By Previnex®
Osteoarthritis of the knee occurs when the cartilage around your knee joint breaks down, causing the bones in your knee to rub together, stiffen, and swell. Approximately 46% of people will develop osteoarthritis of the knee in their lifetime, and it is most common in those over the age of 40. While there is no cure at this time for osteoarthritis of the knee, there are many ways to manage it, especially with high-quality joint health supplements.
What Is the Best Vitamin for Arthritis in the Knee
First, it's important to note there are a couple of types of arthritis that can plague the knee: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease caused by natural wear and tear in joints, while rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. There is some overlap in knee osteoarthritis symptoms and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. Both conditions can cause knee pain, joint stiffness, and inflammation.
The good news is that there are a handful of ways to approach osteoarthritis pain. Treating osteoarthritis typically involves a multifaceted approach. One of the best ways to help support your joint health and relieve pain is to take high-quality vitamins and dietary supplements. Let’s look at a few of the best vitamins for arthritis pain in the knee:
Vitamin D and its Role in Bone Health and Joint Pain
Since Vitamin D helps to regulate calcium in the body, it can decrease muscle and joint pain. Vitamin D is vital to keeping your bones healthy. In one cross-sectional study, it was shown that patients with early osteoarthritis who were deficient in Vitamin D experienced higher levels of pain, disability, anxiety, and depressive symptoms and lower social and physical participation. When we do not have enough Vitamin D in our system, our bodies cannot effectively absorb calcium. Vitamin D also helps our muscles and immune system function optimally!
Vitamin C and its Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. It can help rid the body of free radicals that damage cells and tissue—radicals that trigger inflammation in the body. Unfortunately, bodies do not produce the amount of Vitamin C necessary to function at their best, so it has to come from our diet—foods such as citrus fruits (orang(es, orange juice), bell peppers, strawberries, broccoli, and potatoes. Vitamin C has a singular effect on inflammatory signaling cells, which helps reduce the inflammatory reaction in the body.
What Is the Best Supplement to Rebuild Knee Cartilage?
There are three types of cartilage in your body:
- Hyaline (Articular) Cartilage - this links your joints and caps the ends of your bones. It is flexible but strong enough for your joints to hold their shape and is most commonly found at the ends of your bones, between your ribs, and in your nasal passages.
- Elastic Cartilage - this is your body’s most flexible cartilage, supporting parts that need to bend and function. The most common example of flexible cartilage is your external ears! They bounce back when you bend them.
- Fibrocartilage - this is tough cartilage made of thick fibers and is the strongest type of cartilage in your body. It is most commonly found in the meniscus in your knee and the disks between your spinal vertebrae.
Cartilage is important for your knee function because it allows your knee to move freely with support but no friction.
Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate
Particularly when there is damage, it is important to rebuild knee cartilage. Two of the best supplements for this are glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.
Glucosamine
Already found in your cartilage, glucosamine is used to support the healthy development of articular cartilage. Glucosamine is ultimately used by the body to make other chemicals that build tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and the fluid surrounding your joints. When it comes to knee osteoarthritis, it has also been shown to decrease pain. One analysis of 29 studies showed that patients with knee osteoarthritis who took glucosamine alone experienced a significant reduction in pain.
Chondroitin Sulfate
Also already found in your body’s cartilage, chondroitin sulfate gives that cartilage elasticity. It ultimately works by absorbing fluid—typically water—into the connective tissues. It helps promote the growth and maintenance of the cartilage in your body. When it comes to knee osteoarthritis in particular, studies have shown that taking it alone or in combination with glucosamine can prevent cartilage breakdown and promote repair mechanisms.
Are Collagen Supplements Effective?
The protein in your body is approximately 30% collagen, which is the primary building block of your skin, muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, and all other connective tissues. There are five types of collagen, with Type I making up 90% of the collagen in your body, providing structure to your connective tissues. Studies have found that collagen supplements—particularly hydrolyzed collagen—significantly reduced pain and stiffness in treating knee osteoarthritis.
Natural Eggshell Membrane
Also referred to as NEM®, the natural eggshell membrane can also support cartilage health. In a recent clinical study, it was found that those who took 500mg of NEM® saw a significant recovery from exercise-induced joint pain and stiffness and that it had a substantial impact on cartilage degradation. In fact, taking 500mg of NEM® daily for two weeks protected the cartilage from breaking down during exercise.
What Is Often Used as a Supplement to Treat Osteoarthritis?
The most common supplements to treat osteoarthritis and knee health are glucosamine and chondroitin, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Vitamin D, MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), boswellia, and curcumin/turmeric.
Turmeric and Its Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
Coming from Curcuma longa, the main active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, which is found to have immense anti-inflammatory properties. In one systematic review of studies, it was shown that turmeric can help reduce joint pain and inflammation in those with conditions such as knee osteoarthritis and may even be as effective as taking certain NSAIDs. In fact, studies have shown that turmeric may be a safe long-term option for those struggling with inflammatory conditions.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Joint Health
Our bodies do not naturally produce Omega-3 Fatty Acids, so it’s important to get them from diet or supplementation. Omega-3s are a family of healthy fats that can help treat inflammation—specifically joint pain and arthritis. The best way to support your joint health with Omega-3 Fatty Acids is through a high-quality supplement and by eating foods high in Omega-3s, such as fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, herring), flaxseeds, chia seeds, and walnuts.
Previnex: Dietary Supplements created with Joint Health in Mind
Knee osteoarthritis is a painful condition that causes the cartilage around your knee to break down. The best ways to support your knees and overall joint health are to eat anti-inflammatory foods, load up on vitamins with anti-inflammatory properties, and get yourself a high-quality joint health supplement. Joint Health PLUS® is a clinically effective supplement that combines two ingredients clinically proven to relieve joint pain: NEM® and Boswellin. Boswellin® is a clinically studied form of Boswellia, and NEM® (which stands for natural eggshell membrane) is clinically proven to reduce joint pain and stiffness and improve joint flexibility in 7-10 days. NEM® is also clinically proven to be up to 5x more effective and beneficial than glucosamine and chondroitin alone or in combination. Grab a bottle today!
