Best 9 Supplements For Osteoarthritis That I Tried
If you have osteoarthritis, you surely know what pain is. I’ve been there too, so I know exactly how frustrating it is when you can’t do anything to relieve that pain.
But in my long search for a cure, I did find a lot of useful products. The biggest part I tried were scams, but there were a few that really worked.
So let me show you which are the best 9 supplements for osteoarthritis that I tried in the last years. In this way, you can avoid the bad products that don’t relieve the pain. I did all the research for you.
Note: I tried each of these supplements, so what I say is based on my experience with them
#9 – JointEase Plus ($29.95)
Though it wasn’t a very good supplement for my pain, JointEase Plus could decrease a milder OA pain.
It has different ingredients from most supplements (in the good way). However, their doses are pretty low, so that’s why this supplement isn’t very effective in all forms of OA.
Ingredients: Glucosamine, Devil’s Claw and Indian Frankincense
Best For: An easy form of OA or a very mild pain
Not Good For: Regular to severe forms, because it doesn’t have powerful ingredients nor good doses
PROs
- Different ingredients compared to classic supplements, so it brings a new approach to osteoarthritis
- Pretty natural, considering it contains 2 herbal extracts
CONs
- Every ingredient has pretty low doses
- Not effective for regular or severe pain (at least in my case it didn’t make miracles)
- You have to take 6 pills per day, which is a lot
- One bottle only lasts for 10 days (that was really frustrating for me)
- It’s very expensive for what it does and for its quantity
See My Whole Review HERE
#8 – HerbaLife Joint Support ($34.93)
This company is known for their natural products, so that’s what I like about their joint supplement. It does help the mild OA pain, but it’s pretty weak for a severe form.
Regarding the ingredients, it’s also pretty different from classic supplements. It contains a lot of minerals, but I’m not sure how much they could help damaged cartilages.
Ingredients: Glucosamine (HCl), Scute Root Extract, Seleniu, Cooper, Manganese
Best For: A mild form of OA with a minimal pain
Not Good For: Severe forms, but it’s not very effective in average forms either
PROs
- Natural ingredients, compared to other supplements
- One bottle is enough for 3 months, so it’s pretty affordable overall
- You only have to take 1 pill per day
CONs
- It has a low dose of glucosamine and it uses the weaker form (HCl instead of sulfate)
- For my knee OA, it didn’t bring a major relief
- I personally don’t think those minerals can help much
See My Whole Review HERE
#7 – Osteo Bi Flex ($22.94)
Though it’s one of the most popular joint supplements ever, Osteo Bi-Flex didn’t help me tremendously. And judging after its ingredients, I understand why. It’s not based on classic ingredients, but it uses several combinations I’ve never seen before. For me, they didn’t turn out to be effective.
This supplement does help a recent OA, but I doubt it’s as effective in a severe form. At least in my case, it was definitely not.
Ingredients: Glucosamine HCl, Chondroitin/MSM Complex, Boswellia Extract, Vitamin C, Manganese, Sodium
Best For: Mild pain and easy cartilage problems
Not Good For: I don’t think it can relieve a typical OA pain completely, despite its popularity. I’m not including my experience here, but that’s my conclusion considering its ingredients
PROs
- It has a few original combinations among ingredients
- You only have to take 2 pills per day
- Quite popular, so you can find lots of reviews about it
- It’s pretty affordable
CONs
- It contains the bad form of glucosamine, that doesn’t have any studies behind (HCl instead of sulfate)
- Pills are very big, so they are pretty hard to swallow
- In my case, it didn’t relieve my knee pain considerably even after 4 weeks (they say it works in 1)
See My Whole Review HERE
#6 – Omega 3 Joint Relief ($39.99)
If you never believed in what Omega 3 supplements can do, it’s time to give them a chance. This supplement is the best example. It’s based on the classic collagen and Calamarine, a fish oil I’ve never seen anywhere else.
And when it comes to pain, it works on the long term. But it doesn’t have any powerful ingredients, so don’t expect it to make miracles for a serious form of OA.
Ingredients: Collagen (Standard Cartilage), Calamarine Oil, Turmeric Extract
Best For: Mild and average forms of OA
Not Good For: Severe arthritis or people who need a very fast pain relief
PROs
- Original and natural ingredients
- The pills are much easier to swallow than others (they are “softgels”)
- You only have to take 2 pills per day
- I noticed an improvement after about 3-4 weeks, so it’s not a useless supplement
CONs
- It doesn’t work very fast and it doesn’t help in severe forms of OA
- It’s really expensive for what it does
- One bottle lasts for only one month
- It doesn’t have any classic ingredients like glucosamine, MSM or chondroitin (which are stronger)
#5 – Joint & Bone Essentials ($39.99)
Here’s another product that stands out from the rest with his unique formula. It combines the classic glucosamine with several unique ingredients of their brand.
The result? It’s a decent choice on the long term, even for a more severe form. However, don’t expect it to work very fast, because it will surely not. But considering it’s overall price, I’m not sure it’s the very best choice for a severe OA.
Ingredients: Glucosamine, Vitamin D3, Calcium, NEM Eggshell Membrane, FruiteX-B, Milk Protein (the last 3 are the brand’s own ingredients, as far as I know)
Best For: Mild and average forms of OA, especially
Not Good For: I wouldn’t recommend it for a more serious form, though it does work. However, the results won’t be as good and it needs a lot more time
PROs
- It improves cartilage heath on the long term
- Pretty original ingredients, but there’s also classic ones
- It’s also made for the bones, not just for damaged joints
- It did relieve my OA pain, but I had to wait about a month to see that improvement
- It’s good even for severe forms, but it takes much longer to work
CONs
- Pretty expensive for the quantity (1 bottle lasts one month)
- You have to take 4 pills per day
- Not the fastest or best relief you can get
#4 – Instaflex ($49.49)
If you think good ingredients are everything, you will surely love this supplement. Instaflex is really popular, and that’s probably because of its long ingredient list. It combines classic ingredients with herbs, so the effect is pretty obvious.
For knee OA, this supplement is all you can wish for. But obviously,you have to pay the price for so many different ingredients.
Ingredients: Glucosamine, MSM, Willow Bark Extract, Ginger Extract, Boswellia Extract, Turmeric, Cayenne Extract, Hyaluronic Acid
Best For: Knee OA especially
Not Good For: I don’t know if it’s as effective for hip, shoulder or back arthritis
PROs
- Most of the ingredients are natural
- It really improves knee OA pain (it decreased my pain in one week)
- The classic ingredients have over average doses
- It works in any form of OA, including more severe ones
CONs
- It’s way too expensive for what it does (I can’t afford buying it monthly, that’s why I’m saying)
- You have to take all 3 pills together to get the best effect
- According to some review I read, it works better for knee pain than for any other OA pain
See My Whole Review HERE
#3 – Super Joint Support ($59.00)
Though I seriously questioned this supplement before buying it, it really did its job. Super Joint Support uses a pretty different combination from what I’ve seen before.
But other than that, it really decreases even severe OA pain. I’ve seen that myself, as it’s one of the few products that brought me a full relief. Obviously, that doesn’t mean it’s the perfect supplement. It’s one of the most expensive products I ever bought.
Ingredients: Glucosamine Sulfate, Collagen, MSM, Ionic Sea Minerals, White Willow Bark Extract, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Vitamin D, K, B12
Best For: Any kind of OA pain, including very weak cartilages and damaged joints
Not Good For: Low Budgets
PROs
- It contains both original and classic ingredients, in really good doses
- Works really well for any kind of OA pain
- It decreased my pain in 2 weeks
- It also made my knees stronger than before
- Because of the Ionic Sea Minerals, it’s an energy booster (I experienced that myself)
CONs
- You have to take 6 pills per day
- It’s way to expensive for the quantity
- One of its websites looks pretty suspicious
See My Whole Review HERE
#2 – Joint Advantage Gold ($49.49)
This is one of the best supplements I tried, so there’s no wonder it’s among my top recommendations. Healthy Directions’ product has both, classic ingredients, new substances and original combinations. Is that enough to convince you?
If it’s not, let me tell you that I know this supplement very well, as I tried it in different occasions. It does relieve the pain incredibly well, even if we’re talking about severe forms of OA (like mine). But it depends if you’re willing to pay the high price or not.
Ingredients: Glucosamine, Meriva Phytosome (Curcumin), NEM Eggshell Membrane, HerbaZyme Soothing Blend, Boswellia Extract, Bovine Cartilage
Best For: Damaged cartilages and and type of OA pain
Not Good For: Lower budgets
PROs
- One of the best ingredient lists I’ve ever seen
- Each substance has really good doses
- It also works for RA, but it has more specific ingredients for OA
- It really decreased my knee pain in less than 1 week
CONS
- It’s extremely expensive for average people like me
- You have to take 6 pills per day
See My Whole Review HERE
My #1 Recommendation – ProJoint Plus ($29.95)
If there’s only one supplement that’s worth buying, it’s surely this one. It contains classic ingredients combined with anti-inflammatory herbs in really good doses. But that’s not why it’s my #1 recommendation.
This supplement does pretty much the same thing as #2 and #3 when it comes to relieving pain. It literally takes it all away. Besides, it also improves cartilages and increases their flexibility.
What makes it different is the price, as it’s affordable for most people. That’s the reason why I’m using this product constantly.
For my OA pain, it’s the best reliever at the best price.
Ingredients: Glucosamine, MSM, Chondroitin, Boswellia extract, Turmeric, Bromelain, Quercetin, Methionine
Best For: Any type of OA pain or damaged cartilages
Not Good For: I can’t possibly tell
Tip: You can get 5% off if you use the code I’m offering below. Also, if you buy a larger pack you get a free bottle, so the price can decrease significantly.
PROs
- The cheapest supplement that relieved my severe OA pain completely
- It has really good ingredients (both classic and modern) in over average doses
- Really helps flexibility on the long term
- You have to take only 3 pills per day
CONs
- It’s not very popular, I found it by complete random
See My Whole Review HERE
What Ingredients Should An OA Supplement Have?
There’s no written rule, and you surely saw that above. Most supplements have classic ingredients and their own brand substances.
However, that doesn’t mean they really work. Just because a supplement has a great substance inside doesn’t mean it will really relieve your pain. I’ve seen that myself a lot of times, trust me. So a lot of supplements can disappoint you.
Therefore, what ingredients should you find in a good OA supplement? I will only show you the ones that I consider a MUST:
1. Glucosamine sulfate – it’s the best ingredient for rebuilding cartilages, which is essential in OA. That’s why every decent supplement contains this substance. I don’t advise you to buy a product without glucosamine, at least if you have OA.
The average dose is somewhere between 800-1200 mg per day. However, make sure your supplement has the sulfate form, as lots of products contains glucosamine hydrochloride (studies showed it’s not helpful for OA).
2. Chondroitin – it doesn’t exist in most supplements, though it used to be really popular in the past. This substance also helps cartilage rebuilt, but it also increases the power of glucosamine. So I really recommend getting a product with chondroitin, in any concentration
3. MSM – this is a form of sulfate that exists in the human body as well. It’s a natural anti-inflammatory and it increases joint flexibility. That’s why it’s a great substance for OA, especially if you’re dealing with regular stiffness.
4. Anti-Inlammatory Herbs – they are important, but not as essential as the previous 3. In osteoarthritis, inflammation isn’t a big problem. It’s rather a consequence of joint damage, it’s not the cause itself. That’s why anti-inflammatory substances aren’t that important as in RA.
Unfortunately, most people don’t know that and they take glucosamine for RA and anti-inflammatory for OA. Obviously, their pain won’t improve much in this way.
So What Makes A Good Osteoarthritis Supplement?
What should a supplement have so that it is considered “good enough”? It’s obvious that I didn’t choose these 9 products randomly.
Well, let’s take them by turn.
#1 – Fast Effect. No person with OA could wait for one month to get a minor improvement. A good supplement should relieve the pain in a few weeks at most.
Yes, it’s clear that it can’t take away all your pain over night. But you should start to see an improvement in the same week, if that product is good enough.
#2 – Full Relief. I tried so many products that did improve my pain, but they couldn’t relieve it completely.
Obviously, that depends a lot of how severe is your pain. If you had a really bad form, it’s possible that no supplement can relieve your pain completely. That’s what happens to me every time, as my knee OA is pretty serious.
So if that’s your case too, a good supplement should take your pain to a 2-3 on the pain scale. Something above those numbers isn’t a full relief. But if your pain was 8 and a supplement took it to a 2, it’s surely a good one.
#3 – Long Term Effect. Unfortunately, there are lots of products that relieve your pain for one month and then stop working. You may take the same number of pills, at the same hour, without changing anything in your schedule. The simply stop working.
Instead, a good supplement should have the same effect for years, as long as you’re taking the pills correctly.
My grandmother has osteoarthritis and she’s still trying lots of products, but none of yours seem familiar to me and also she is never happy with the products she tries.
I think your article it’s exacly what she needs. I personally don’t know much about osteoarthritis supplements, but my grandmother really needs a good supplement and I am sure she will be so happy to have a look at your reviews, especially because they are based on your own experience and I also love the way you present them: very accurate!
Thank you so much for giving out all those details, it really helps!
Hey Anna, it’s great to help.
I’m very curious what supplements has your grandmother tried before. You say she was never satisfied with any, so I assume they didn’t help a lot.
My thought is that she probably tried some with glucosamine HCl. Glucosamine is the best ingredient for osteoarthritis – but only when used in the right form, the sulfate. This is much more effective and has lots of studies behind (with positive results)
Unfortunately, most brands use the HCl form, because it’s cheaper for them. But the overall price is around the same – whether a product contains the sulfate or the HCl form.
So most supplements contain glucosamine HCl – and most people have no idea about the difference. That’s why many persons choose randomly, so they end up using products with glucosamine HCl (since they are more numerous).
Many of the supplements from my list contain the sulfate form – which is the one I recommend. So let your grandmother know about this difference and ask her to check out the labels of her supplements. You can find the form of glucosamine they contain there. That should clarify things out.
If you can, get back to me and let me know what products she’s been using.
While I don’t suffer from OA, I do have joint pain and take quite a few joint supplements, many with similar ingredients. I will have to check some of the forms, however, such as the glucosamine I take. I have to admit it’s been a long time since I closely examined the specific products I use, so your post was a timely one, thank you.
As for chondroitin, I’m glad to hear you still think it’s helpful. I think it fell out of favor about ten years ago when some studies suggested it wasn’t particularly effective, however I have always taken it with glucosamine and didn’t see a real pressing need to change that. Besides, the combination seemed very effective for my dogs!
Hi Jon, thanks for letting me know your experience with joint pain supplements.
Many people don’t care much about the ingredients – they just take the product that seems more affordable. But in my opinion, ingredients are the most essential chapter from any supplement. So make sure you check it next time.
Yeah, I know exactly what you mean about chondroitin – many brands gave it up because it’s not considered as useful anymore.
But it actually increases the power of glucosamine (even if it has a 5 times lower concentration). So these 2 work way better together – I’ve seen it myself.
That’s why my top recommendations are always products that contain both.
As you say, glucosamine is also really good for dogs with arthritis or the ones who are simply getting older.
I don’t know if you found the right product for your dog – but here’s the one I normally recommend when people ask me.
Thanks for reading my article.
Osteoarthritis is really a painful condition. I do wonder if there’s anyway to prevent this from occurring especially for the youths who can still take preventive measures. The drugs you’ve listed here are quite good but there isn’t any drug that requires just one pill for the whole day. Older people have the tendency to forget.
Hi Louie.
I think moving around is the best way to prevent osteoarthritis – especially if you’re not very old yet. Otherwise, your joints and cartilages will start to wear up due to aging. So keeping them in shape would surely help.
Diet and healthy foods can also help, but they’re not a major thing. If you don’t have OA yet, a balanced diet would be better for your general health, not necessarily for your joints.
Regarding the supplements with one pill per day – unfortunately, there aren’t too many. I actually don’t think I tried any glucosamine product that only required taking 1 pill daily.
Most require 3, but there are some who need you to take even 4 or more. That’s too inconvenient, in my opinion.
I agree that older people tend to forget, but I really don’t have a better solution at this point.
I have Osteoarthritis for few years and the solution has been scarce to find. I haven’t tried fish oil, but I heard many good things about it. That’s why I took a close look at Omega 3 Joint Relief.
I know it’s not your top recommendation for OA, but I have some additional problems that should react well to fish oil (that’s what my doc says). Are there any fish oil supplements you tried or it’s just this one? I’m thinking about giving it a shot and coming back with feedback. Thanks for your advice.
Hi Ethan, I’m not a big fan of fish oil and Omega 3 supplements. In my case, they weren’t very helpful for my joint pain and arthritis – so that’s why I don’t recommend many fish oil products. Nor have I tested too many.
So there isn’t much advice I can give you on this topic. But if you don’t want a glucosamine + chondoritin supplement, try one with Omega 3 – who knows, maybe it really helps you. Especially if your doctor recommended it.
I’m waiting for your feedback on how it works. Sorry I can’t give you more options.
You have done some serious research here but considering I know the pain you are suffering with making sure to find the best product to ease that pain is essential to you being able to move. Fortunately I do not suffer from OA but my girlfriend does so I am going to be sharing this with her as soon as I am finished thanking you for the information you have supplied here. She has tried many different supplements and even taken prescription pain medications at times but they never helped her at all.
Thank you for letting me supply her with something that can help her.
Hi Susan, it’s great to hear this. Hope she starts using a supplement that decreases her osteoarthritis pain. Thanks for reading my article.
Hi Heather, thanks for this post. I am over 50 years old and my joints are beginning to tell me they have been around for a while. So I was looking for something rather for prevention.
Looking at the pro and cons of each of them, I tend to prefer no 8. The Herbalife joint support. I really like the fact that you only have to use one pill in a day.
Hey Juliet, so you have a very mild form of osteoarthritis (or it could be just chronic pain).
I wouldn’t really advise you on Herbalife – for 2 reasons:
– it’s super expensive for what you need
– it doesn’t contain amazing stuff
It’s not a bad product at all, but I wouldn’t pay $34 for it considering that you might not even need it.
Actually, I wouldn’t even recommend you a supplement for now – you can try to improve your joints with a healthier diet or just in a natural manner.
Sure, you can take supplements for prevention, but choose something not very pricey and that also has great ingredients. Something like glucosamine sulfate, chondoitin, MSM, even some anti-inflammatory herbs.
Hope this helps.
Very nice quick review of these popular supplements! I appreciate the information as I do have some arthritis issues that plague me daily. I will probably try one of your recommendations as I am currently taking a Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM supplement along with a Turmeric supplement twice a day. I do get some relief from these but I am looking for more!
Does your #1 recommendation work quickly? Or do I need to take it for a few weeks to really see if it works?
Hi Dave. I think it’s pretty uncomfortable to take 2 supplements together – most require at least 2 pills per day, so that would mean at least 4 different pills each day.
That’s why I try to get all the useful stuff into one supplement.
And yeah, what I like about my #1 pick is that it also has Turmeric and Boswellia, which both help inflammation. It’s true – the doses aren’t very high, but that’s not necessary for OA (there’s little inflammation).
Regarding your question – it relieved my pain pretty fast, in less than one week.
But I know it can depend a lot from person to person. However, if you want a comparison, it worked faster than most glucosamine supplements I tried.
So I think you should see the difference pretty soon.
However, if you also have have damaged cartilages – you will have to wait a while. ProJoint Plus can decrease the pain pretty fast, but it can’t rebuild cartilages faster than 1 month in the least.
So if that’s what you’re buying it for – you need to be patient. If you are, you will surely see its benefits.
Hope this helps.
Hi, I have one question. I was about to try a fish oil supplement for my back pain (I have osteoarthritis). You don’t seem to like this kind of pills a lot, may I inquire why?
I just mean that, are the weaker than glucosamine (I noticed you like this kind of products)? Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying anything bad. I just have no idea about what I should take and need some advice.
I wasn’t interested in that fish oil supplement from your list. But I just didn’t see many products with fish oil on your list and that’s why I decided to ask you.
Sorry if you find my question offending, it’s by no means so. Thank you.
Hey Hugo, don’t worry, I completely understand what you mean.
To answer you – I didn’t have amazing experiences with fish oil products. They did help my pain, but not more than others.
So for me, this ingredient is a bit too overestimated – at least for arthritis.
Regarding the product with fish oil from my list, I think you’re talking about Omega 3 Joint Relief.
Now – the thing is that it also contains collagen. So that’s actually the reason why I placed it so high – and why I assume it helped me.
But I wouldn’t really recommend it as a first alternative – it’s okay, but not the best thing ever, you know?
So that’s why I don’t have any other products with fish oil on my list. Glucosamine is the ingredient that re-builds cartilages, and that’s the main thing in OA.
That’s why I would recommend a product with glucosamine sulfate no matter what form of OA you have.
Obviously that you’re free to choose whatever you want, but my advice is to choose a product that treats the cause of your problems (which is what glucosamine supplements do). I hope this helps.
What about cannibus medical grade for osteoarthritis pain.
Why isn’t that being used
Elaine
Elaine, I never heard of it. I did a quick search on Google but I couldn’t find any joint product.
Is it something related to cannabis (that’s the Google suggestion I received in my search).
If it is, I don’t really recommend cannabis because it has more side effects and it’s not as safe as turmeric. I tried CBD oil and it was okay, but far from as good as turmeric.
Also, you spoke about osteoarthritis. Turmeric supplements aren’t the best thing for osteoarthritis.
Turmeric works by reducing inflammation and there’s little inflammation in OA. Glucosamine supplements work best for OA.
I’m using Joint Advantage Gold right now and it’s okay for my osteoarthritis. I can see it helping my sore feet, so it works. But I do agree that it’s a bit of a pain in my monthly budget.
I’m retired and can’t afford to spend much money trying out supplements. Once I find one that works (JDG in this case), I stick with it for as long as I can.
But I’m going to try your alternative Projoint Plus because I like what ingredients it has and how cheap it is, compared to JDG. I also read several positive opinions on it, so I’m gonna give it a try.
How fast do you think I use it in order to tell if it works or not? JDP started helping me after about a month, so if this one could work faster, I’d love that (I know it’s not up to you, I just want an opinion). Jude.
Hey Jude, I like Joint Advantage Plus too – except for its price. That’s why I would recommend you ProJoint Plus, you can save much money on the long term.
Now – I felt an improvement in my pain within a week. But that depends from person to person, so it could last up to several weeks until you see a change (though I think it should be 2 weeks at most).
On the other hand, if you have mobility problems – you need to take it for several months to see a big change.
I mean, it improves mobility by rebuilding cartilages. That doesn’t happen very fast, that’s why you need to wait.
But if you’re only talking about pain – I think you should see a change after one bottle.
(PS – They have a 10% discount right now for Christmas, so you can save some extra money these days).
Hi Heather,
Your article on the best supplements for Osteoarthritis was very interesting and informative. One of the things that impressed me is that you’ve tried at least as many different products as I have. Finding something effective has proved to be a real challenge. I haven’t tried your #1 recommendation (ProJoint Plus) yet. In fact, your article is the first time it’s come to my attention. I do like the price but I have a question. Have you experienced any side effects from regular usage? Thanks for your help!
Hey Linda, I haven’t had any issues with ProJoint Plus.
I know it has the regular side effects of every drug (rash, nausea, vomiting) – but that’s just on paper. They sound really scary, but in reality less than 1% people experience them. I know this for sure, from my experience as a pharmacist.
So if that’s what’s worrying you, just forget about it. Side effects look way scarier than they really are.
I personally have rarely experienced side effects from joint supplements in general. It happened more with turmeric supplements – but only when I took an extra pill (because the regular dose wouldn’t be effective).
So I don’t remember having any issue with glucosamine supplements. ProJoint Plus is surely safe, I took it many times and it was always fine.
Thank you for reading my blog.
Hi Heather, first of all I love that you recommend the product that is not popular or well known – from my experience these are the best ones.
I’m quite new at this so I might ask some basic questions but you seem to know this topic really well so you’re probably the right person to answer them. I noticed every supplement has an ingredient called Glucosamine. I’ve heard of it before, a lot actually but never gave it a second thought to learn what is actually is.
Could you explain me what Glucosamine is and why is it good for Osteoarthritis?
Thank you,
Katya
Hi Katya, don’t worry, it’s my pleasure to explain you even the basic stuff.
So osteoarthritis is appears when your cartilages start to break off or tear. That’s what causes the terrible pain and stiffness.
Now – the best remedy for OA would be something that rebuilds these cartilages. It makes sense so far, right?
Well, glucosamine it’s the best substance for that:
– rebuilds damaged cartilages
– also protects them from further damage
So the best thing you can take in osteoarthritis is glucosamine.
Now – there are 2 forms: the sulfate and the hydrochloride.
The sulfate is much better because it’s been used for a long time and it has lots of evidence and data behind. On the other hand, the HCl isn’t so studied and it doesn’t have too many positive results.
However, it’s much cheaper compared to the sulfate, if you buy it alone.
For this reason, many brands started using the HCl in their products. People can’t tell the difference and the costs are lower for the company – but they sell the product for as much as one with glucosamine sulfate.
So it’s really important to choose a supplement with glucosamine sulfate, not HCl. Here you can read more about the differences between them.
Anyway – the best supplement for osteoarthritis should contain glucosamine sulfate + chondroitin (they increase each other’s power) + additional stuff like MSM, bromelain, etc.
This should help.
Heather, thanks for coming up with these joint pains supplement, I’m really glad I come across this.
I need to get an effective joint pain reliever for my granny, so I’d be counting on you, relying on your recommendation to make my choice. I’ve decided to try out the ProJoint Plus reliever, and I hope it meets my expectations. I’ll be back to give a feedback.
Hi Marie, glucosamine + chondroitin are the best choice for your granny. They help rebuilding cartilages on the long term and also protect the joints against further damaged.
All these supplements from this list can help more or less, but ProJoint Plus is the one that worked best for me. Considering your granny has osteoarthritis, it should really help her. I’m waiting for your feedback.
i have also tried herbal life joint support and Omega 3 joint relief but without much success from any. will be looking into glucosamine sulfate next time, thanks.
Hey Mahlo, glucosamine sulfate is much better for osteoarthritis:
– rebuilds damaged cartilages on the long term
– it has many positive studies behind
– it’s more expensive as a substance alone
– I always had much better results with it compared to the HCl
Herbalife Joint Support is an okay supplement – but it contains the weaker form (HCl) and that’s what I think that makes it less effective.
But as you said, try to choose a glucosamine sulfate product next time and you should feel a bit better. Let me know how it goes
Hi. I believe one of these 9 supplements will be helpful for my old father. He has joint pain issue in his legs and very weak movement. Some times it is very painful and hard for him to sit on grounds. Should I suggest him your best recommended Pro Joint Plus for him? Do you think I need a doctor prescription for this treatment?
Hello Mzakapon. Considering your father is old, his joint pain is most likely caused by osteoarthritis. That’s why he can’t move too well – OA also affects mobility and flexibility.
So yes, my recommendation for him would be glucosamine + chondroitin. And I think ProJoint Plus would be the best supplement for him – because it’s the most affordable one.
Now – I have a question for you. Has your dad seen any doctor for his pain? Because he should have. If he hasn’t, I advise you to have him see a doctor and he will probably receive a treatment.
However, doctors rarely prescribe supplements. So your dad should take the treatment he receives and see how he feels. If he doesn’t feel much better within 1-2 months, I think he should also add a supplement to his treatment.
If he feels better from the prescribed treatment alone – it’s great. Just keep in mind that he might experience side effects at one point – because he’s using those drugs constantly. If the doctor gave him one or several NSAIDs, he will surely get stomach problems within a few months.
So if this happens, he should try glucosamine – because it doesn’t cause any major side effects and it rebuilds the damaged cartilages. That should make a difference.
If you can give me more details, I’d really appreciate it. Is your father taking anything at this point? Does he have a diagnosis of OA? Is he doing any small exercises or moving around? That would help me get a better idea about his situation.
I get knee pain around the joint whenever I start working out. It’ll develop around the 4th or 5th run. It worsens over time. Then I give up running and it gets better. The cycle repeats. After browsing around your website, I realized I’m guilty of a lot of the simple fixes:
I never drink enough water.
I do eat a lot of junk.
I don’t drink a lot of alcohol but boy do I drink caffeine.
I’ve heard a lot of benefits for glucosamine also. Maybe I’ll try to drink more water, limit caffeine and start taking a glucosamine supplement like the one you recommend. That’s a good start and then I can start chipping away at other solutions until the condition gets better. Thanks!
Hello Eric, you’re totally right – there are some small fixes that can really help your knee pain:
1. Try to drink more water daily, especially 30 minutes before starting to work out. Dehydration alone can make your joints painful – so an extra amount of water should really help.
2. Diet is also important – especially for someone like you, who like to work out and have a healthy lifestyle. There are some foods I recommend and some others that I would avoid – whether you have knee pain, arthritis or you simply want a healthier lifestyle.
3. Regarding caffeine – coffee alone won’t make your joints/knees hurt. So I don’t think you have to give up coffee instantly. Maybe you could just drink it after your workout, or several hours away.
4. If the pain becomes really strong, you can use some Cayenne pepper patch/ointment. I don’t normally recommend topical relievers, but your pain is caused by effort – so if you stop working out, it will probably never appear again. This means there’s no major internal cause – so you don’t need a long time treatment.
5. A smoothie from several anti-inflammatory herbs/ingredients could really help you: try to add celery, honey, nettles. Even cherries might help (and make it tastier).
6. Also, a good glucosamine + chondroitin supplement should really help. Here are my top recommended products for knee pain, you will surely find the right one here.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if your pain still comes up after following these tips.