Cetyl Myristoleate (CM and CMO)

Interactions

Drug/Nutrient Interactions • methotrexate

Editor's Note: While peer-reviewed scientific studies on this dietary supplement are lacking, many practitioners and individuals report observational and anectodal benefits from its use. Use of this dietary supplement is on the rise. For this reason, NHIondemand has provided this monograph using the information that is currently available. As more science-based research becomes available, this monograph will be updated to include that material.

Cetyl myristoleate is an anti-inflammatory agent that was discovered by an award winning researcher named Harry Diehl while he was working at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In 1962, while working on a project to test a new arthritis drug, Diehl injected mice with a toxin that normally causes animals to develop experimentally induced arthritis. Curiously, this strain of mice did not develop arthritis. Two years later, Diehl isolated a substance from this strain of mice that seemed to be responsible for protecting them from getting arthritis. The substance was cetyl myristoleate. Subsequently, Diehl discovered how to make cetyl myristoleate, determined that it was safe, and began providing it to friends and acquaintances with arthritic symptoms. Most people experience substantial improvement and some people made astounding recoveries and became pain free. In March of 1994, Harry Diehl announced his discovery to the scientific community by publishing the results of his research in The Journal of Pharmaceutical Science.(1)

Currently, most cetyl myristoleate is extracted from bovine marrow, and some from palm kernel oil or kombo nuts, first extracting the myristoleic acid, and then processing it by combining it with cetyl alcohol. All cetyl myristoleate formulas currently sold contain other esters of naturally occurring fatty acids. For example, products made from palm kernel material contain cetyl palmitoleate, cetyl oleate, cetyl myristate, and approximately 100 other esters. It may be that certain ratios of these naturally occurring compounds provide some of the therapeutic benefits that are attributed to cetyl myristoleate.

Cetyl myristoleate also occurs naturally in cows, beavers, whales, and some species of mice. Because cetyl myristoleate occurs naturally in nature, it cannot be patented. Therefore, companies are not willing to commit money to study it. Although the following claims have not been scientifically documented, cetyl myristoleate appears to provide substantial anti-inflammatory activity. Since some fatty acids play important roles in regulating the immune system, it has been suggested that cetyl myristoleate may also modulate immune system activity. In addition to reducing inflammation and lubricating joints, some have claimed that cetyl myristoleate also helps to repair damaged joints.

Some people with insufficient digestive capacity (especially elderly individuals) may experience nausea or gas when consuming cetyl myristoleate and related fatty acid esters. These people may take digestive enzymes, betaine hydrochloride, or lecithin to aid in fat digestion.

Flare Ups: Some individuals will experience a flare up of the pain in their affected joints shortly after beginning consumption of cetyl myristoleate. This is usually not a sign of failure, but may be a sign of an anti-inflammatory action of CM and related fatty acid esters. In many cases, the pain passes within a few days, followed by improvement.

Some individuals will experience a flare up of the pain in their affected joints shortly after beginning consumption of cetyl myristoleate. This is usually not a sign of failure, but may be a sign of an anti-inflammatory action of CM and related fatty acid esters. In many cases, the pain passes within a few days, followed by improvement.