Arthritis & Joint Supplements

About Arthritis & Joint Supplements

The Arthritis and Joint Supplements section offers support for the joint during periods of increased stress or age-related wear and tear. For instnance, the knee articular cartilage comes under compression or stress during particular weight lifting movements, such as the squat or deadlift. Arthritis and Joint Supplements may be beneficial to promote recovery from sports and exercise injuries. One of the most common uses for this range of products is osteoarthritis, the most common joint disease in the world. Though this pathology progresses slowly, it doesn’t make the pain any less bearable on cold winter morning. Arthritis involves the degeneration, and in severe cases the complete loss of, the articular cartilage which creates the cushioning between bones.

Articular cartilage covers the ends of the bones that meet, such as in the knee, and reduces the friction between them as we move. With poor cartilage integrity, bones can even grate on each other and themselves degenerate over time. In addition, other accessory structures can be impacted in arthritis, such as supportive ligaments and muscles. Many different remedies are available to alleviate the pain associated with osteoarthritis. These supplements may improve the integrity of the connective tissues within the joint structure.

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

EPA works by reducing the cell membrane arachidonic acid content of every single cell in the human body, of which there are around 37 Trillion. Reducing Arachidonic acid levels in the cell membrane means that we have less building blocks to synthesize the inflammatory eicosanoids, which are responsible for pain. Research is suggesting the most beneficial effects with EPA on rheumatoid arthritis, as reported in Nutrients in 2017. 

Phytochemicals like curcumin assist with inflammation further down the metabolic track, after Arachidonic acid has already "begun its 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 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 cartilage re-building supplement.