Eight mussels a day will keep the doctor away for osteoarthritis sufferers. A study has found that an oil in the shellfish is as effective as present medications.
The oil in the green lipped mussel of New Zealand may be better than such drugs as Celebrex and Vioxx, without side-effects, Georges Halpern of the University of Hong Kong said.
"I've not seen anything, including drugs, have such results," Professor Halpern said.
"The pain was better controlled, very, very much improved, and the toxicity is basically zero. When compared with anything existing, this is at least as good," he said. Omega-3 fatty acids in the mussel combat pain and swelling.
Australian researchers have previously proved the link in laboratory and animal studies, but Professor Halpern and his colleagues reported in the journal Progress In Nutrition that they have demonstrated its effectiveness in humans.
The team conducted a six-month placebo controlled study with 80 patients.