Joint Supplements: The Healthy Alternative to Drugs

In our past posts, we looked at arthritis and how
chiropractic may help some sufferers of this debilitating condition. In this issue we focus on natural substances that
help reduce joint pain, especially discomfort caused by arthritis.

We also introduced you to one of the supplements we recommend for healthy joints.  Univera.  Ask us about it the next time you visit.

Natural Eggshell Membrane

There’s promising joint health research on natural eggshell membrane (NEM), which consists of proteins and
glycosaminoglycans – a family of carbohydrates that also includes joint supporting chondroitin sulfate.

In a 2009 study published in Clinical Interventions in Aging, patients suffering from joint and connective tissues
(JCT) disorders received 500 milligrams daily of NEM for four weeks. The results were very encouraging.

In the study conclusion, the research authors noted “Natural eggshell membrane is a possible new effective and safe therapeutic option for the treatment of pain and inflexibility associated with joint and connective tissue (JCT) disorders. Supplementation  with NEM, 500 mg taken once daily, significantly reduced pain, both rapidly (seven days) and continuously (30 days).

It also showed clinically meaningful results from a brief responder analysis, demonstrating that significant proportions of treated patients may be helped considerably from NEM supplementation.”

While this is only one study, the effectiveness of NEM in quickly
alleviating joint pain and stiffness shows a potentially powerful natural alternative to joint medications.

Glucosamine

Glucosamine is the most widely used supplement for relieving joint pain. It also serves as a building block or the development of cartilage molecules. Glucosamine comes in several different forms, but the most commercially available type is glucosamine sulfate. It is often combined with chondroitin (see below).

Glucosamine is well tolerated by most people. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, talk to your chiropractor before using glucosamine - it can sometime have a negative impact on these health conditions. Some forms of glucosamine are
derived from shellfish. If you have an allergy to shellfish, avoid using glucosamine derived from this
source.

While it does not provide pain relief for everyone with joint problems, glucosamine has research supporting its therapeutic effects. In an article published in Arthritis Research and Therapy, researchers at the University of Queensland (Australia) found that
a combination of glucosamine supplementation and walking three to five times a week improved symptoms in osteoarthritis patients.

Chondroitin

Like glucosamine, chondroitin is an important substance for healthy joint function. As well as providing pain relief, it helps develop cartilage, assists in retaining water, and distributes cartilage nutrients. There’s also evidence chondroitin may lower
cholesterol and prevent hardening of the arteries. Although it’s available as a single supplement, chondroitin is often combined with glucosamine to provide a more robust effect on joint
pain. In a study of patients with osteoarthritis in the knee, researchers evaluated the potency of glucosamine, chondroitin and a popular prescription pain drug. The results revealed those
who had severe osteoarthritis had a significant improvement in pain symptoms when they took a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin. In fact, the combination was more effective than the prescription pain medication or taking glucosamine or
chondroitin separately.

MSM

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a natural substance that also plays an important role in maintaining joint health.

Hyaluronic Acid

This natural occurring substance is found in many tissues of your body. When it comes to joints, hyaluronic acid (HA) is located in the synovial fluid, a natural lubricant that helps prevent cartilage friction when your body moves. Because blood is not found in cartilage, hyaluronic acid serves the role of transporting nutrients into the joints and taking waste out. As you age, your levels of HA decrease. This can cause problems, especially in
the knee.
If you suffer from severe knee-based osteoarthritis, hyaluronic acid injections may help slash pain and inflammation. Although effective, this type of therapy is expensive and needs to be
repeated every few months.
Scientists investigated whether less expensive oral supplementation of hyaluronic acid was possible. The biggest obstacle to an oral version is that HA has a large molecular size. But several years ago, Japanese scientists developed a way to lower HA’s molecular weight without reducing effectiveness. This opened the door to production of hyaluronic acid in supplement form.

Again, it’s important to talk to us before using supplements, as they may affect other health conditions.