About NEM (Natural Eggshell Membrane)
Branded eggshell-membrane ingredient (NEM; ESM Technologies/Stratum Nutrition) containing naturally occurring collagen, glycosaminoglycans (chondroitin, hyaluronic acid) and proteins. Marketed for joint pain and stiffness. The clinical signal in knee osteoarthritis is real but modest and inconsistent: pooled total WOMAC, pain subscale and physical function improved significantly, yet VAS pain and the WOMAC stiffness subscale did not, and every pooled trial was sponsored by the manufacturer. Treat marketing claims of robust, fast joint relief with caution — effect sizes are small-to-moderate and independent non-industry confirmation is still lacking. Derived from eggs; those with egg allergy should avoid it.
What NEM (Natural Eggshell Membrane) supports
- Modestly reduces knee osteoarthritis pain and improves physical function (WOMAC) in pooled RCTs
- May reduce exercise-induced joint discomfort in active adults
How much NEM (Natural Eggshell Membrane) to take
The RDA prevents deficiency. The effective range is what clinical trials used to actually move the outcome.
Effective
300–500
mg
RCTs dose 300-500 mg once daily of NEM-brand eggshell membrane; the pivotal Ruff 2009 multicenter double-blind RCT (n=67) used 500 mg/day, which is the standard clinical and label dose.
Clinical evidence
Moderate clinical evidence. 2024 meta-analysis (5 pooled RCTs) showed significant total WOMAC, pain-subscale and function improvement in knee OA, but VAS pain and the stiffness subscale were non-significant and all pooled trials were manufacturer-sponsored
NIH Fact Sheet