Eggshell membrane as promising supplement to maintain bone health: A systematic review

Bone loss is a well-known phenomenon in the older population leading to increased bone fracture risk, morbidity, and mortality. Supplementation of eggshell membrane (ESM) is evaluated due to its possible application to prevent bone loss and usage in osteoporosis therapy. The similar organic chemical composition of ESM and human bone is described in detail as both mainly consist of collagen type I, chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, hyaluronic acid and elastan. ESM and its components are reported to improve mineralization in bone tissue. In many studies ESM intake reduced pain in patients with joint disorders and reduced inflammatory processes. Additionally, ESM improved calcium uptake in human cells. These findings in comparison with a clinical pilot study reporting pain reduction in osteoporotic patients and increased osteoblast activity in in vitro assays support ESM to be a beneficial supplement for bone health. In this systematic review we combined chemical structure analysis with clinical studies to give a more comprehensive picture with novel explanations.