Correlation of Plasma Amino Acid Concentrations and Chondroprotective Effects of Glucosamine and Fish Collagen Peptide on the Development of Osteoarthritis

Abstract

We investigated the correlation of plasma amino acid concentrations as well as the effects of glucosamine and fish collagen peptide (FCP) on osteoarthritis (OA). OA was induced according to the rabbit anterior cruciate ligament transection model. After surgery, the rabbits were orally administered with FCP (F group), glucosamine (G group), or both (FG group) for 4 weeks. The control group (C group) was not administered any. Blood was collected before the surgery (pre-ACLT) and before euthanasia (post-ACLT). Changes in the alanine, threonine, and methionine concentrations were significant between pre- and post-ACLT. The correlation between the histological assessment and arginine concentration at post-ACLT was significant. These findings indicate the measurement of plasma amino acids is useful for evaluation of the efficacy of intervention of OA.