Joint health supplements typically include a variety of ingredients to alleviate joint pain and other symptoms of osteoarthritis. The major ingredients that you’ll see in most of these products include:
✔️ Glucosamine: A substance that naturally occurs in the body and is a building block for cartilage, the connective tissue that cushions the ends of bones within the joints.
✔️ Chondroitin: A substance found in cartilage around joints that helps the cartilage retain water.
✔️ Fish oil: Composed of two omega-3 fatty acids known as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are the two main fatty acids found in fish.
✔️ Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM): An organic form of sulfur that may reduce pain and swelling and improve symptoms in people with osteoarthritis.
✔️ Boswellia: Also known as frankincense, this is an extract derived from the resin of the bark of the Boswellia tree. Limited research suggests that it may relieve joint discomfort in as little as eight weeks.
✔️ Turmeric: A root vegetable that contains the polyphenol curcumin, which is the active compound that gives it its vibrant yellow color and offers anti-inflammatory benefits that limited research shows may alleviate joint pain.
✔️ Collagen: An abundant protein in the body that provides structure and support to muscles, bones, connective tissues, and more. There are different types of collagen, but type II has shown promise with osteoarthritis.
✔️ Hyaluronic acid: A gel-like substance that plays a role in lubricating joints and in the growth of cartilage and bone. It can even help reduce joint inflammation and is available in oral supplements and via injection.
