What Is Eggshell Membrane?
Eggshell membrane is an emerging raw material used in dietary supplements in recent years. Eggshells were use to be considered as leftovers after eating. The eggshell consists of five layers. From the inside to the outside of the eggshell, there are: inner shell membrane, outer shell membrane, mammillary, spongy matrix and cuticale. However, scientists have discovered in recent years that eggshell membrane is rich in nutrients and it has verified by scientific breakthroughs in many fields. According to statistics, from 2011 to 2013, there were more than 30 research publications each year, and over the past few years it has been widely used in various healthcare fields.
The eggshell membrane is mainly composed of protein (80-85%), of which about 10% is collagen (type I, V, X), and 70-75% is other proteins and glycoproteins. There are 500 kinds of protein in eggshell and eggshell membrane. Even the edible protein we often say is only 148 kinds, and there are only 316 kinds in egg yolk. In comparison, the protein contained in eggshell membrane is the essence of the whole egg. In addition, the eggshell membrane contains many unique nutrients, including branched chain amino acids, essential amino acids, keratin, lysozyme, ovotransferrin, ovalbumin, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, and glucosamine.
The Two Major Brands of Eggshell Membrane
At present, there are two main raw material suppliers for eggshell membranes, one is from the United States and the other is OVOMET® from Eggnovo in Europe. The raw materials of eggshell membranes in the United States need to be consumed up to 500 mg per day whereas OVOMET® only needs 300 mg daily to achieve the same results. Because its purity is nearly twice as high, the relative consumption is lower, it’s more convenient. Both eggshell membrane brands have published clinical studies and supportive effects. However, OVOMET® not only has more than two patents in Spain, but also has the US GRAS certification, as well as the Canadian FDA efficacy support. In terms of clinical evidence, unlike glucosamine, which takes several weeks to months to see the effects, OVOMET® eggshell membrane extract takes only 3-5 days to make the test subjects feel the difference in the body.
The Clinical Comparison Between Eggshell Membrane and UCⅡ® / UC2, Which One Has The Better Effect?
The health benefits of UCⅡ® / UC2 in mobility are indisputable. Many studies have confirmed the efficacy of UCⅡ® / UC2, and the consumption is very small. Only 40 mg per day is required for the original clinical consumption. As for eggshell membrane, there are also a lot of clinical proofs. What is the difference between the two? The body sensitivity of UCⅡ® / UC2 after consumption is generally recommended to take 90 days, while the body sensitivity of OVOMET® is recommended to be 30 days. If we use WOMAC Index score as reference, OVOMET® is more superior in somatosensory score.
It can be seen from the comparison table that after ten days of consumption, OVOMET® eggshell membranes have begun to have significant susceptibility. After 30 days, the score of OVOMET® has exceeded UCⅡ® / UC2 by approximately 1.7 times. After 60 days, compared with its WOMAC scores, the effect of OVOMET® eggshell membranes is about twice that of UCⅡ®.
Although the WOMAC index score of OVOMET® is better than that of UCⅡ® / UC2 when compared with individual ingredients, compared with the ingredients and the mechanism of action, in fact, the effective ingredients contained in each are different, and the mechanism of action in the human body is also different. UCⅡ ® / UC2 mainly contains non-denatured type 2 collagen, while OVOMET® contains hyaluronic acid, glucosamine, chondroitin, and lysozyme in addition to type 1, 5, and 10 collage. Actually, in terms of dietary supplements, the two ingredients can complement each other and bring more satisfactory results.
In addition, OVOMET® is mainly derived from eggshell membranes, and UCⅡ® is mainly derived from chicken cartilages. Unlike glucosamine or chondroitin from shrimp and crab sources, both of them can prevent people from potentially allergic to seafood; it is safer to eat.
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