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What is Cetyl Myristoliate?
CM is a unique esterified fatty acid with very special properties that have been shown to support joint function and mobility. CM is derived from myristoleic acid which occurs naturally in the African Kombo nut (wild nutmeg), whale fat, and beef tallow. Joint Health is made from beef tallow.
The CM Discovery: A Facinating Story
For those of you who have not heard or read about Cetyl Myristoleate, let me give you just a little background. The discovery occurred during a two-year period from 1962 to 1964 by Harry W. Diehl, while on a personal quest to find a cure for arthritis. Harry was a research chemist working in sugar metabolism at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. During his time there, over 40 years, he was responsible for isolating and identifying over 500 chemical compounds. Many of these were patented. His most notable discovery, prior to CM, was a sugar used in the preparation of Dr. Jonas Salk's oral polio vaccination. His discovery of CM actually occurred in a laboratory that he set up in his home. One day the story of how he isolated the molecule that one day may be hailed as the most significant nutritional discovery of the 20th Century. It may be one of nature’s answers to joint disease. Unfortunately, I cannot relate the entire story in this short article. Hopefully, someday someone will write a story of his very intuitive researcher. In a nutshell, this is what Harry's research revealed:
- Mice are immune to arthritis
- The molecule that provides the immunity is Cetyl Myristoleate (acetyl alcohol ester of the 14 carbon chain fatty acid, myristoleic acid)
- CM circulates through the bloodstream of mice at approximately 300 mg/kg of body weight and with proper doses of CM extracted from mice that provide rats with 100% immunity to adjuvant induced arthritis
- After injecting CM into the rats, the highest concentrations were found in the liver.
- Harry developed a way of synthesizing CM by combining cetyl alcohol with myristoleic acid
Harry developed a way of synthesizing Cetyl Myristoleate by combining cetyl alcohol with myristoleic acid and found that the synthesized form of Cetyl Myristoleate was just as effective in providing rats immunity to adjuvant-induced arthritis as the naturally occurring form (extracted from mice).
Subsequent CM Research
A more recent Cetyl Myristoleate study, performed by H. Siemandi, M.D., Ph.D., was published in the August / September 1997 issue of the Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients. This Cetyl Myristoleate study was performed as a randomized, double blind, placebo parallel trial with 382 patients who had been diagnosed with degenerative joint disease (DJD or osteoarthritis), rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis. This group was divided into three groups for testing. The first Group A received a complex of fatty acids (90 grams) containing 12% Cetyl Myristoleate, the second Group B received the same complex of CM fatty acid esters plus glucosamine hydrochloride, sea cucumber (a sea animal commonly found in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia – related to the Starfish), and hydrolyzed cartilage, and the third Group C received a placebo. Treatment consisted of a one-month protocol. Outcome measures included a variety of patient-reported, clinical, laboratory, and radiographic assessments. The results were as follows (expressed in percent improvement):
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Group A
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Group B
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Group C
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Treatment Response
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63.3%
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87.3%
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14.5%
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M.D. Overall Assessment
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58.1%
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84.2%
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13.9%
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Patient Overall Assessment
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59.2%
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88.2%
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16.1%
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Joint Swelling Score
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47.5%
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77.2%
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21.1%
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Mechanismns of CM Action and Indications
The exact mechanisms of Cetyl Myristoleate action are not fully understood. Several theories have been presented, but as of today, there has been no research in this regard. Being a fatty acid ester, one mechanism being presented is that Cetyl Myristoleate somehow manipulates the production of the favorable prostaglandins, (series 1 and/or 3) and leukotrienes over the unfavorable prostaglandins of the 2nd series and pro-inflammatory leukotrienes. Prostaglandins and leukotrienes are unsaturated fatty acids that regulate many local metabolic processes including inflammation, platelet aggregation, pain, fluid balance, and nerve transmission. These effects could be accomplished by inhibition of the arachidonic acid cascade and the cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways.
Another mechanism being discussed is that these CM fatty acid esters are somehow incorporated into the phospholipid cell membranes and alter cell membrane permeability and receptor sites. This could explain the possible theory of altering T-lymphocyte function during the hyper-immune response related to autoimmune diseases. Although the mechanisms are unknown, we can clinically observe Cetyl Myristoleate’s effects.
Cetyl Myristoleate seems to function in at least four different ways. One of the first observations noted when favorable results are seen is the lubricating quality of Cetyl Myristoleate. Decrease or loss of morning stiffness is commonly noted shortly after commencing CM treatment. Next, Cetyl Myristoleate functions as an anti-inflammatory. Lessening of swollen digits is often seen after the 4th or 5th week of Cetyl Myristoleate treatment. Third, Cetyl Myristoleate functions as an immunomodulator or immune system regulator. Cetyl Myristoleate’s ability to regulate or calm down hyper-immune responses is one of the most exciting qualities and shows that Cetyl Myristoleate may be helpful in addressing the symptoms related to many autoimmune diseases. And finally, Cetyl Myristoleate functions as an analgesic or painkiller and CM has been helpful for many sufferers of muscle tension headaches and fibromyalgia.
Recommended CM Dose
We have found that many of those individuals who have taken Cetyl Myristoleate (CM), and have not responded, have often taken doses far below what is recommended. Results are related to the quality of the product as well as the amount of Cetyl Myristoleate taken orally (therapeutic or loading dose). If we do a little mathematics, and use the amount of CM circulating in the bloodstream of mice as a comparison (350 mg / kg), we conclude that a 160-pound person could require up to 24.5 grams CM. Fortunately, possibly because human and mouse metabolism differ greatly, we have found that doses of 12 grams to 18 grams of elemental Cetyl Myristoleate as a therapeutic or loading dose taken over a three to four week period of time works fantastically well. However, there are those individuals that require a second CM protocol. And once the desired results have been achieved, there are many individuals that benefit from taking much smaller, perhaps daily, CM maintenance doses.
Concerning the quality, there is a wide degree of very diverse Cetyl Myristoleate products available today. In fact, some of the CM formulas have no Cetyl Myristoleate in them at all! Before purchasing any of these formulas, please read the label to determine exactly how much Cetyl Myristoleate is available. It is imperative that the formula contains a minimum of 12% CM levels. If the levels are below this amount, you’ll probably have to take a wheelbarrow full before seeing any results! In other words (let’s do a little math), if you’re trying to achieve a therapeutic dose of 12 grams of CM and the CM levels are at 12%, you will need a total of 100 grams of mixed fatty acid esters in this particular CM formula. If the CM levels are at 20%, you will need a total of only 60 grams. If the manufacturer has not listed the percentages and the total amount of fatty acid ester complex, I would be very hesitant in purchasing that particular product. Without this information, you have no way of determining how much you need to take, for how long, and what would be a good maintenance dose.
Clearing CM Confusion
There are many different Cetyl Myristoleate and related products available today. There are several which, either through ignorance or unethical marketing, have contributed to extensive confusion in the nutritional and healthcare industry. There are several issues that I’d like to address in this regard. First, Cetyl Myristoleate (CM) is not CMOTM. CMOTM is a trademarked product that is being sold as cerasomal cis-9 cetyl myristoleate, an analog of cetyl myristoleate. The term cerasomal (waxy body?) is not in your chemistry texts and was constructed by the manufacturer to set his product apart. The term analog is defined as a similarly structured molecule. In other words, CMOTM contains a similar molecule, but is not Cetyl Myristoleate. Chemical analysis performed on several occasions, using Gas Chromatography, Mass Spectrometry, and Flame Ionization Detection has revealed very little, if any, Cetyl Myristoleate in this product. Unfortunately, the manufacturer, as of today, has not disclosed exactly what his product is.
Another embarrassing mix up is that, at least, one of the manufacturers started with a raw material that contained high levels of myristic acid (C14:0) instead of myristoleic acid (C14:1). Myristic acid is the saturated analog of myristoleic acid and when esterified with cetyl alcohol produces Cetyl Myristate, not Cetyl Myristoleate. Before the sophisticated diagnostic procedures to analyze for CM were developed, many of these products were analyzed using improper or inadequate methods. These products are now on our health food store shelves and in the MLM industry being sold as Cetyl Myristoleate, but in fact are Cetyl Myristate. Interestingly, there have been many who have experienced benefits from these Cetyl Myristate products. And I have found that, in one particular formula, the Cetyl Myristate seems to enhance the effectiveness of the Cetyl Myristoleate. They may form a true synergism.
And, finally, all Cetyl Myristoleate products are not created equally. Chemical analysis of several different products has revealed that the CM levels range from 1% up to 40%. And to add to the confusion, I have found products that contain lower percentages of CM (20% - 30%) that seem to work better than the Cetyl Myristoleate products with higher levels. Please note that there are no CM products today that are 100% pure. With all of these products you will find a complex of other fatty acid esters, for example cetyl stearate, cetyl palmitate, cetyl palmitoleate, cetyl oleate, and cetyl myristate, in different proportions. What we’re now finding is that some of these fatty acid esters may inhibit the positive effects of the Cetyl Myristoleate, while others work with the CM, as I mentioned above, in a cooperative way.
For those of you technical individuals out there, Gas Chromatography – Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID) analysis is now considered one of the most accurate techniques for detecting these fatty acid esters. Here’s something that you may also find interesting. Further analysis of the product used by Dr. Siemandi in his study showed that it actually contained 10.8 grams of Cetyl Myristoleate, and not 18 grams, as stated in his report. And one very current analysis of this same material indicated that the CM levels could have been only 9 grams delivered in a one- month protocol. It’s truly amazing what results were achieved with only 9 or 10 grams of active ingredient!
And for those of you who are suffering with any types of aches or pains, you and Cetyl Myristoleate deserve to get to know each other! God speed on your road to health!
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