%0 Journal Article %T Reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines in rats following 7-day oral supplementation with a proprietary eggshell membrane-derived product %A Kevin J. Ruff %A Dale P. DeVore %J Modern Research in Inflammation %P 19-25 %@ 2169-9690 %D 2014 %I Scientific Research Publishing %R 10.4236/mri.2014.31003 %X NEM<sup>&reg;</sup> brand eggshell membrane is a novel dietary supplement that has been clinically shown to alleviate arthritis joint pain and stiffness; however the mechanism of action is not well understood. Preliminary evidence from an in vitro study of NEM<SUP>&REG;</SUP> indicated that the mechanism of action may be based on the reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In vivo studies were therefore initiated to evaluate the effects of NEM<SUP>&REG;</SUP> on pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines following oral administration in rats. NEM<SUP>&REG;</SUP> was administered daily at doses of 6.13 mg/kg bw/day (Study 1), 10.0 mg/kg bw/day (Study 2), or at doses of 0 (control), 26.0 or 52.0 mg/kg bw/day (Study 3) by oral gavage for 7 consecutive days. Inflammation was induced in the Study 3 rats by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide. Changes in plasma cytokine levels from baseline following 7 days of oral supplementation with NEM<SUP>&REG;</SUP> at 6.13 mg/kg bw/ day (Study 1) were statistically significant at Day 8 for IL-2, TIMP-1 and VEGF, at Day 21 for IL-10, and at Day 35 for MCP-1, MCP-3 and TIMP-1, and at 10.0 mg/kg %K Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines %K Eggshell Membrane %U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=43071