Beta-ecdysone (Ecd) prevents visceral, bone marrow and joint fat accumulation and has positive effects on serum lipids, bone and joint cartilage

Ecd prevents obesity and osteoporosis following ovariectomy (ovx) of rats. Whether it also protects joint cartilage was compared with the effects of estradiol/E2). Furthermore the effects of Ecd in 20 slightly overweight male and female persons were also determined. In ovx rats Ecd reduced the amount of abdominal, bone marrow and joint fat (p<0.05) and this resulted in better trabecular and joint cartilage architecture. In the open clinical trial with slightly overweight persons a daily intake of 200mg Ecd reduced waist circumference by 2.7cm, serum cholesterol by10,2%, LDL by 13.9% and triglycerides by 31.1% whereas HDL were increased by 10.8%. It is concluded that Ecd has similar osteo- and chondro-protective effects as E2 and prevents fat accumulation in the abdomen, bone marrow and joints. Hence, Ecd may prevent the Metabolic Syndrome and the accompanying osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.