Joint Power Review 2026: What Does the Evidence Show?

Randomized, double-blind, controlled trial · ingredient

Total arthritis score improved significantly vs control (P<.05), as did joint pain and swelling scores. Crepitus and range of movement did not differ between groups.

Limitations: Abstract only; small sample; effect sizes and diet details unavailable; two of four sub-scores did not improve.

Species

dog

Participants / condition

31 mixed-breed dogs with varying degrees of arthritis

Formulation

Green-lipped mussel powder added to a complete dry diet

Studied amount, not dosing advice

0.3% GLM powder in diet (daily amount in mg not reported)

Duration

6 weeks

Funding / conflicts

Not reported in the abstract; unavailable.

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, with open-label extension · different formulation

Both groups improved by Day 28 with no group difference. At Day 56 more extract dogs improved (p=0.018); musculoskeletal scores were marginal (p=0.053). Differences vanished by Day 112 once placebo dogs crossed over.

Limitations: Abstract only; presumptive diagnosis; owner scoring is subjective; large placebo response; benefit limited to one time point.

Species

dog

Participants / condition

81 dogs presumptively diagnosed with mild-to-moderate degenerative joint disease

Formulation

Green-lipped mussel extract, daily oral

Studied amount, not dosing advice

Not reported in the abstract

Duration

56 days controlled, plus 56 days open-label

Funding / conflicts

Not reported in the abstract; unavailable.

Randomized, double-blind, placebo- and positive-controlled trial · ingredient

More GLM than placebo dogs improved on vet mobility, owner chronic pain index and pain scale (P=0.031, 0.025, 0.011). GLM was less effective than carprofen. No side effects detected.

Limitations: Abstract only; small groups; force plate variables not reported as significant in the abstract; dose unavailable.

Species

dog

Participants / condition

45 dogs with chronic pain and radiographic osteoarthritis who completed the study

Formulation

Green-lipped mussel preparation (details not in abstract)

Studied amount, not dosing advice

Not reported in the abstract

Duration

8 weeks

Funding / conflicts

Not reported in the abstract; unavailable.

Double-blind, randomized, crossover, placebo-controlled trial (dog results only used here) · different formulation

Veterinarian COAST score improved vs baseline but not vs placebo. No differences on owner pain index or force plate in dogs. Authors called effects only partial; several non-responders.

Limitations: Multi-ingredient blend so effect of mussel alone can't be separated; modest sample; excerpt only partly reviewed.

Species

dog

Participants / condition

32 client-owned dogs (plus 16 cats, excluded) with mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis

Formulation

Liquid supplement of green-lipped mussel, curcumin, blackcurrant leaf extract, vitamin C and D3

Studied amount, not dosing advice

3 to 10 ml/day by body weight; 571,400 mg mussel per kg dry matter in the product

Duration

16 weeks per period in dogs

Funding / conflicts

Product and placebo provided by Synofit Europe B.V.; funding statement not shown in the reviewed excerpt.

Prospective, block-randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial · different formulation

Peak vertical force change and orthopedic score at 6 weeks were better with EAB-277 and meloxicam than placebo.

Limitations: Combination product with krill oil; short duration; dose not seen in reviewed text.

Species

dog

Participants / condition

101 pet dogs with clinical hip osteoarthritis pain

Formulation

Antinol Rapid (EAB-277): green-lipped mussel plus krill oil extracts

Studied amount, not dosing advice

Not reported in the reviewed text

Duration

6 weeks

Funding / conflicts

Funded by Pharmalink International Ltd; authors stated the funder was not involved in design, analysis or writing. Industry funding disclosed.

Double-blind, placebo-controlled, three-way crossover pilot using accelerometers · different formulation

Daytime peak (90th percentile) activity was higher with the 220 mg dose vs placebo (p=0.03). The 75th percentile was unaffected. Other findings were mixed.

Limitations: Pilot; diet and activity not controlled; borderline p-values; multiple outcomes tested; abstract only.

Species

dog

Participants / condition

32 New Zealand working farm dogs with signs of musculoskeletal abnormalities (27 analysed); not confirmed OA

Formulation

Full-fat green-lipped mussel extract product

Studied amount, not dosing advice

180 mg or 220 mg per day

Duration

8 weeks per period, 4-week washouts

Funding / conflicts

Not reported in the abstract; unavailable.

Controlled clinical trial, sequential (control diet then GLM diet), no concurrent control · ingredient

Plasma omega-3 rose (P<0.016) and peak vertical force improved (P=0.003) on the GLM diet. Improvement from baseline to day 90 was also seen on owner and activity measures. Authors noted the control diet may have contributed.

Limitations: No parallel control; order effect; abstract only; a diet, not a powder; mechanism not tested.

Species

dog

Participants / condition

23 client-owned dogs with clinical osteoarthritis

Formulation

Balanced diet enriched with green-lipped mussel

Studied amount, not dosing advice

Not reported in the abstract

Duration

30 days control diet then 60 days GLM diet

Funding / conflicts

Not reported in the abstract; unavailable.

Prospective controlled one-way sequential study (full-text excerpt) · ingredient

Peak vertical force clearly increased after the GLM diet (adjusted P=0.003). Owner and activity measures changed over 90 days, but electrodermal activity and a pain questionnaire were not reliable.

Limitations: Primarily a measurement-validity study; no parallel control; seven dogs dropped out.

Species

dog

Participants / condition

23 adult dogs with clinical OA who completed the study (30 recruited)

Formulation

Balanced diet enriched with green-lipped mussel

Studied amount, not dosing advice

Not reported in the reviewed excerpt

Duration

30-day control then 60-day GLM diet

Funding / conflicts

Unrestricted grant from Medi-Cal/Royal Canin Canada plus public grants; authors declared no competing interests.