Also indexed as: cis-9-cetyl myristoleate, CMO
What does it do? Cetyl myristoleate (CMO) is the
common name for cis-9-cetyl myristoleate. CMO was discovered in 1972 by Harry W. Diehl,
Ph.D., a researcher at the National Institutes of Health. At the time, Dr. Diehl was
responsible for testing anti-inflammatory drugs on lab animals. In order for him to test
the drugs, he first had to artificially induce arthritis in the animals by injecting a
heat-killed bacterium called Freund’s adjuvant. Dr. Diehl discovered that Swiss
albino mice did not get arthritis after injection of Freund’s adjuvant. Eventually,
he was able to determine that cetyl myristoleate was the factor present naturally in mice
that was responsible for this protection. When CMO was injected into various strains of
rats, it offered the same protection against arthritis.1 It has been proposed
that CMO acts as a joint “lubricant” and
anti-inflammatory agent. Patents were granted to Dr. Diehl for the use of CMO in both
osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, based upon the animal studies and several case
histories.2 3 4 In a double-blind study, 106 people with
various types of arthritis who had failed to respond to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs received cetyl myristoleate (540 mg per day orally for 30 days), while 226 others
received a placebo. These people also applied cetyl myristoleate or placebo topically,
according to their perceived need. Some 63.5% of those receiving cetyl myristoleate
improved, compared with only 14.5% of those receiving the placebo (a statistically
significant difference).5
Where is it found? Cetyl myristoleate is found in
certain animals, including cows, whales, beavers, and mice. As a nutritional supplement it
is found in a highly purified, refined form in capsules and tablets.
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