Osteoporosis is a condition in which the density of the bone mass decreases more than the building up of new bones. This means a higher risk for bones to break and fall. This is more frequently seen in the case for backbone, hipbones and carpus. It is more common to happen among elderly people, especially among women aged 65 and above.

Osteoarthritis is a result of stress on the joints over time and it is caused by two factors: 

Symptoms of osteoarthritis are easier to recognize than symptoms of osteoporosis: When affected people walk, one can sometimes hear noises in the joints. Sometimes other symptoms will appear such as arthroncus, inflammations, stiffness when getting up in the morning that results to difficulty in movement, pain in the joints, bowlegs, difficulties when walking, kneeing, squatting, sitting on the floor with legs folded away and standing up. 

Calcium is well-known as an important mineral for bones and teeth. It is the mineral that forms the highest mineral composition in our body. 55 percent of it are located in the bones and teeth. In addition, calcium can be found in the blood. Some of it can be found together with protein in the blood and as free calcium. Further functions of calcium include a role in hemostasis and improve functionality of muscles and nerves. For example, it enables contraction of normal muscle cells and the heart muscle.

A frequent misunderstanding about calcium relates to calcium being a recommended supplement for osteoarthritis. However, calcium is a useful supplement for treating osteoporosis, a condition that appears increasingly with rising age and especially among women who are in their menopause. The recommended daily dosage of calcium varies across individuals.

Calcium cannot be used to treat osteoarthritis but it serves as a supplement to support cartilages, which is now recommended by doctors, include glucosamine and chondroitin.  

If your symptoms include pain in your bones in cartilages, which is likely to be osteoporosis, you might need to ask for calcium but if the problems happen on the joints, osteoarthritis, inflammations and difficulties when moving, you might need to search for products containing a mix of glucosamine and chondroitin, which help to solve the problems more effectively.

Products with New Zealand Green Mussels include:

- The main ingredient with the name mucopolysaccharide (MPS), a carbohydrate complex with qualities that joins connective tissues, does not only contain glucosamine and chondroitin which helps in building up cartilages, but also lubricates the joints which supports the repair process directly.   

- It is also rich in Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, which are considered as fatty acids with good effects for treating inflammations.

- Another special aspect of products with New Zealand Green Mussels by Xtendlife is that the process of production takes only a short time and does not involve steps such as heating or freezing. The value of the MPS in the Green Mussels is thus kept efficiently.  

There are numerous researches confirming the use of Green Mussels for treatment of joint symptoms.  

• Efficacy and tolerability of a combination of Lyprinol and high concentrations of EPA and DHA in inflammatory rheumatoid disorders.
• Influence of green lipped mussels (Perna canaliculus) in alleviating signs of arthritis in dogs.
• Anti-inflammatory effects of a stabilized lipid extract of Perna canaliculus (Lyprinol).
• Clinical efficacy and safety of Lyprinol, a patented extract from New Zealand green-lipped mussel (Perna Canaliculus) in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip and knee: a multicenter 2-month clinical trial.

Reference
- http://www.pharmacy.mahidol.ac.th/dic/qa_full.php?id=3839