Wizard of Vitamins

Green-Lipped Mussel Vitamin

What is Green-Lipped Mussel?

Green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) is a New Zealand shellfish, from which an extract has been shown to be useful in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA).

Green-Lipped Mussel in Diets

Green-lipped mussels are found in the oceans off New Zealand. In supplement form, green-lipped mussel is available as a lipid extract or a freeze-dried powder.

Green-Lipped Mussel Medicinal Treatments

Asthma (Lyprinol®) Osteoarthritis Rheumatoid arthritis

Known Consequences of Green-Lipped Mussel Deficiency

Because green-lipped mussel is not an essential nutrient, deficiencies do not occur.

Green-Lipped Mussel Recommended Dosages

The studies on green-lipped mussel have used 210 mg per day of the lipid extract or 1,050–1,150 mg per day of the freeze-dried powder.

Green-Lipped Mussel Side Effects

Not all studies have demonstrated side effects; however, members of the Australian Rheumatism Association have reported side effects, such as stomach upset, gout, and skin rashes, occurring in people taking certain New Zealand green-lipped mussel extracts. Another researcher observed nausea, flatulence, and fluid retention in some of the study participants, and one case of hepatitis has been reported in association with the use of the freeze-dried powder. People with shellfish allergy should consult a doctor before taking green-lipped mussel. Compared to lipid preparations, freeze-dried preparations contain substantially more of the protein fraction responsible for allergic reactions. At the time of writing, there were no well-known drug interactions with green-lipped mussel.