Running and marathon participation has been rising rapidly, with more people taking up the sport because it is easy to start and requires little equipment. Many runners also cite benefits such as improved cardiovascular fitness, better stamina and stress relief, often described as a “runner’s high.”
But the repetitive motion of running can place sustained stress on the knee joint. When muscles around the knee are weak, impact from body weight can be transmitted more directly, increasing the likelihood of pain.
Common treatments to ease knee pain include hyaluronic acid injections and steroid injections. Hyaluronic acid can help lubricate the joint and make movement smoother, but its effects may not last. Steroids can reduce inflammation, but repeated use may weaken tissue, requiring caution. Critics say these approaches mainly focus on pain relief and have limits in improving damaged cartilage itself.
Interest has also grown in nutritional approaches to support joint health. Supplements such as chondroitin and MSM may help suppress inflammation, but are described as limited because they act on specific pathways.
Cartilage is a complex structure in which multiple components and signals — including collagen and hyaluronic acid — work together, and its maintenance and regeneration involve several pathways at once. In that context, DEM (Dynamic Eggshell Membrane), derived from egg membrane, has drawn attention because it contains various components and is described as acting on multiple receptors simultaneously.
A 2024 study in the international journal Applied Sciences reported that DEM treatment increased cartilage-formation genes (SOX9, Col-2, Aggrecan) while reducing degradative enzymes (MMP-2, MMP-9) by more than 60%. Inflammation markers were also suppressed to about 60% to 70% of baseline levels, suggesting potential cartilage protection. In a human application test, two weeks of intake was associated with reduced cartilage-damage indicators and less joint stiffness.
Experts say managing knee pain should go beyond symptom control and also consider cartilage structure and the regeneration process. They added that the more pain recurs, the more important it is to check the joint’s structural condition as well.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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