Common supplements for Joint Pain

By Doreen, Pharmacist

Knee pain is often underreported, underestimated and under treated.  The estimated prevalence of knee pain among individuals aged 55 years and older residing in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was 30.8%, while the prevalence of self-reported OA symptoms over the past year was 25.4%. 

Pain relievers such as paracetamol (Panadol) or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Nurofen), are usually the first choice for joint pain relief.  There are also a lot of supplements that claim to work for treating joint pain, but which ones actually work?

1. Turmeric

Turmeric is a plant from the ginger family.  It is often used in South Asian cuisine such as curry.  Turmeric is one of the most popular supplements for treating pain, including joint pain caused by osteoarthritis. Its pain-relieving effects are attributed to a chemical compound in turmeric called curcumin.  Curcumin seems to have anti-inflammatory effects.  To be effective as either a supplement or food, turmeric should be absorbed with fatty oils, such as olive oil and black pepper.  

Studies found that it improves symptoms of joint pain more than a placebo and may be comparable to ibuprofen.  So, it is also good to make turmeric a part of your daily diet.  

2. Glucosamine and chondroitin

Glucosamine is a natural component of cartilage.  It is a substance that prevents bones from rubbing against each other and causing pain and inflammation.  It might also help prevent the cartilage breakdown that can happen with arthritis.

Chondroitin is another building block of cartilage that may promote healthy growth in the joints.  One study found that in trials, chondroitin was more effective than a placebo in controlling pain in the joints and improving the function of the joints themselves.

Many companies package glucosamine and chondroitin in the same formula for joint health.  Supplements containing these components have been found to reduce pain caused by cartilage loss, with chondroitin improving function and glucosamine improving stiffness.  

3. Bosweillia 

Boswellia is extract from the bark of the Boswellia tree, which is native to India.  Boswellia, also known as Indian frankincense, is said to improve pain and physical dysfunction caused by chronic diseases such as osteoarthritis or any inflammatory diseases.  Chemicals in this extract called boswellia acids might prevent musculoskeletal pain by interfering with cell-level functions that cause both pain and inflammation.  Clinical studies have shown that boswellia extracts improve pain symptoms more than a placebo in people with osteoarthritis.

4. Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 Fatty Acids, found in fish oil and other foods, encourage the body to produce chemicals that help control inflammation.  Omega-3 may help ease stiffness caused by inflammation in people with joint problems, but more research is needed.  

5. Collagen 

Collagen helps maintain the integrity of your cartilage, the rubber-like tissue that protects your joints.  As the amount of collagen in your body decreases with age, your risk of degenerative joint disorders such as osteoarthritis increases.  Some studies suggest that collagen supplements may help improve symptoms of osteoarthritis and reduce overall joint pain.  A review of studies in people with osteoarthritis found that taking collagen led to significant improvements in joint stiffness and overall osteoarthritis symptoms.  

Researchers thought that supplemental collagen may accumulate in cartilage and stimulate your tissues to make collagen. In turn, this may lead to lower inflammation, better joint support, and reduced pain.  Even though the research is promising, experts caution that stronger evidence is still needed before recommending collagen as a treatment for osteoarthritis.

6. Eggshell membrane 

Eggshell membrane is a natural ingredient obtained from the inner membrane that covers the shell of the egg.  Eggshell membranes are natural source of glycosaminoglycans such as chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid among other ingredients.  

The eggshell membrane has shown the following key properties, according to the results obtained through different studies:

• Antioxidant activity.
• Cellular activation.
• Extracellular matrix synthesis.
• Anti-inflammatory effect.
• Proteolytic activity reduction.
• Regenerative and healing effect.

Ovomet® 

According to the numerous studies carried out with Ovomet, only intaking 300 milligrams per day, the joint pain and stiffness are reduced, and the joint functionality is highly increased after only a few days of treatment. In fact, Canadian Health authorities allow the following claims for Ovomet: “Helps to reduce joint pain in knee osteoarthritis as early as 5 days”, “starts to help reduce osteoarthritic joint pain as early as 5 days”, among others. These special benefits make Ovomet one of the best products to improve mobility problems in elderlies, allowing them to increase their physical activity and consequently their quality of life. Sport practitioners are another target population to use Ovomet due to the eggshell benefits that different studies have shown not only in joints, reducing pain and stiffens, but also improving the elasticity of the tendons, reducing the risk of injury, shortening recovery times and improving their performance

Even when taking supplements to boost or maintain joint health, it is important to consider other options to help keep joints healthy.

Other aspects of a healthy joint routine include:

• maintaining a moderate weight to reduce the load on the joints
• getting regular physical exercise to strengthen the muscles supporting the joints
• trying gentle stretches and yoga to increase flexibility and range of motion in the joints
• using heat or cold packs to reduce stiffness or soreness in the joints
• taking other medications as a doctor suggests

Alternative therapies, such as massage or acupuncture, may provide minor symptom relief in some people. These therapies may also help reduce other important factors, such as stress.

References:

1. Ethnic differences in the prevalence, socioeconomic and health related risk factors of knee pain and osteoarthritis symptoms in older Malaysians retrieved from https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0225075 
2. 9 Supplements for Joint pain retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/joint-supplements#_noHeaderPrefixedContent
3. 7 natural supplements that might relieve back, joint, and muscle pain retrieved from https://utswmed.org/medblog/supplements-for-back-joint-muscle-pain/
4. Joint supplements: 6 supplements for healthy joints retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/joint-supplements#_noHeaderPrefixedContent
5. Short-Term Effects of Ovomet®, Eggshell Membrane, in Joint Pain. A Double-Blind and Placebo Study retrieved from https://www.longdom.org/open-access/shortterm-effects-of-ovometsup174sup-eggshell-membrane-in-joint-pain-a-doubleblind-and-placebo-study-17066.html
6. Collagen in the egg shell membranes of the hen retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6203793/
7. Top 6 Benefits of Taking Collagen Supplements retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/collagen-benefits#benefits
8. Eggshell membrane: A possible new natural therapeutic for joint and connective tissue disorders. Results from two open-label human clinical studies retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2697588/
9. Benefits of eggshell membrane retrieved from https://eggnovo.com/eggshell-membrane-benefits/