[Bill S (OP)]

Undoubtedly, allantoin is beneficial to snails, in regenerating shell, amongst other things; but is there any independent evidence that it is effective in relieving arthritis in humans?

[chris]

I'd not read much about allantoin before you raised this; a quick survey of the literature suggests that this common metabolite of nitrogenous waste might improve wound healing: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-86502010000500014&lng=en&tlng=en

But the evidence base can hardly be described as robust, so I'd take this with a pinch of salt - unlike the snail, which definitely doesn't like salt and probably goes better with garlic...

[JakeTse]

Interesting, I've never heard of that.