Naturally Reduce Joint Pain
In the UK & Ireland alone almost 10 million people suffer from joint pain caused by osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis1.
Consuming natural joint supplements is therefore becoming an increasingly popular method to improve mobility, because they
Simple glucosamine and chondroitin products are already popular with arthritis patients. However, their effectiveness can be greatly enhanced when combined with anti-inflammatoriy nutrients like omega-3, pine bark extract and vitamin E. Further, additional nutrients like MSM and SAMe can protect and rebuild cartilage.
When all these nutrients are combined into a single combination product, these joint supplements offer a convenient alternative treatment strategy.
Which Products Have We Tested?
We have compared and scored 24 popular joint supplements based on their nutrients, dosages and value for money. All of these products are either available on the high street or can be bought online and delivered anywhere in the UK and Ireland.
In this comparison, we only examined dietary supplements and dietetic foods suitable for long-term use. They needed to include a number of clinically-proven effective micronutrients and had to be available over-the-counter either on the high street or online for delivery in the UK & Ireland.
Painkillers, drugs or homeopathic remedies are not part of the comparison. We only included products from pharmacies or online shops, whose contents and dosages are clearly declared on the packaging or websites.
We compared the ingredients and dosages of over 20 known products from the pharmacy and online shops and tried to make the them comparable. At first glance, many products are similar.
Looking more closely, however, the differences in the constituents and active substance amounts are considerable.
The standardised scoring system
We used a standard scoring system for the various ingredients and concentrations to allow for a transparent side-by-side comparison:
We awarded up to 20 points per active ingredient for the most thoroughly researched, clinically proven beneficial joint nutrients glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM.
We awarded up to 10 points for well-researched nutrients and natural remedies Omega-3, Hyaluronic acid and pine bark extract. These micronutrients are thought to be slightly less effective than glucosamine and chondroitin. They also cannot be sold as medicines according to our research. There is good evidence of their beneficial effects and there are no significant side effects.
We awarded up to five points for all other positively-researched micronutrients that are important for the musculoskeletal system, cell protection and the immune system. In our calculations, these include Collagen, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin D, amino acids, selenium, manganese and zinc. When deficient in the body, these micronutrients can lead to joint problems and are therefore important for general health. Even without a known deficiency, increasing the intake of these nutrients can have important health benefits (although not necessarily always clinically proven). This applies in particular as the body ages and demand for nutrients increases as a result of illness or medication. There are no known adverse side effects even in larger dosages.
Joint Supplements Dosages
A micronutrient only becomes effective when it is sufficiently highly dosed. For example, we have reduced the scores when a nutrient is present in the product, but the dosage is lower than generally recommended.
Under these criteria a perfect score of 135 points could have been achieved by a product. However, no joint supplement was able to achieve this.
Firstly, this particular “perfect” nutrient mix does not yet exist. Secondly, it would take a large amount capsules of (approx. six to eight) to provide the appropriate nutrient dosages on a daily basis.
Other potential criteria such as packaging, dosage form (tablets, capsules or powder) as well as price have not been included in point allocation, because of a natural variation in personal preferences.
Delivery & customer service
All test orders were received within 3 – 5 business days and all returns were processed to a satisfactory degree. We have therefore not included this factor as a separate score either.
Pain relievers, medicines and homeopathic remedies were excluded. We also attempted to focus on products, which had their ingredients and dosages clearly labelled. Products with “proprietary mixes” which did not break down the exact nutrient composition lost points on poor transparency.
In addition, there are many more natural remedies, vitamins and trace elements which are regularly recommended by orthopaedic specialists and scientists. We did not include the following ingredients in the analysis, because we could not find insufficiently conclusive information. Conversely, this does not mean, that these substances aren’t beneficial for joints or the immune system:
Joint Winner – amitamin arthro360
amitamin’s arthro360 scored 90 points and is tied with ARTHRO PRO in first place. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price is £39.95. Most pharmacies charge approximately £35. The Triple Pack for three months is available 38% cheaper at £24.95 per month. Shipping is free in 26 European countries.
arthro360 has the best micronutrient combination and dosage, which is clinically effective levels. Per day it includes 1,400 mg of glucosamine sulphate, 400 mg chondroitin sulphate, 150 mg MSM and almost all other proven joint nutrients. The product omits SAMe, but importantly includes 300mg of omega-3-fatty acids.
arthro360 is available in many high-street and online pharmacies.
You can purchase arthro360 in online pharmacies or here directly from the manufacturer.
Joint Winner – aminoexpert ARTHRO PRO
ARTHRO PRO by aminoexpert is the other top scorer with 90 points. It costs up to €44.50 per monthly box, however, the 3-month bundle is 34% cheaper at €29.50 per month.
Although it lacks omega-3 fish oils, the nutrient “stack” and dosages are clinically effective with 1,200 mg glucosamine, 600 mg chondroitin, 300 mg MSM and 120mg SAMe per day. Multiple joint support amino acids, vitamins, minerals and the anti-oxidant pine bark extract are all present in large amounts.
ARTHRO PROs nutrient “stack” and dosages are similar to arthro360 with 1,200 mg glucosamine, 600 mg chondroitin and 300 mg MSM. It omits omega-3, but includes 120mg SAMe per day. Multiple joint support amino acids, vitamins, minerals and the anti-oxidant pine bark extract are all present in large amounts.
It is priced in Euros and shipping is free to 21 European countries.
3rd place: Advanced Therapeutics, Ultra Rx-Joint
Ultra-Rx Joint scored 71 points with its 1,000 mg glucosamine, 800 mg chondroitin and particularly high dosages of 1,000 mg MSM, 200 mg vitamin C and 20 mg Manganese.
Its other key ingredients Black Cherry Extract and Celadrin (esterified fatty acids) are not backed up by clinical research and were therefore not included in the tally. It is also missing several key joint and cartilage micronutrients such as omega-3s, pine bark extract, collagen, hyaluronic acid, SAMe, vitamin E, copper and zinc among them.
Advanced Therapeutics Ultra Rx-Joint is a popular joint supplement in the United States.
4th place: Revive Active Premium Joint Complex
Revive Active Premium Joint Complex scored 70 points and costs £37.50 per month. Shipping is FREE with amazon prime. It comes in daily powder sachets, which can be mixed with water, juice or smoothies.
Produced in the USA and due to its powder format, it scored well due with its unusually high MSM and collagen amounts amongst standard Glucosamine and Chondroitin dosages.
It does lack omega-3 fatty acids, strong antioxidants, amino acids, vitamin D, vitamin E, zinc or selenium and therefore many key joint nutrients.
The sachet format, however, represents a convenient alternative for those preferring to avoid having to swallow capsules whilst missing out on a few nutrients.
5th place: Met-Rx Super Joint Guard
Met-Rx Super Joint Guard has 63 points, because of its good array of vitamins and essential fats. Unfortunately, they are “bundled” into an untransparent proprietary mix so individual dosages are unavailable and the points were lost as a result. They are also mostly dosed far too low compared to dosages used in clinical studies to make any sort of impact.
It does include a good quantity of Glucosamine sulfate and Chondroiton sulfate and even Hyaluronic acid, but it is lacking in trace minerals lacking zinc and selenium altogether.
6th place: Arthri-flex Advantage
Arthri-Flex Advantage scored 60 points, because it combines Glucosamine Sulfate, naturally occurring Chondroitin Sulfate and MSM. Significantly, the Chondroitin comes from “Premium Chicken Sternum Type II Kollagen” and is not quantified on the packaging. The chondroitin could therefore not be quantified for this evaluation and the points were lost as a result. It also is not It does not contain Selenium, Vitamin D and vitamin E or omega-3 acids.
7th place: Labrada Elasti Joint Grape Powder
This drink powder from the USA scored 60 points with its extremely high dosages of Kollagen and MSM. The standard dosages of Glucosamine and Chondroitin due to an approximate amount of 10g drinking powder per day. It has, however, a very limited nutrient profile, because omega 3 acids, antioxidants, vitamins and trace minerals are missing altogether. It was therefore ranked 7th although it has the same number of points as 6th ranked Arthri-Flex Advantage.
8th place: Nature’s Plus, Advanced Therapeutics, Ultra RX Joint Complete System, 2 Piece Kit
This product scored 55 points with its good mix of the basic nutrients Glucosamine, Chondroitin and MSM, but it is missing omega-3s, amino acids and most clinically proven vitamins and trace elements.
The Results
The differences between the individual products can be significant. In general you should keep in mind:
What Makes a Good Joint Supplement?
A quality arthritis food supplement should include the following micronutrients.
Each of them has been clinically proven beneficial for joint health, are well-researched and have no or very small side effects as a food supplement:
The following clinically-proven micronutrients should be included in a quality joint and cartilage food supplement:
Should you rather use conventional pain relief or nutritional supplements and natural remedies? It is very important to have a full medical examination and professional diagnosis before determining the correct course of action for any joint problem. Only a fully qualified medical professional will be able to provide a correct diagnosis and determine the most likely causes of pain and joint degradation.
Pain killers can help quickly, cheaply and are almost universally available. However, they do not promote the generation and repair of cartilage, can have detrimental long-term health effects (can lead heart and liver problems) are therefore not appropriate for long-term use. It is thus important to discuss your health with a doctor or pharmacist in order to chose the most appropriate painkiller and dosage.
Dietary supplements and other natural remedies for joints do not have immediate effects. They may need to be taken for weeks, and in some cases months, before the nutritional benefits initially become obvious. Crucially, however, they tend not to have known side effects and for the most part have been proven effective in peer-reviewed, clinical studies in supporting better long-term cartilage health and sometimes even re-generation.
It’s important that if you have a shellfish allergy you do not take glucosamine. Allergies to other substances such as chondroitin and MSM are rare, but should be checked against in individual cases.
Final Remarks
The food supplements featured in this comparison are just a few from a very large amount of joint & cartilage support products available on the market. The metabolic benefits of the micronutrients are mostly well documented.
Please keep in mind that some products, which that have achieved lower scores in our test or that have not been listed may be more beneficial than other products depending on individual conditions. Nevertheless, we strongly believe that we’ve made the criteria as transparent and fair as possible.
This overview can and must not replace a professional medical assessment and diagnosis conducted by a fully qualified and registered orthopedists, rheumatologists or sports medicine specialists. This comparison is therefore not meant to promote unsupervised self-medication.
Finally, please keep in mind that these three lifestyle factors are crucial for your joint health:
Please consider these factors, as well as regular exercise, a healthy, well-balanced diet rich in whole foods, fish and low in red meats – not only for your joints, but indeed for you overall health, vitality and longevity.
Bibliography
- http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/data-and-statistics/~/media/EFAEFCE432734F3AA5FB1C64329E02D1.ashx
- Lerna et al. 2010. Supplementation of diet with krill oil protects against experimental rheumatoid arthritis. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 11, 136, doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-11-136
- Brien et al. 2008. Systematic review of the nutritional supplements dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 16(11), 1277-1288
- Dzielska-Olczak & Nowak. 2012. Anti-inflammatory therapy in ostheoarthritis including omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. Polish Merkur Lekarski 32(191), 329-334; Calder. 2006. n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids, inflammation, and inflammatory diseases. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 83(suppl), 1505S-1519S
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16309928
- Van Vijven et al., 2012. Symptomatic treatment with chondroprotective and collagen derivatives for osteoarthritis: a systematic review. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 20 (8), 809-821
- http://ard.bmj.com/content/early/2015/01/14/annrheumdis-2014-206792.full
- Feil, W., “Die Dr. Feil Strategie. Arthrose und Gelenkschmerzen überwinden.”, 1. Aufl. 2013, S. 49; ISBN 978-3-00-040191-6
