Micronized Nacre: Benefits, Dosage, Contraindications
Other name(s)
Aragonite
Scientific name(s)
Pinctada maxima
Family or group:
Aquatic Organisms
Active ingredients:
Calcium Carbonate
Polysaccharides
Indications
Rating methodology
EFSA approval.
Bone Health ✪✪✪✪✪
Several experiments have highlighted the qualities of nacre which promotes bone regeneration and also fills bone losses, consolidating bones damaged by accidents, wear or diseases, such as periodontitis or osteoporosis. New potential therapeutic applications are being developed. They involve orthopedics targeting the repair of traumatic or pathological skeletal defects as well as concerning diseases like osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, which will be addressed in both preventive and curative ways. Nacre has been used in endosseous implants, in both carved pieces and powder form.
Posologie
Oral administration
powder
Osteoporosis ✪✪✪✪✪
Nacre has all the assets to regulate bone metabolism towards the preservation by the body of an optimal skeletal capital and can also help repair its deficits. A clinical study shows that taking bio-calcium, in powder form from Pinctada maxima shell, at a dose of 260 mg elemental calcium for 6 months, has better efficacy in improving bone density, good gastrointestinal tolerance and satisfactory safety compared to taking 500 mg inorganic calcium.
Posologie
Oral administration
260 mg
6 - months
powder
Nacre, Biomineralizations, and Pharmacopoeia
Nacre, Bone Substitute
The hydrosoluble matrix fraction from Pinctada maxima nacre produces earlier mineralization of mouse MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts
Supplementation in bio-calcium from Pinctada Maxima shells in patients with decreased bone mineral density
Osteoarthritis ✪✪✪✪✪
Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of chronic joint pain and affects all joints. Subchondral osteoarthritic osteoblasts have a mineralization defect. Several in vivo and in vitro studies suggest that nacre contains one or more signaling molecules capable of activating osteogenic bone marrow cells. In this context, molecules have been extracted from nacre and tested on osteoblasts from the subchondral bone of osteoarthritis patients. The nacre extract was able to quickly restore the mineralization capacity of osteoarthritis osteoblasts, thus confirming the potential of nacre as a source of osteogenic compounds.
Posologie
Oral administration
powder
Skin Health ✪✪✪✪✪
Nacre, in the form of pearl powder, has been present since antiquity in the traditional pharmacopoeias of Egyptian, Asian, and Amerindian cultures. Nacre was mainly used to prevent and soothe sunburns. The Chinese also use nacre in skin care. Women rub their faces with polished nacre. This practice is known to promote blood circulation and balance the bioelectric potential of skin cells which would facilitate the transfer of trace elements and nacre molecules through the skin, thus enhancing its benefits.
Posologie
Oral administration
powder
Properties
Bone Density
Nacre is chemically different from bone as its mineral phase is made of calcium carbonate and not calcium phosphate. However, there is still some calcium carbonate associated with phosphate in bones, but in small proportions. The mechanisms of bone and nacre formation both result from the activity of specialized cells. Indeed, certain molecules in nacre act on the cells governing bone remodeling -osteoclasts- by inhibiting their activity. The organic matrix isolated from the nacre of the pearl oyster Pinctada maxima or its cousin Pinctada margaritifera can induce the stimulation of bone or cartilage cells and their precursors not only to repair or maintain these tissues but also to achieve the final formation of physiologically healthy and active tissues. Indeed, in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that nacre contains one or more signaling molecules capable of activating osteogenic bone marrow cells.
Usages associés
Dermatological Effect
Certain protein and lipid molecules present in nacre act on skin cells at different levels, notably on dermal fibroblasts as well as on the stem cells of epidermal germinal cells, thus contributing to optimally regulating epidermal stratification; a source of good skin health.
Usages associés
Safety dosage
Adult:
The Pinctada maxima shell has been used in powder form with good gastrointestinal tolerance and satisfactory safety.
