Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUnderstanding ASSupplements That May HelpMore Research NeededChoosing SupplementsTips to Prevent Flare-UpsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Understanding AS
Supplements That May Help
More Research Needed
Choosing Supplements
Tips to Prevent Flare-Ups
Frequently Asked Questions
Because there is no cure for AS, treatment typically focuses on medications and therapies to reduce pain and prevent the condition from worsening. In some cases, certain dietary supplements may also be beneficial.
This article will discuss supplements for ankylosing spondylitis, including which ones have proven benefits and those that need additional research.
Tanja Ivanova / Getty Images
Understanding Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis is a form ofarthritisthat causes lower back pain andjoint stiffnessdue to inflammation. Symptoms are usually more severe following periods of rest or inactivity.
As the disease progresses, it can ultimately cause the spinal bones to grow together, leading to a total fusion of the spine. This can result in a limited range of motion and make everyday tasks difficult.
While there is no cure for AS, seeking early treatment may prevent long-term complications from developing.
Many people with AS seek alternativetreatment methods, including herbs, vitamins, minerals, and other dietary supplements.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acidsmay help reduce inflammation. Several studies have proven their effectiveness in reducing inflammation in people withrheumatoid arthritis, which is closely related to AS.
Although studies on omega-3 fatty acids and AS are limited, one study found that higher doses of omega-3 supplements (about 4.5 grams per day) significantly reduced disease activity. However, larger, more controlled studies are needed before conclusions can be made.
Dietary Sources For Omega-3 Fatty AcidsNuts and seeds (walnuts, chia seeds, flaxseed)Cold-water fatty fish (salmon, tuna, sardines)Plant oils (flaxseed oil, canola oil, soybean oil)
Dietary Sources For Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Nuts and seeds (walnuts, chia seeds, flaxseed)Cold-water fatty fish (salmon, tuna, sardines)Plant oils (flaxseed oil, canola oil, soybean oil)
Vitamin D
Vitamin Dis essential for strong bones and muscles. Without it, your body cannot properly absorb calcium, which is also important forbone health. You can get vitamin D from sun exposure, fortified foods, andsupplements.
According to a review, higher vitamin D levels are linked to a decreased risk of AS. Researchers also found a link between higher vitamin D levels and reduced disease activity.Another study reported that AS patients tend to have lower levels of vitamin D. Researchers suggest that vitamin D levels should be considered when forming a treatment plan.
Although the exact cause remains unknown, some studies suggest that people who take oral steroids are twice as likely as the general population to be deficient in vitamin D.Oral steroids are often prescribed to AS patients to treat short-term flare-ups.
Dietary Sources for Vitamin DCod liver oilSalmonTroutFortified milk and dairy
Dietary Sources for Vitamin D
Cod liver oilSalmonTroutFortified milk and dairy
Curcumin
Curcumin is the most widely studied component ofturmeric. It is widely used to treat pain and inflammation associated with several diseases.
According to one review, curcumin may improve morning stiffness, joint swelling, and walking time in patients withrheumatoid arthritis.
Turmeric extract composed of curcumin may help block inflammation pathways and prevent the action of a protein that causes swelling and inflammation.
Calcium
Calciumis involved in many important processes, such as regulating inflammation, bone formation, and bone loss, all of which can occur in patients with AS.
A study suggests calcium supplementation should be mandatory in AS patients who:
Keep in mind, excess calcium supplementation can lead to constipation, kidney stones, and possibly an increased risk of heart disease in women.
Dietary Sources for CalciumMilkCheeseYogurtSoybeansCalcium-fortified beverages like soy milk
Dietary Sources for Calcium
MilkCheeseYogurtSoybeansCalcium-fortified beverages like soy milk
Folic Acid
Methotrexate, such as the brand Trexall, a chemotherapy drug developed to treat cancer, is often prescribed in smaller doses to treat spondylitis symptoms. Takingfolic acid supplementswith methotrexate can reduce side effects such as nausea and oral ulcers and improve medication compliance.
Dietary Sources for Folic AcidFoods high infolate(folic acid) include:Dark, leafy greensBeansPeasNutsLiver
Dietary Sources for Folic Acid
Foods high infolate(folic acid) include:Dark, leafy greensBeansPeasNutsLiver
Foods high infolate(folic acid) include:
Supplements That Need More Research
Although some supplements may treat other health conditions, we need more research to confirm their effectiveness in treating symptoms of AS.
Devil’s Claw
Devil’s clawis an African herb used for years to treat pain and fight inflammation. Although several studies suggest that devil’s claw can reduce pain and improve physical functioning in people withosteoarthritis, there is no solid evidence to support its use in those with AS.
Glucosamine
Unlike osteoarthritis, adegenerative joint disease, AS is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease.
More studies on glucosamine supplements in people with AS are needed to determine if participants have similar effects.
Chondroitin
Chondroitinis a chemical found in the cartilage of humans and animals. It is often used in combination with glucosamine to treat symptoms of osteoarthritis. The American College of Rheumatology does not recommend chondroitin for the treatment of osteoarthritis.
Similar to glucosamine, chondroitin has shown to be effective at providing pain relief to those who suffer from osteoarthritis. However, there isn’t substantial evidence to suggest it has those same benefits in those who have AS.
How to Choose the Right Supplement
Although some supplements have evidence to support their use, more and larger controlled trials are necessary before any supplements can be routinely recommended in AS patients.
It’s important to remember that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not review supplements for safety and effectiveness before they go to market.
Before starting any supplement to treat AS, it’s important to discuss the supplement with your healthcare provider. If they agree, you’ll want to choose your supplement from a reputable brand that utilizes third-party testing to ensure it meets specific criteria and standards.
Some dietary supplements can change or modify the absorption of medications, affecting their potency and leading to serious consequences. It’s important to talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about the medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take to ensure no interactions occur.
Tips to Prevent AS Flare-Ups
Making lifestyle changes can help you manage your condition. Tips to prevent AS flare-ups include:
Summary
A Word From Verywell
If you are looking for a way to manage ankylosing spondylitis, you may consider using supplements alone or in conjunction with traditional drug therapies. Either way, it is important to speak with your healthcare provider before taking supplements. It’s also important to remember the research remains mixed on the effectiveness of supplements for AS. Working closely with your healthcare team can help you optimize your health and prevent or delay disease progression.
Frequently Asked QuestionsPeople with ankylosing spondylitis who have osteoporosis or have known risk factors for bone demineralization may benefit from calcium and vitamin D supplements.There is no cure for ankylosing spondylitis. Sticking to your treatment plan, exercising, participating in physical therapy, and eating a well-balanced diet can decrease pain and prevent or delay disease progression.There is no specialized diet for ankylosing spondylitis. However, following a Mediterranean-style diet that prioritizes foods that fight inflammation while avoiding processed foods that may cause inflammation can be beneficial.
People with ankylosing spondylitis who have osteoporosis or have known risk factors for bone demineralization may benefit from calcium and vitamin D supplements.
There is no cure for ankylosing spondylitis. Sticking to your treatment plan, exercising, participating in physical therapy, and eating a well-balanced diet can decrease pain and prevent or delay disease progression.
There is no specialized diet for ankylosing spondylitis. However, following a Mediterranean-style diet that prioritizes foods that fight inflammation while avoiding processed foods that may cause inflammation can be beneficial.
17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hartford Healthcare.Ankylosing spondylitis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ankylosing spondylitis.Arthritis Foundation.Omega-3 fatty acids for your health.Sundström B, Stålnacke K, Hagfors L, Johansson G.Supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.Scand J Rheumatol. 2006;35(5):359-362. doi:10.1080/03009740600844357Cai G, Wang L, Fan D, et al.Vitamin D in ankylosing spondylitis: review and meta-analysis.Clin Chim Acta. 2015;438:316-322. doi:10.1016/j.cca.2014.08.040Kocyigit BF, Akyol A.Vitamin D levels in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: Is it related to disease activity?Pak J Med Sci. 2018;34(5):1209-1214. doi:10.12669/pjms.345.15739Albert Einstein College of Medicine.Oral steroids linked to severe vitamin D deficiency in nationwide study.Pourhabibi-Zarandi F, Shojaei-Zarghani S, Rafraf M.Curcumin and rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review of literature.Int J Clin Pract. 2021;75(10):e14280 doi:10.1111/ijcp.14280Spondylitis Association of America.Complementing spondyloarthritis treatment with supplements.Talotta R, Rucci F, Scaglione F.Calcium physiology, metabolism and supplementation: a glance at patients with ankylosing spondylitis.Reumatologia. 2020;58(5):297-311. doi:10.5114/reum.2020.100112Spondylitis Association of America.Medications used to treat ankylosing spondylitis and related diseases.Mount Sinai.Devil’s claw.MedlinePlus.Glucosamine.Zhu W, He X, Cheng K, et al.Ankylosing spondylitis: etiology, pathogenesis, and treatments.Bone Res. 2019;7:22. doi:10.1038/s41413-019-0057-8MedlinePlus.Chondroitin.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Mixing medications and dietary supplements can endanger your health.Spondylitis Association of America.Treatment of spondyloarthritis.
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hartford Healthcare.Ankylosing spondylitis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ankylosing spondylitis.Arthritis Foundation.Omega-3 fatty acids for your health.Sundström B, Stålnacke K, Hagfors L, Johansson G.Supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.Scand J Rheumatol. 2006;35(5):359-362. doi:10.1080/03009740600844357Cai G, Wang L, Fan D, et al.Vitamin D in ankylosing spondylitis: review and meta-analysis.Clin Chim Acta. 2015;438:316-322. doi:10.1016/j.cca.2014.08.040Kocyigit BF, Akyol A.Vitamin D levels in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: Is it related to disease activity?Pak J Med Sci. 2018;34(5):1209-1214. doi:10.12669/pjms.345.15739Albert Einstein College of Medicine.Oral steroids linked to severe vitamin D deficiency in nationwide study.Pourhabibi-Zarandi F, Shojaei-Zarghani S, Rafraf M.Curcumin and rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review of literature.Int J Clin Pract. 2021;75(10):e14280 doi:10.1111/ijcp.14280Spondylitis Association of America.Complementing spondyloarthritis treatment with supplements.Talotta R, Rucci F, Scaglione F.Calcium physiology, metabolism and supplementation: a glance at patients with ankylosing spondylitis.Reumatologia. 2020;58(5):297-311. doi:10.5114/reum.2020.100112Spondylitis Association of America.Medications used to treat ankylosing spondylitis and related diseases.Mount Sinai.Devil’s claw.MedlinePlus.Glucosamine.Zhu W, He X, Cheng K, et al.Ankylosing spondylitis: etiology, pathogenesis, and treatments.Bone Res. 2019;7:22. doi:10.1038/s41413-019-0057-8MedlinePlus.Chondroitin.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Mixing medications and dietary supplements can endanger your health.Spondylitis Association of America.Treatment of spondyloarthritis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Hartford Healthcare.Ankylosing spondylitis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ankylosing spondylitis.Arthritis Foundation.Omega-3 fatty acids for your health.Sundström B, Stålnacke K, Hagfors L, Johansson G.Supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.Scand J Rheumatol. 2006;35(5):359-362. doi:10.1080/03009740600844357Cai G, Wang L, Fan D, et al.Vitamin D in ankylosing spondylitis: review and meta-analysis.Clin Chim Acta. 2015;438:316-322. doi:10.1016/j.cca.2014.08.040Kocyigit BF, Akyol A.Vitamin D levels in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: Is it related to disease activity?Pak J Med Sci. 2018;34(5):1209-1214. doi:10.12669/pjms.345.15739Albert Einstein College of Medicine.Oral steroids linked to severe vitamin D deficiency in nationwide study.Pourhabibi-Zarandi F, Shojaei-Zarghani S, Rafraf M.Curcumin and rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review of literature.Int J Clin Pract. 2021;75(10):e14280 doi:10.1111/ijcp.14280Spondylitis Association of America.Complementing spondyloarthritis treatment with supplements.Talotta R, Rucci F, Scaglione F.Calcium physiology, metabolism and supplementation: a glance at patients with ankylosing spondylitis.Reumatologia. 2020;58(5):297-311. doi:10.5114/reum.2020.100112Spondylitis Association of America.Medications used to treat ankylosing spondylitis and related diseases.Mount Sinai.Devil’s claw.MedlinePlus.Glucosamine.Zhu W, He X, Cheng K, et al.Ankylosing spondylitis: etiology, pathogenesis, and treatments.Bone Res. 2019;7:22. doi:10.1038/s41413-019-0057-8MedlinePlus.Chondroitin.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Mixing medications and dietary supplements can endanger your health.Spondylitis Association of America.Treatment of spondyloarthritis.
Hartford Healthcare.Ankylosing spondylitis.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ankylosing spondylitis.
Arthritis Foundation.Omega-3 fatty acids for your health.
Sundström B, Stålnacke K, Hagfors L, Johansson G.Supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.Scand J Rheumatol. 2006;35(5):359-362. doi:10.1080/03009740600844357
Cai G, Wang L, Fan D, et al.Vitamin D in ankylosing spondylitis: review and meta-analysis.Clin Chim Acta. 2015;438:316-322. doi:10.1016/j.cca.2014.08.040
Kocyigit BF, Akyol A.Vitamin D levels in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: Is it related to disease activity?Pak J Med Sci. 2018;34(5):1209-1214. doi:10.12669/pjms.345.15739
Albert Einstein College of Medicine.Oral steroids linked to severe vitamin D deficiency in nationwide study.
Pourhabibi-Zarandi F, Shojaei-Zarghani S, Rafraf M.Curcumin and rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review of literature.Int J Clin Pract. 2021;75(10):e14280 doi:10.1111/ijcp.14280
Spondylitis Association of America.Complementing spondyloarthritis treatment with supplements.
Talotta R, Rucci F, Scaglione F.Calcium physiology, metabolism and supplementation: a glance at patients with ankylosing spondylitis.Reumatologia. 2020;58(5):297-311. doi:10.5114/reum.2020.100112
Spondylitis Association of America.Medications used to treat ankylosing spondylitis and related diseases.
Mount Sinai.Devil’s claw.
MedlinePlus.Glucosamine.
Zhu W, He X, Cheng K, et al.Ankylosing spondylitis: etiology, pathogenesis, and treatments.Bone Res. 2019;7:22. doi:10.1038/s41413-019-0057-8
MedlinePlus.Chondroitin.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Mixing medications and dietary supplements can endanger your health.
Spondylitis Association of America.Treatment of spondyloarthritis.
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