Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCurcuminGlucosamine SulfateChondroitin SulfateMSMVitamin DCBDOther Joint SupplementsWhat to Look For
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Curcumin
Glucosamine Sulfate
Chondroitin Sulfate
MSM
Vitamin D
CBD
Other Joint Supplements
What to Look For
Joint supplements like glucosamine, chondroitin, andmethylsulfonylmethaneare used to prevent and treat arthritis pain. However, the science is unclear on what the bestjoint supplementsare for treating pain. Many promise more than they deliver.
AConsumer Reportsanalysis found that 44% of the most popular jointsupplementsfell short of their ingredients list.Thus, it is important to know what to look for when choosing a joint supplement.
This article discusses joint supplements and the research behind the most effective supplements. It also explains what to look for when choosing supplements and a list of quality products.
How Arthritis Is Treated
Curcumin is the active ingredient in turmeric, a spice used in cooking and as a dietary supplement. Curcumin is believed to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Curcumin is one of the best-studied joint supplements. A 2022 meta-analysis compared 12 studies exploring the effects of curcumin on osteoarthritis symptoms and found an overall significantly large improvement in pain intensity and function. There were also moderate improvements in other osteoarthritis symptoms such as stiffness, inflammation, and quality of life.
However, it is worth noting that not all studies had similar results, and some did not note any improvements in people taking curcumin.
Similarly, a 2018 review listed curcumin as one of a few different supplements that seemed to significantly reduce pain in the short term.
Typical doses of curcumin are around 1,000 milligrams (mg) per day for four to 16 weeks.
Keith Getter / Getty Images
Glucosamine sulfate supplements are taken on the assumption that they will raise glucosamine levels in the body to such levels as to repair (or even reverse) joint cartilage damage.
Though the evidence in support of glucosamine’s use is largely mixed, studies from Europe concluded that it was as effective in relieving joint pain asTylenol (acetaminophen)and Celebrex (celecoxib).
Glucosamine supplements that have been independently certified include:
The recommended dose of glucosamine is 1,500 mg per day. At this level, it is generally considered safe for up to three years.
Is Glucosamine or Fish Oil Better for Joints?Because joint supplements are poorly studied, it isn’t clear whether fish oil is better than glucosamine. The limited research does suggest that a combination of fish oil and glucosamine is not more effective than glucosamine alone.
Is Glucosamine or Fish Oil Better for Joints?
Because joint supplements are poorly studied, it isn’t clear whether fish oil is better than glucosamine. The limited research does suggest that a combination of fish oil and glucosamine is not more effective than glucosamine alone.
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Amazon
Chondroitinis the most abundant glycosaminoglycan in cartilage and contributes to the resiliency of cartilage. Chondroitin is also important in blocking enzymes that can destroy cartilage.
A 2017 study published in theAnnals of the Rheumatic Diseasessuggested that a daily 800-mg dose of chondroitin sulfate was able to provide the same pain relief as a 200-mg dose of Celebrex (celecoxib).
Chondroitin is commonly co-formulated with glucosamine. Reputable brands include:
The recommended dose of chondroitin is 400 mg taken three times a day for up to six months.While considered safe at this dose, there remains a lack of evidence regarding its long-term safety.
Glucosamine and chondroitin are often taken as a combination therapy to treat osteoarthritis. A 2023 systemic review and meta-analysis concluded that the combination supplement was effective for treating knee osteoarthritis and had benefits over other types of treatments.
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Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)
Photo from Amazon
While glucosamine and chondroitin have scant clinical research to support their use, MSM has even less. People who endorse the product believe that the sulfur contained in MSM helps ligaments maintain flexibility and strength.
MSM is available as an individual supplement but is more commonly found in a supplement containing glucosamine, chondroitin, or both.
Reputable certified brands include:
Research suggests that MSM is safe at doses of up to four grams a day.
10 Simple Ways to Fight Arthritis
Joint pain is common in people with low levels of vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency is common in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is an autoimmune disease that causes joint pain.
Other signs of vitamin D deficiency include:
If you are experiencing joint pain, your healthcare provider may test your vitamin D levels to rule out a deficiency.
The effects of vitamin D on joint pain haven’t been well studied. Some studies have found significant improvements in pain and function, but so far the data is too limited to support the use of vitamin D for joint pain.
CBD oil is oil derived from the cannabis plant. It is thought to have anti-inflammatory properties and it doesn’t make you “high” the way other cannabis products do.
Some people believe CBD oil is good for joint pain, but the evidence for its effectiveness isn’t clear. A 2016 study in rats found that topical CBD might help relieve arthritis pain, but it’s uncertain whether these results would translate to human beings.
A 2021 paper noted that animal studies have had promising results, but that future research in humans is necessary before the safety and efficacy of CBD oil can be established. The author also noted that future studies will need to compare the efficacy of CBD oil to other treatments such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication and corticosteroid injections.
Several other compounds show promise for easing arthritis pain. Some of these include:
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health notes there is a lack of evidence to determine whether any nutritional supplements effectively treat osteoarthritis.More research is needed to confirm whether or not these nutritional supplements are effective for preventing or treating joint pain.
Joint supplements have been studied more extensively than other supplements, and, occasionally, researchers have made positive findings. However, in the United States, supplement manufacturers are not subject to the same regulatory scrutiny as the pharmaceutical industry regarding terms of research, quality assurance, or marketing. Because of this, you need to be on guard when reviewing the manufacturer’s claims.
When you’re shopping for supplements, pay attention to the claims the manufacturer is making. If the claim sounds overblown or too good to be true, it probably is. For example, claims that a product will reverse joint damage or cure arthritis are false.
Some products are combination formulas that contain more than one supplement. Buying combination formulas can save on overall costs.
Are Joint Supplements Worth the Money?
Summary
Supplements are sometimes recommended for treating joint pain due to osteoarthritis and other causes. So far the evidence for the effectiveness of any supplement is limited.
The supplements that have the best evidence to support them include curcumin, glucosamine sulfate, and chondroitin sulfate. Other supplements have fewer studies to support them.
Always talk to your healthcare provider about supplement use and whether it is right for you.
A Word From Verywell
It is important to remember that the independent certification of a joint supplement is a stamp of approval of its quality, but it does not mean that it actually works.
Even so, quality matters. To ensure safety and purity, the Arthritis Foundation recommends buying supplements from reputable national brands and being wary of low-cost alternatives that claim to have the same ingredients at a fraction of the price.
The 8 Best Arthritis Creams to Alleviate Aches and Pains
19 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.Consumer Reports.The facts about joint supplements: of the 16 products we tested, seven didn’t contain all that they claimed.Mathieu S, Soubrier M, Peirs C, Monfoulet LE, Boirie Y, Tournadre A.A meta-analysis of the impact of nutritional supplementation on osteoarthritis symptoms.Nutrients. 2022;14(8):1607. doi:10.3390/nu14081607Liu X, Machado GC, Eyles JP, Ravi V, Hunter DJ.Dietary supplements for treating osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Br J Sports Med. 2018;52(3):167-175. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2016-097333Salazar J, Bello L, Chávez M, Añez R, Rojas J, Bermúdez V.Glucosamine for osteoarthritis: biological effects, clinical efficacy, and safety on glucose metabolism.Arthritis. 2014;2014:1-13. doi:10.1155/2014/432463Reginster JY, Dudler J, Blicharski T, Pavelka K.Pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin sulfate is as effective as celecoxib and superior to placebo in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: the ChONdroitin versus CElecoxib versus Placebo Trial (CONCEPT).Ann Rheum Dis. 2017;76(9):1537-1543. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-210860MedlinePlus.Glucosamine.Kuszewski JC, Wong RHX, Howe PRC.Fish oil supplementation reduces osteoarthritis-specific pain in older adults with overweight/obesity.Rheumatol Adv Pract. 2020;4(2):rkaa036. doi:10.1093/rap/rkaa036Jung YK, Park HR, Cho HJ, et al.Degrading products of chondroitin sulfate can induce hypertrophy-like changes and MMP-13/ADAMTS5 production in chondrocytes.Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):15846. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-52358-4Vasiliadis HS, Tsikopoulos K.Glucosamine and chondroitin for the treatment of osteoarthritis.World J Orthop. 2017;8(1):1-11. doi:10.5312/wjo.v8.i1.1Reginster JY, Dudler J, Blicharski T, Pavelka K.Pharmaceutical-grade Chondroitin sulfate is as effective as celecoxib and superior to placebo in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: the ChONdroitin versus CElecoxib versus Placebo Trial (CONCEPT).Ann Rheum Dis. 2017;76(9):1537-1543. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-210860Singh JA, Noorbaloochi S, MacDonald R, Maxwell LJ.Chondroitin for osteoarthritis.Cochrane Database System Rev.2015;1:CD005614. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005614.pub2Meng Z, Liu J, Zhou N.Efficacy and safety of the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin for knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2023;143(1):409-421. doi:10.1007/s00402-021-04326-9Butawan M, Benjamin RL, Bloomer RJ.Methylsulfonylmethane: applications and safety of a novel dietary supplement.Nutrients. 2017;9(3) doi:10.3390/nu9030290Athanassiou L, Kostoglou-Athanassiou I, Koutsilieris M, Shoenfeld Y.Vitamin D and autoimmune rheumatic diseases.Biomolecules. 2023;13(4):709. doi:10.3390/biom13040709Yale Medicine.Vitamin D deficiency.Hammell DC, Zhang LP, Ma F, et al.Transdermal cannabidiol reduces inflammation and pain-related behaviours in a rat model of arthritis.Eur J Pain. 2016;20(6):936-948. doi:10.1002/ejp.818Lykins W.Efficacy of cannabidiol in treating osteoarthritis.J Orthop Physician Assist. 2021;9(3):e21.00012. doi:10.2106/JBJS.JOPA.21.00012National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Osteoarthritis: in depth.Arthritis Foundation.Supplement and herb guide for arthritis symptoms.
19 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.Consumer Reports.The facts about joint supplements: of the 16 products we tested, seven didn’t contain all that they claimed.Mathieu S, Soubrier M, Peirs C, Monfoulet LE, Boirie Y, Tournadre A.A meta-analysis of the impact of nutritional supplementation on osteoarthritis symptoms.Nutrients. 2022;14(8):1607. doi:10.3390/nu14081607Liu X, Machado GC, Eyles JP, Ravi V, Hunter DJ.Dietary supplements for treating osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Br J Sports Med. 2018;52(3):167-175. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2016-097333Salazar J, Bello L, Chávez M, Añez R, Rojas J, Bermúdez V.Glucosamine for osteoarthritis: biological effects, clinical efficacy, and safety on glucose metabolism.Arthritis. 2014;2014:1-13. doi:10.1155/2014/432463Reginster JY, Dudler J, Blicharski T, Pavelka K.Pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin sulfate is as effective as celecoxib and superior to placebo in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: the ChONdroitin versus CElecoxib versus Placebo Trial (CONCEPT).Ann Rheum Dis. 2017;76(9):1537-1543. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-210860MedlinePlus.Glucosamine.Kuszewski JC, Wong RHX, Howe PRC.Fish oil supplementation reduces osteoarthritis-specific pain in older adults with overweight/obesity.Rheumatol Adv Pract. 2020;4(2):rkaa036. doi:10.1093/rap/rkaa036Jung YK, Park HR, Cho HJ, et al.Degrading products of chondroitin sulfate can induce hypertrophy-like changes and MMP-13/ADAMTS5 production in chondrocytes.Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):15846. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-52358-4Vasiliadis HS, Tsikopoulos K.Glucosamine and chondroitin for the treatment of osteoarthritis.World J Orthop. 2017;8(1):1-11. doi:10.5312/wjo.v8.i1.1Reginster JY, Dudler J, Blicharski T, Pavelka K.Pharmaceutical-grade Chondroitin sulfate is as effective as celecoxib and superior to placebo in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: the ChONdroitin versus CElecoxib versus Placebo Trial (CONCEPT).Ann Rheum Dis. 2017;76(9):1537-1543. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-210860Singh JA, Noorbaloochi S, MacDonald R, Maxwell LJ.Chondroitin for osteoarthritis.Cochrane Database System Rev.2015;1:CD005614. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005614.pub2Meng Z, Liu J, Zhou N.Efficacy and safety of the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin for knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2023;143(1):409-421. doi:10.1007/s00402-021-04326-9Butawan M, Benjamin RL, Bloomer RJ.Methylsulfonylmethane: applications and safety of a novel dietary supplement.Nutrients. 2017;9(3) doi:10.3390/nu9030290Athanassiou L, Kostoglou-Athanassiou I, Koutsilieris M, Shoenfeld Y.Vitamin D and autoimmune rheumatic diseases.Biomolecules. 2023;13(4):709. doi:10.3390/biom13040709Yale Medicine.Vitamin D deficiency.Hammell DC, Zhang LP, Ma F, et al.Transdermal cannabidiol reduces inflammation and pain-related behaviours in a rat model of arthritis.Eur J Pain. 2016;20(6):936-948. doi:10.1002/ejp.818Lykins W.Efficacy of cannabidiol in treating osteoarthritis.J Orthop Physician Assist. 2021;9(3):e21.00012. doi:10.2106/JBJS.JOPA.21.00012National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Osteoarthritis: in depth.Arthritis Foundation.Supplement and herb guide for arthritis symptoms.
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.
Consumer Reports.The facts about joint supplements: of the 16 products we tested, seven didn’t contain all that they claimed.Mathieu S, Soubrier M, Peirs C, Monfoulet LE, Boirie Y, Tournadre A.A meta-analysis of the impact of nutritional supplementation on osteoarthritis symptoms.Nutrients. 2022;14(8):1607. doi:10.3390/nu14081607Liu X, Machado GC, Eyles JP, Ravi V, Hunter DJ.Dietary supplements for treating osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Br J Sports Med. 2018;52(3):167-175. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2016-097333Salazar J, Bello L, Chávez M, Añez R, Rojas J, Bermúdez V.Glucosamine for osteoarthritis: biological effects, clinical efficacy, and safety on glucose metabolism.Arthritis. 2014;2014:1-13. doi:10.1155/2014/432463Reginster JY, Dudler J, Blicharski T, Pavelka K.Pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin sulfate is as effective as celecoxib and superior to placebo in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: the ChONdroitin versus CElecoxib versus Placebo Trial (CONCEPT).Ann Rheum Dis. 2017;76(9):1537-1543. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-210860MedlinePlus.Glucosamine.Kuszewski JC, Wong RHX, Howe PRC.Fish oil supplementation reduces osteoarthritis-specific pain in older adults with overweight/obesity.Rheumatol Adv Pract. 2020;4(2):rkaa036. doi:10.1093/rap/rkaa036Jung YK, Park HR, Cho HJ, et al.Degrading products of chondroitin sulfate can induce hypertrophy-like changes and MMP-13/ADAMTS5 production in chondrocytes.Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):15846. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-52358-4Vasiliadis HS, Tsikopoulos K.Glucosamine and chondroitin for the treatment of osteoarthritis.World J Orthop. 2017;8(1):1-11. doi:10.5312/wjo.v8.i1.1Reginster JY, Dudler J, Blicharski T, Pavelka K.Pharmaceutical-grade Chondroitin sulfate is as effective as celecoxib and superior to placebo in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: the ChONdroitin versus CElecoxib versus Placebo Trial (CONCEPT).Ann Rheum Dis. 2017;76(9):1537-1543. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-210860Singh JA, Noorbaloochi S, MacDonald R, Maxwell LJ.Chondroitin for osteoarthritis.Cochrane Database System Rev.2015;1:CD005614. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005614.pub2Meng Z, Liu J, Zhou N.Efficacy and safety of the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin for knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2023;143(1):409-421. doi:10.1007/s00402-021-04326-9Butawan M, Benjamin RL, Bloomer RJ.Methylsulfonylmethane: applications and safety of a novel dietary supplement.Nutrients. 2017;9(3) doi:10.3390/nu9030290Athanassiou L, Kostoglou-Athanassiou I, Koutsilieris M, Shoenfeld Y.Vitamin D and autoimmune rheumatic diseases.Biomolecules. 2023;13(4):709. doi:10.3390/biom13040709Yale Medicine.Vitamin D deficiency.Hammell DC, Zhang LP, Ma F, et al.Transdermal cannabidiol reduces inflammation and pain-related behaviours in a rat model of arthritis.Eur J Pain. 2016;20(6):936-948. doi:10.1002/ejp.818Lykins W.Efficacy of cannabidiol in treating osteoarthritis.J Orthop Physician Assist. 2021;9(3):e21.00012. doi:10.2106/JBJS.JOPA.21.00012National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Osteoarthritis: in depth.Arthritis Foundation.Supplement and herb guide for arthritis symptoms.
Consumer Reports.The facts about joint supplements: of the 16 products we tested, seven didn’t contain all that they claimed.
Mathieu S, Soubrier M, Peirs C, Monfoulet LE, Boirie Y, Tournadre A.A meta-analysis of the impact of nutritional supplementation on osteoarthritis symptoms.Nutrients. 2022;14(8):1607. doi:10.3390/nu14081607
Liu X, Machado GC, Eyles JP, Ravi V, Hunter DJ.Dietary supplements for treating osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Br J Sports Med. 2018;52(3):167-175. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2016-097333
Salazar J, Bello L, Chávez M, Añez R, Rojas J, Bermúdez V.Glucosamine for osteoarthritis: biological effects, clinical efficacy, and safety on glucose metabolism.Arthritis. 2014;2014:1-13. doi:10.1155/2014/432463
Reginster JY, Dudler J, Blicharski T, Pavelka K.Pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin sulfate is as effective as celecoxib and superior to placebo in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: the ChONdroitin versus CElecoxib versus Placebo Trial (CONCEPT).Ann Rheum Dis. 2017;76(9):1537-1543. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-210860
MedlinePlus.Glucosamine.
Kuszewski JC, Wong RHX, Howe PRC.Fish oil supplementation reduces osteoarthritis-specific pain in older adults with overweight/obesity.Rheumatol Adv Pract. 2020;4(2):rkaa036. doi:10.1093/rap/rkaa036
Jung YK, Park HR, Cho HJ, et al.Degrading products of chondroitin sulfate can induce hypertrophy-like changes and MMP-13/ADAMTS5 production in chondrocytes.Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):15846. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-52358-4
Vasiliadis HS, Tsikopoulos K.Glucosamine and chondroitin for the treatment of osteoarthritis.World J Orthop. 2017;8(1):1-11. doi:10.5312/wjo.v8.i1.1
Reginster JY, Dudler J, Blicharski T, Pavelka K.Pharmaceutical-grade Chondroitin sulfate is as effective as celecoxib and superior to placebo in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: the ChONdroitin versus CElecoxib versus Placebo Trial (CONCEPT).Ann Rheum Dis. 2017;76(9):1537-1543. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-210860
Singh JA, Noorbaloochi S, MacDonald R, Maxwell LJ.Chondroitin for osteoarthritis.Cochrane Database System Rev.2015;1:CD005614. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005614.pub2
Meng Z, Liu J, Zhou N.Efficacy and safety of the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin for knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2023;143(1):409-421. doi:10.1007/s00402-021-04326-9
Butawan M, Benjamin RL, Bloomer RJ.Methylsulfonylmethane: applications and safety of a novel dietary supplement.Nutrients. 2017;9(3) doi:10.3390/nu9030290
Athanassiou L, Kostoglou-Athanassiou I, Koutsilieris M, Shoenfeld Y.Vitamin D and autoimmune rheumatic diseases.Biomolecules. 2023;13(4):709. doi:10.3390/biom13040709
Yale Medicine.Vitamin D deficiency.
Hammell DC, Zhang LP, Ma F, et al.Transdermal cannabidiol reduces inflammation and pain-related behaviours in a rat model of arthritis.Eur J Pain. 2016;20(6):936-948. doi:10.1002/ejp.818
Lykins W.Efficacy of cannabidiol in treating osteoarthritis.J Orthop Physician Assist. 2021;9(3):e21.00012. doi:10.2106/JBJS.JOPA.21.00012
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Osteoarthritis: in depth.
Arthritis Foundation.Supplement and herb guide for arthritis symptoms.
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