Do any joint supplements really work?

Glucosamine and chondroitin, taken individually or in combination, are touted not only as relievers of joint pain but also as treatments to prevent joint disease. Yet a number of past studies have come to mixed conclusions; some small studies, most looking at osteoarthritis of the knee, found that people felt modestly better taking glucosamine and/or chondroitin, but at least as many have found no benefit. A 2018 review of previous research found that treating knee or hip osteoarthritis with glucosamine and chondroitin led to small improvements on a pain scale, but it wasn't clear that the pain relief was actually meaningful. A 2022 analysis of eight studies that included nearly 4,000 people with knee osteoarthritis found no convincing evidence that glucosamine and chondroitin provided major benefit. While the evidence of benefit is certainly not compelling, some studies have found that these supplements provide modest benefit, and people who feel it is helping them may not care so much about individual studies anyway. Even if a treatment is not effective on average, there may be folks who, for whatever reason, get real relief from it. The case for these supplements protecting joint health or preventing arthritis from worsening is similarly weak. A 2016 study of glucosamine and chondroitin enrolled 164 patients with knee pain due to osteoarthritis and gave half of them a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin; the other half received an identical placebo pill. The study was stopped early for an unusual reason: those taking the supplement actually reported worse symptoms than those taking a placebo.

Glucosamine is one of the most popular supplements for arthritis. It's touted as being able to delay cartilage breakdown, relieve osteoarthritis pain, and make your joints more mobile. Studies have shown glucosamine might help with joint pain, but we need more research to understand the results. Glucosamine and chondroitin do seem to have anti-inflammatory properties, which may help with pain, swelling, and some symptoms of arthritis. Other research suggests that glucosamine and chondroitin supplements can help relieve moderate to severe pain in some people, so talk to your doctor to see if it's safe for you. Curcumin benefits include helping with symptoms of both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, perhaps even better than an anti-inflammatory drug. Research indicates that a plant compound in green tea known as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) may help your joints and skeletal muscles stay healthy. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish oils and other foods, encourage your body to produce chemicals that help control inflammation. Evidence also supports omega-3s as treatments for arthritis pain and joint stiffness, but we need to explore these further to understand which work best and at what dosages.