Best supplements for joints to ease pain and prevent inflammation

With the best supplements for joints, you’ll have an effort-free way to boost your health each and every day. These joint pain supplements can help soothe inflammation and tackle pain, especially if you’re battling against arthritis or similar conditions. We’ve covered all bases with this simple guide, which includes easy-to-swallow capsules and affordable options. 

Before you get into shopping, it’s good to get to an idea of which of the best supplements for joints will be most beneficial for you. While each supplement can boost your health, there are capsules with more Omega-3, like the best fish oil supplements, to particularly help with heart health if that’s your aim. 

Many supplements seen here contain glucosamine sulfate, which your body uses to keep your joints shielded, with one study published in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism finding that glucosamine sulfate reduced the symptoms of osteoarthritis too. Though you should always consult a medical professional first if you feel you meet the symptoms of arthritis, it can be helpful to add supplements like these to your routine to boost your health. 

Alternatively, if you’re searching for vitamins that you can’t easily find in your plant-based diet, there are also vegan-friendly supplements to make part of your daily routine. To find the right supplement for you, keep reading to find our full selection of all of the standout options. 

The best supplements for joints you can buy right now

From this popular family brand comes a joint-protecting supplement that ticks off many of the key elements – anti-inflammatory omega 3 fish oils, along with vitamin D and antioxidant vitamin C, which supports the production of connective tissue, and vitamin E, to help healthy immune system function. The supplement also contains glucosamine, which some evidence suggests may help support protective cartilage, particularly useful in OA.

If you’re looking for a good all-rounder in one product, this is for you – although be aware it contains only a moderate dose of omega-3 fish oils, lower than the amount shown to dampen inflammation in arthritis. So you may want to make sure you regularly include omega-3 foods such as oily fish in your diet.

This trusted brand has come up with a slightly different sort of joint supplement. It contains ingredients designed to target a range of joint issues, and is aimed at people who want to keep up an active lifestyle, through improving flexibility and range of motion - and fans swear by it. 

It includes vitamin C, which is an antioxidant vitamin and can help your body build collagen, a component of the cartilage that protects joints. The supplement also contains ingredients to help fight inflammation, such as Boswellia – also known as Indian frankincense. Boswellia is considered potentially helpful for arthritis, although studies have been limited so far.

This product does what it says on the bottle – delivers a decent dose of omega-3 fish oils, which research shows may help dampen inflammation and potentially ease joint pain and stiffness. Three capsules contain 900mg omega-3 oils in a combination of EPA and DHA (the key fatty acids), giving you the amount shown to provide benefits. And it may protect heart health, too. So, if you’re not getting enough oily fish in your diet, reaching for this may help. 

However, it’s a no-no if you’re vegetarian or vegan. Unfortunately, plant omega-3s – found in foods such as walnuts and flaxseeds - don’t provide the same benefits as fish oils. As an alternative, you could try an algae-based omega-3 supplement instead, such as Vegetology Opti 3, as algae are the source of omega-3 for oily fish. 

Cartilage is the connective tissue that pads and protects joints. It can decline as you get older through wear and tear, contributing to joint stiffness and soreness. Cartilage contains glucosamine, so taking this compound in supplement form is thought to slow down cartilage loss. 

The jury’s still out on how effective it is but some research does back up its benefits. And while glucosamine is generally recommended for OA, there is some research to suggest it could help ease symptoms in RA - although the evidence is limited.

Since most glucosamine comes from shellfish or animals, many supplements aren’t suitable for vegetarians or vegans. But this one is!

It also contains inflammation-easing ingredients such as Boswellia and turmeric, plus vitamin C, needed for healthy cartilage. However, if you’re looking for a product with omega-3, this isn’t the one for you. 

Rose-hip is one of the newer kids on the block when it comes to joint health, with some emerging evidence that it could be a winner. The fruit of the dog rose, rose-hip has long been valued for its high levels of vitamin C, which is important for supporting immune health and connective tissue formation.

It’s also packed with antioxidant polyphenols, which may protect against the oxidative stress linked with joint damage. It also has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and some research has suggested it may be a safe and viable alternative to conventional treatments, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), which have side effects. However, don’t switch without talking to your doctor. 

The capsule shell contains gelatin, meaning the supplement can’t be taken by vegetarians – but if you want to try it, you can split open the capsule and sprinkle the powder into a smoothie.

How to choose the best supplements for joints

When browsing supplements, most supplements for joint pain are clearly labeled. But there are a lot of choices out there, so what should you look out for when you're shopping around?

Glucosamine and chondroitin

Glucosamine and chondroitin are two key ingredients found in many of the best supplements for joints. Your body produces these substances to cushion and protect the cartilage around your joints.

This cartilage can wear down, causing your bones to rub together. This is known as osteoarthritis, and there is some evidence, like this study published in The Lancet, that supplements containing these two substances can help ease the pain this rubbing causes.

However, as research is still ongoing, it's best to check with your doctor before you start taking any joint pain supplement.

Anti-inflammatory ingredients

"There's actually an inflammatory component involved in both osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA)—we now know OA isn't just about wear and tear," says rheumatologist Dr. Rod Hughes.

Since anti-inflammatory nutrients could be key for joint issues, supplements high in omega-3 are among the top choices. You can get this nutrient from your diet by eating one or two portions of oily fish each week.

But if you're not partial to fish, then look out for a supplement with a higher level of omega-3. As a bonus, this fatty acid also keeps your heart healthy and can protect your mind and overall wellbeing.

You can also find products containing other anti-inflammatory ingredients—such as Boswellia, rosehip, and turmeric—though there's currently less research behind these.

Vitamins

We get most of our vitamins from our diet, but nutrients like Vitamin D come from our exposure to sunlight. So, especially during the winter months, it can be hard to stay topped up.

Vitamin D is essential for muscle and bone health, which may be why a study published in the journal Autoimmunity Reviews found that low Vitamin D levels could speed up the onset of rheumatoid arthritis.

While there's only limited research into the link between other vitamins and joint pain, these nutrients play a vital role in our bodies and help us stay active and healthy.