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Review of Supplements for Joint Pain

Summary

  • Do supplements for joint pain and joint health work?

    Several dietary supplement ingredients may help reduce joint pain (particularly of the knee or hands, but not the back or hip) due to osteoarthritis (worn joints), although the evidence is not overwhelming (see What It Does). As noted below, ConsumerLab.com tested the quality of products containing one or more of these ingredients.

  • Which joint health supplements are best?

    About one-third of products selected for testing failed to provide the amounts of ingredients listed on their labels — with amounts ranging from just 1.8% to 62% (see What CL Found). Products that passed tests for quality are noted as "Approved" in the Results Table in the full review. Approved products that also provided high-quality ingredients at lowest cost — indicating superior value, were selected as CL's Top Picks).

  • How much to take?

    • Glucosamine (including NAG) and chondroitin: These may be used separately, but most studies have looked at these in combination. Modest pain relief may take several months. Look for products providing a total daily dose of 1,200 mg of glucosamine (sulfate or HCl) with or without 800 mg to 1,500 mg of chondroitin sulfate. See What it Does — Glucosamine and Chondroitin and ConsumerTips: Glucosamine and Chondroitin.

    • MSM: Although in many products, the evidence is very limited for MSM. In animals, it is used to treat muscle soreness. An optimal dose has not been established, but dosage typically ranges from 500 mg to 3,000 mg. See What It Does — MSM and ConsumerTips: MSM.

    • Boswellia: The resin of this plant contains an anti-inflammatory compound, AKBA, so its effects should be felt within a few days or weeks. Note that if only Boswellia resin is listed, it is likely less potent than Boswellia extract (i.e., an extract from the resin), as only about 1% of the resin is AKBA, while 6% to 40% of the extract is AKBA. (We show the amount of AKBA found in each product in the Results table.) A typical daily dose of Boswellia extract is 100 mg to 250 mg. Taking Boswellia extract along with fatty foods may enhance absorption. See What It Does — Boswellia and ConsumerTips: Boswellia.

    • Turmeric: Curcuminoids and other compounds in turmeric provide an anti-inflammatory effect that may provide modest benefit in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, although no better than anti-inflammatory medicines. The typical daily dose ranges from 500 mg to 2,000 mg of curcuminoids (most of which is curcumin) from turmeric extracts, which may be as much as 95% curcuminoids. Products that have shown benefit are typically formulated for enhanced absorption, as curcuminoids are otherwise not well absorbed unless taken with meal containing fats. (For tests of additional turmeric products and more details about their use, see our separate Turmeric and Curcumin Supplements Review.)

    • Collagen: Collagen may modestly improve join pain and flexibility in osteoarthritis, although effects can require two to six months of daily use. The type of collagen most studied for this use is undenatured collagen (such as UC-II and Vital 3), which is different from the hydrolyzed collagen typically used to improve skin appearance. (For tests of additional collagen products and more details about their use, see our separate Collagen Supplements Review.)

    • Combinations: Although combinations are convenient, their formulas (other than glucosamine and chondroitin) typically have not been clinically tested. Before trying a combination, try products with specific, single ingredients and see which, if any, help. This approach can also be less expensive, as combinations are sometimes more expensive than buying each of the ingredients separately.

  • Joint health supplements safety, side effects and drug interactions:

    Most of these ingredients can cause some gastrointestinal upset (such as nausea) and, although generally safe, some can interact with drugs (such as those for blood thinning), trigger allergies, or cause other side-effects. See Concerns and Cautions.

    There is mixed evidence on whether or not taking glucosamine affects the risk of cardiovascular disease and death.

For other types of supplements that may be helpful in treating joint pain, see ConsumerLab.com's reviews of SAMe, Ashwagandha, Cinnamon and Ginger.

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Glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM and Boswellia supplements compared in this review

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1MD MoveMD

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Advocare Joint Promotion

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California Gold Nutrition Total Veggie Joint

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Cosamin DS for Joint Helath

View Larger Image 7565_large_DevaVegan-JointHealth-2021.png

Deva Vegan Glucosamine

View Larger Image 7549_large_DctorsBest-JointHealth-2021.png

Doctor's Best Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM with OptiMSM

View Larger Image 7547_large_FinestNutrition-JointHeath-2021.png

Finest Nutrition Triple Strength Glucosamine and Chondroitin Complex

View Larger Image 7546_large_JarrowFormulas-NAG-JointHealth-2021.png

Jarrow Formulas N-A-G

View Larger Image 7569_large_KirklandSignature-JointHealth-2021.png

Kirkland Signature Extra Strength Glucosamine 1,500 mg Chondroitin 1,200 mg

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Life Extension ArthroMax Advanced NT2 Collagen & ApresFlex

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Member's Mark Glucosamine HCl 1,500 mg Chondroitin Sulfate Sodium 1,200 mg

View Larger Image 7553_large_NaturesNutritioon-JointHealth-2021.png

Nature's Nutrition Joint Support Gummies

View Larger Image 7906_large_NaturesPlus-Boswellin-JointHealth-2022.png

Natures Plus Boswellin

View Larger Image 7558_large_NaturesWay-JointHealth-2021.png

Nature's Way Joint Movement Glucosamine Extra Strength - Berry Flavored

View Larger Image 7570_large_Osteo-JointHealth-2021.png

Osteo Bi-Flex Triple Strength + Vitamin D

View Larger Image 7548_large_Schiff-JointHealth-2021.png

Schiff Move Free Joint Health Advanced Plus MSM

View Larger Image 7568_large_StandardProcess-JointHealth-2021.png

Standard Process MediHerb Boswellia Complex

View Larger Image 7907_large_Swanson-BoswelliaExtract-JointHealth-2022.png

Swanson Boswellia Serrata Extract

View Larger Image 7567_large_USANA-JointHealth-2021.png

USANA Procosa

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Vimerson Health Glucosamine Chondroitin Turmeric & MSM

In this comprehensive review about glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM and Boswellia supplements for arthritis and joint health, you'll get test results and quality ratings for 20 supplements, including 15 products selected for testing by ConsumerLab, and five other productstested through CL's voluntary Quality Certification Program. You'll learn:
  • Which glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM and Boswellia supplements passed or failed ConsumerLab.com's testing and review, and which among them are its Top Picks
  • What glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM and Boswellia are and what they can and cannot do for arthritis
  • How much AKBA (a key compound) is actually in Boswellia resins and extracts, since labels usually don't say -- and why it is important to know
  • How various forms of these ingredients differ, such as the HCl, sulfate, and NAG forms of glucosamine, and the 5-Loxin, AprèsFlex, and Aflapin forms of Boswellia extract
  • Which CL Approved products are lowest in cost and the best value
  • Which products are suitable for vegans and vegetarians and free of shellfish (e.g., made with glucosamine from corn, not shellfish)
  • Which other ingredients in joint health formulas (such as turmeric, ginger, collagen (UC-II) or manganese) may or may not be helpful
  • What is the proper dose of glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM and Boswellia to treat osteoarthritis
  • Potential side-effects of glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM and Boswellia
 
Also see our separate report on these types of supplements for dogs, cats, and horses. 

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Additional Information
Tested through CL's Quality Certification Program prior to, or after initial posting of this Product Review.