction and improved joint function
- •Treatment requires 56 days at 25 mg/kg daily to demonstrate efficacy, suggesting it is not an acute pain reliever but rather a longer-term joint supplement
- •This is the first randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled evidence supporting LPPC use in horses, though fetlock-specific application limits generalisability to other joint locations
Key Findings
- •LPPC treatment significantly reduced lameness severity compared to placebo (P<0.001)
- •LPPC improved response to joint flexion test compared to placebo (P<0.001)
- •LPPC reduced joint pain compared to placebo (P=0.014)
- •Treatment dose was 25 mg/kg bodyweight daily for 56 days