Use of anabolic agents, anti-catabolic agents, antioxidant agents and analgesics for protection, treatment and repair of connective tissues in humans and animals

A method of treating, managing, repairing or modulating inflammation associated with damage to connective tissue in humans and animals comprising administering an effective amount of a combination comprising one or more avocado/soybean unsaponifiables, glucosamine, and a chondroitin or a salt thereof to a human or animal in need thereof, wherein the combination provides a synergistic effect and wherein the combination is administered daily to reach a steady state concentration in a body fluid of the human or animal that bathes a target cell type that affects at least one of COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1β, iNOS, p38, and chemokines, and wherein the dosage is subsequently reduced in at least one of frequency and amount to maintain a desired response in the human or animal.

A method of modulating markers of inflammation of connective tissue in a target human or animal, comprising:

• administering a composition comprising one or more avocado/soybean unsaponifiables, glucosamine, and chondroitin or a salt thereof to a human or animal, wherein the composition provides a synergistic effect, and wherein the combination is administered to the target human or animal to modulate inflammation in an amount effective to moderate gene expression of at least one of COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1β, iNOS, p38, and chemokines to approximately normal values.

A method of reducing PGE-2 levels, or inhibiting or downregulating gene expression of COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1β, iNOS, p38, or chemokines in a tissue cell, comprising contacting the connective tissue cell with an effective amount of a combination comprising one or more avocado/soybean unsaponifiables, glucosamine, and chondroitin or a salt thereof, wherein the combination provides a synergistic effect.