Arthritis & Joint Supplements

Arthritis and Joint Supplements provide you with product options for supporting the joint during periods of high use. “High Use” may be activities such as tennis (knee joints), or even recovering from sports or exercise injuries. One of the most common uses though, is for osteoarthritis—the most common joint disease in the world. Though this pathology tends to progress slowly, it doesn’t make the pain any less manageable on those cold winter mornings! Arthritis involves the degeneration—in severe cases the complete loss—of articular cartilage.

This is the cartilage that covers the ends of two bones that meet, such as in the knee, and reduces the friction on them when we move. Sometimes, due to improper functioning of this cartilage, the tips of the bones can grate on each other and also degenerate over time. In addition, other accessory structures can be impacted in arthritis, such as supportive ligaments and muscles. There are different remedies that can be tried to assist in alleviating the pain or even helping to improve the structure of the joint itself.

Arthritis and Joint Supplements can be divided into two categories: anti-inflammatories and structural support. Some of the most efficacious natural anti-inflammatories on the market today are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and curcumin (found in turmeric root). EPA is a natural fatty acid found in seafood—good sources are fatty fish such as salmon and sardines—that helps to reduce inflammation in all areas of the body.

It does this by reducing the arachidonic acid content found in the cell membranes of every single cell in the human body, of which we have about 37 Trillion! Reducing Arachidonic acid levels in the cell membrane means that we have less building blocks to synthesize the eicosanoids responsible for inflammation and pain mediation. Research is suggesting the most beneficial effects with EPA on rheumatoid arthritis. This was reported in a journal called Nutrients in 2017. 

On the other hand, phytochemicals like curcumin help out further down the track after Arachidonic acid has already "got to work". Turmeric extract assists in reducing levels of inflammatory cytokines, prostaglandins, and even C-reactive protein and Cyclooxygenase-2. In fact, it was reported in the Alternative Medicine Review in 2010 that supplementation with curcumin-phosphatidylcholine complex reduces joint pain and improves joint function, making it useful for long-term osteoarthritis management. 

The Arthritis and Joint Supplements category also contains products that help to support the re-building of articular cartilage and other supportive structures of the joint. One of the most commonly used nutrients for this purpose is the well-known glucosamine sulphate. Glucosamine can be considered a building block for the joint, much as amino acids are building blocks for muscle tissue.

However, the soft tissues, such as cartilage, tendons and ligaments tend to have slightly different nutritional needs to other areas of the body. Another important point to consider is that cartilage has a low blood supply and regenerates slowly. Therefore, one has to be patient, allowing up to six weeks, before assessing the usefulness of a re-building supplement.

Take your time to ensure that you find the most suitable product to meet your needs.