Green-Lipped Mussel

Perna canaliculus · Lyprinol · Green lipped mussel

Snapshot

Indications	Contraindications
Osteoarthritis pain^{1, 2} Osteoarthritis physical function^1–9 Rheumatoid arthritis, with mussel lipid¹⁰ Asthma symptoms^{11, 12} Hyperpnea-induced bronchoconstriction¹² Exercise-induced muscle soreness¹³	Shellfish allergy¹⁴ Pregnancy or nursing¹⁴

Green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) is a New Zealand shellfish whose freeze-dried meat powder or lipid extract is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and is thought to act by inhibiting inflammatory eicosanoid production¹¹. Supplementation has been studied in atopic asthma, where one small randomised trial suggested some benefit on wheeze and morning peak flow¹¹. The typical patient is an adult with mild to moderate OA seeking an alternative to conventional anti-inflammatory drugs^{1, 4}.

For OA, a systematic review pooled a moderate pain benefit, while an earlier review judged the evidence inconsistent. A 2021 narrative review proposed the mussel lipid extract PCSO-524 as an adjunct to sleep therapy in depression, noting a promising signal in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder; no trial has tested it in depression¹⁵. Products listing green-lipped mussel number 164 and come as capsules, softgels, and powders, either whole-meat powder or lipid oil; see Form comparison.

Shellfish allergy is the main concern: allergenic proteins including tropomyosin were identified after a patient developed respiratory symptoms from inhaling the powder¹⁶. A case report described acute hepatitis in a woman taking the lipid extract¹⁷. Three of 30 labels on supplements sold in the United States direct users to a physician or pharmacist before use alongside medication¹⁴.

Last updated October 16, 2026. Read how we make monographs.

In the full monograph

44 sources, 34 studies

When to useThe situations practitioners use it for, each with the reason and the study behind it.
SafetyWho should avoid it, who needs extra care, and the side effects reported in studies.
Protocol notesThe doses used in studies, how and when they were taken, and how the forms on the market compare.
How it worksWhat it is and how it works in the body, in plain terms.
Published studiesThe studies behind each use, popular claims checked against them, and trials still under way.
Word of mouthWhat patients and practitioners report online, kept separate from the clinical evidence.
Clinical perspectiveA closing read of where the evidence is solid, where it is thin, and what has not been studied.

Snapshot

In the full monograph

Sources