By Previnex®
There are many different joint health products currently on the market aimed at helping relieve the pain, stiffness and swelling associated with arthritis. While they make weighty claims of relief and even a cure, most don’t deliver on those lofty claims they make. But this begs the question, can a supplement benefit people living with arthritis?
Arthritis occurs when inflammation in the body impacts your joints and causes pain, weakness and stiffness. The pain can be debilitating in many cases, so a solution to relieving the pain and discomfort is not something a person with arthritis takes lightly!
While not all arthritis supplements are equally effective, some are helpful in alleviating the symptoms of the condition. Here we will look at how supplements can help and what vitamins and minerals are best for potentially treating arthritis symptoms.
What is Arthritis and How Many People are Affected?
According to the National Arthritis Foundation (NAF), arthritis can be described as, “not a single disease; it is an informal way of referring to joint pain or joint disease.” The NAF outlines that there are over 100 types of arthritis and arthritic conditions, and arthritis is considered the greatest disability in the United States. According to NAF, over 50 million adults and 300,000 children live with some form of arthritis. From 2013- 2015, an estimated 54.4 million US adults (22.7 percent) met with their doctors and were diagnosed with some form of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, or fibromyalgia.
How Can Supplements Help?
Currently, there is no cure for arthritis. Medications prescribed by doctors are meant to slow the decline associated with the disease, as well as manage the symptoms of the diagnosis. In recent years there has been a trend towards supplements that help manage symptoms while moving away from potent prescription medications. Recent data shows that in the past, most adults diagnosed with arthritis were prescribed strong opioids to manage the pain.
The data also suggests that there are better ways to help manage arthritis. By pairing supplementation with physical activity, people living with arthritis can reduce pain and improve physical function by approximately 40 percent.
There are thousands of, if not more, options when it comes to a joint supplement, and choosing an effective product is not as simple as grabbing the cheapest one on the shelf. Supplements, and particularly joint supplements are not created equal.
Most arthritis supplements include a blend of vitamins, minerals and compounds that claim to reduce swelling, manage pain and help increase mobility and flexibility. But chances are that a supplement that isn’t manufactured at pharmaceutical grade levels or clinically tested won’t be able to back-up those claims, meaning at minimum your joints won’t feel relief, and at most the supplement could be harmful to your health.
Make sure to choose a supplement that adheres to the most stringent manufacturing processes, including raw material testing, production run testing, and post-production testing, and has quality ingredients that have been proven to be both safe and effective.
Just any old supplement isn’t going to cut it. If you can find a supplement that has been thoroughly tested (despite the lack of regulations in the supplement industry), then you should experience positive benefits.
Best Vitamins and Minerals to Treat Arthritis Symptoms
Different brands of arthritis supplements include their own blend of vitamins and minerals to combat arthritic pain and stiffness. These are among the most widely used, the most effective and the biggest winners in helping with the discomfort of arthritis.
Glucosamine
A popular arthritis treatment ingredient, the compound glucosamine, has shown mixed results in the treatment of osteoarthritis pain. While it is a popular part of many different arthritis treatments, the effectiveness is still questionable. It has better results in its ability to protect against the breakdown of cartilage, which allows joints to move better.
Vitamin C
A small collection of studies has looked into vitamin C’s role in building connective tissue. Although results were positive, they did not conclusively prove that it leads to a reduction in arthritis pain. The current mode of thought is that taking a daily vitamin C supplement might help support joint health. One study even found that people with low levels of vitamin C in their diet are as much as three times more likely to be diagnosed with arthritis than those with sufficient levels of vitamin C.
Natural Eggshell Membrane
Another helpful compound used to treat the effects of arthritis is natural eggshell membrane (NEM). It is used in some supplements in place of glucosamine or chondroitin, and has been proven in double-blind, placebo testing to reduce joint pain, stiffness, and improve joint flexibility. NEM also helps the body absorb and preserve the nutrients that are essential for strong bones and joints, and works to support healthy cartilage and connective tissue. What makes NEM unique is that is has the ability to protect against enzymes that can negatively impact joint health.
Chondroitin Sulfate
Chondroitin sulfate has been shown to help slow the process of osteoarthritis. There is limited data supporting the hypothesis that it can reduce arthritis pain and inflammation. What some health experts suggest is that chondroitin can assist in the process of keeping cartilage strong and healthy. Recent studies have shown that chondroitin is effective when used in conjunction with other supplements.
Boswellin
A little known ingredient boswellin is starting to make a name for itself in the treatment of arthritis symptoms. This natural anti-inflammatory is also a pain reliever and vascular supporting herb that provides helpful support for joints. It is best when used in combination with NEM to provide people with arthritis a powerful and cohesive joint health formula.
While there is no cure for arthritis, there are some supplements that can effectively help minimize swelling, stiffness and pain in the joints. By including these helpful compounds, you can stay more active and reduce unwanted symptoms. Including a well-rounded, top-quality arthritis supplement you can keep the irritation of arthritis symptoms at bay.
