Serrapeptase

[Badgergirl]

I have seen people raving about this on YouTube for PMR and on health pages on the web as a natural antiinflammatory to take alongside pred as a steroid sparer. Has anyone had experience of this?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I am always very sceptical about anything that sounds too good to be true - because it usually is! Especially when the claims tell you it works for a wide ranging selection of ills and someone is making money out of selling it.

For a slightly more reserved description of it try Wiki:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serra...

particularly the final paragraphs.

This is a reference to its use which indicates the sort of effect it can have on an impaired immune system:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/193...

and there are other references there about it inducing lung damage.

It was licensed in Germany as a supplement in the 1980s - oral only and only available on prescription. It is relatively easy to get approval for oral use of such substances there and they have a tradition of herbal medicine. However, there are references on several German sites concerning its potential severe side effects. There appear to be no evidence based trials and all the positive claims are on sites who appear to be marketing it. Bear in mind that when purchased from pharmacies in Germany there will be some degree of control over what is being handed over. This will not apply for anything sold online.

[Badgergirl in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for your reply PMRpro. After reading that abstract and a few more on PubMed I am completely put off. Being a proteolytic enzyme it stands to reason there may be proteins it breaks down, which we wouldn't want broken down!

[polkadotcom]

I'm about to second PMRpro's post, I think if this worked (or indeed anything else) as it is claimed to, none of us would be on this forum - we wouldn't need it. It's been around a long time and pops up now and again as it has been much touted on the media at times.

It's stuck in my mind as being unreliable and with a high risk of severe infections. It is also expensive and that is where I become really cynical - these suppliers often know their clients are desperate and will pay anything for miracles.

[Badgergirl in reply to polkadotcom]

I hadn't heatd of it before but you are so right. If there was a miracle treatment for PMR it would be well-known by now.

[rongreen]

Hi I have tried Serrapeptase and alas no change. The old saying what works for some does work for others, springs to mind. I have also tried Tumeric, Ginger, High Grade Omega 3s and again not noticed any change. In my case it seems only the Preds work. However I have taken a CrossFit Supplement called ProAnox which contains "Resveratrol " which is an anti-inflammatory and I noticed an immediate improvement with regard to a reduction in pain, etc. You can buy Resveratrol on its own and I may buy some shortly to see if it works over a period of time.

[Badgergirl]

Hi rongrren. So far I have heard nothing positive about it on th3 forum so will give it a miss. I too tried turmeric and omega 3 and they did help in the early stages of my PMR before I was diagnosed. The symptoms were mild then however, compared to the excruciating pain I was experiencing when I first went to the GP. At this stage the supplements didn't help.

I still take omega 3 oil though as it is generally good for keeping joints supple.

There is plenty of research with positive results about resveratrol being antiinflammatory so it might be worth a try. I don't think I will try it in Cross fit though as it seems to be a sports supplement that builds muscles. Maybe better for men! Perhaps an increase in red grapes is on the cards as they contain resveratrol.