Joint Cartilage Can Grow Back, Even at 70 (Even Bone-on-Bone)

Summary

Dave Asprey and research microbiologist Kiran Krishnan discuss how blood-vessel health, inflammation, movement, and nutrient delivery may affect joint and muscle function as people age.

• Their proposed explanation for joint decline: Krishnan says cartilage has no direct blood supply and relies on nearby tiny vessels for nutrients and waste removal. He argues that impaired vessel function and inflammation can shift cartilage cells from repairing tissue to breaking it down.
• Cartilage-regrowth claims: Krishnan describes trials in people with osteoarthritis, including some with bone-on-bone contact, and says they found cartilage regrowth in participants aged 65–70. He attributes the results to a combination of products intended to support blood-vessel lining, nitric oxide, and joint tissue. These are the speakers’ claims; the discussion does not provide enough detail to independently assess the studies or establish that the results apply broadly.
• Movement and strength: The speakers favor regular walking and functional movement, and caution against exercising to exhaustion every day. They argue that usable strength and recruiting muscle fibers matter more for health than simply having large muscles. They also discuss the thighs as an important muscle group for glucose use.
• After meals: Krishnan suggests moving about 15–30 minutes after eating to help manage blood sugar. Asprey favors a gentle walk; they say squats may also help. They reason that digestion initially increases blood flow to the gut, while movement later can use some of that blood flow.
• Before eating: Krishnan recommends seeing and smelling food and taking slow, diaphragmatic breaths while preparing to eat. He says this may help the body shift out of a stressed, fight-or-flight state and prepare for digestion.
• A three-part framework for physical adaptation: Krishnan summarizes it as:
  1. Signals: movement and exercise.
  2. Building blocks: amino acids, minerals, and other nutrients.
  3. Delivery: circulation that carries those materials to tissues.
• Training and recovery: Asprey describes resting rather than maintaining a young athlete’s training load as a sensible approach for an older friend experiencing problems. The conversation also raises concerns about excessive endurance training, but its strong comparisons to smoking and disease risk are presented without supporting evidence in the subtitles.
• Supplements and product promotion: The speakers discuss Arterosil, Vascanox, and Cartigenix, with Krishnan attributing effects to glycocalyx support, nitric oxide, and inflammation-related pathways. Asprey endorses products he says he uses. These are commercial claims, not a substitute for medical advice or independent evidence. The episode also includes promotions for Our Place cookware and Omni-Biotic probiotics.
• Future product: Krishnan describes a planned postbiotic-and-herb product aimed particularly at bone health during perimenopause and menopause. He says studies found faster healing of certain fractures and changes in bone cells, but the episode gives no study citations or full methods.

Presenters and Sources Mentioned

• Presenters: Dave Asprey (host); Kiran Krishnan (guest).
• Research or people referenced: The Framingham study on joints; two osteoarthritis trials described by Krishnan; a hospital fracture study described by Krishnan; a University of Washington research project mentioned by Asprey; Peter Attia; Eric Kandel.
• Companies and products mentioned: Calroy (Arterosil, Vascanox, Cartigenix); Microbiome Labs; Our Place; Omni-Biotic; Kion Aminos; Perfect Aminos; Upgraded Labs.