Uses
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. The effectiveness ratings for GELATIN are as follows:
Insufficient evidence to rate effectiveness for…
- A blood disorder that reduces levels of protein in the blood called hemoglobin (beta-thalassemia). Early research in pregnant women with a mild form of this blood disorder shows that taking gelatin made from donkey hide improves hemoglobin levels.
- Aging skin.
- Brittle nails.
- Obesity.
- Weak and brittle bones (osteoporosis).
- Osteoarthritis.
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
- Joint pain.
- Muscle damage caused by exercise.
- Muscle soreness caused by exercise.
- Wrinkled skin.
- Low levels of red blood cells in people with a long-term illness (anemia of chronic disease).
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of gelatin for these uses.
Side Effects Of Gelatin
When taken by mouth: Gelatin is LIKELY SAFE for most people in food amounts. The larger amounts used in medicine are POSSIBLY SAFE. There’s some evidence that doses up to 10 grams daily can be safely used for up to 6 months.
Gelatin can cause an unpleasant taste, feelings of heaviness in the stomach, bloating, heartburn, and belching. Gelatin can also cause allergic reactions. In some people, allergic reactions have been severe enough to damage the heart and cause death.
There is some concern about the safety of gelatin because it comes from animal sources. Some people are worried that unsafe manufacturing practices might lead to contamination of products with diseased animal tissues including those that might transmit mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy). Although this risk seems to be low, many experts advise against using animal-derived supplements like gelatin.
Warnings & Precautions
- Pregnancy: A specific type of gelatin that is made from donkey hide is POSSIBLY SAFE in the larger amounts used as medicine. Not enough is known about the safety of other kinds of gelatin when used in medicinal amounts during pregnancy. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.
- Breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the safety when used in medicinal amounts during breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.
Dosage Of Gelatin
The appropriate dose of gelatin depends on several factors such as the user’s age, health, and several other conditions. At this time, there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for gelatin. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
Other
Consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Source
All information has been provided courtesy of MedLinePlus from the National Library of Medicine and from the FDA.
