Supplements for joints
What the joint-supplement aisle gets right — and what 30 years of trials show.
Glucosamine + chondroitin has weak average evidence but a subset of patients respond. Niacinamide at 3 g/day matched NSAIDs in the Jonas 1996 OA trial — but exceeds the 900 mg/day NIH ODS UL; monitor liver enzymes. Curcumin (bioavailable forms — Meriva, Theracurmin) has multiple positive RCTs. Boswellia serrata is well-tolerated and has evidence in OA. Omega-3 reduces NSAID requirement modestly. MSM has small but real evidence. Collagen peptides help tendons via vitamin C cofactor (Shaw protocol).
Evidence summary
The numbers on the cards are the same composite as the supplement pages: efficacy, safety, research, onset, cost, and drug-interaction ratings, from 20 to 100. The strongest records on this page are Bifidobacterium infantis EVC001, Omega-3 (EPA/DHA), and Bifidobacterium infantis 35624. A higher score is a stronger record in the database, not a personal recommendation.
Who should be careful
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding, children, and anyone taking a prescription drug should talk with a clinician before using this list.
- Do not stack products from this list that sedate, thin the blood, or lower blood sugar with medicines that do the same thing.
Comparisons and topic guides
80
Bifidobacterium infantis EVC001
79
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA)
72
Bifidobacterium infantis 35624
78
Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
75
Collagen peptides
74
Boswellia serrata
74
Niacinamide (nicotinamide)
72
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)
72
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)
71
VSL#3 / Visbiome (multi-strain)
70
Tart cherry (Montmorency)
70
Lactoferrin
70
Lactobacillus reuteri
70
Pomegranate extract (ellagic acid)
70
Hydroxytyrosol (olive extract)
70
Eggshell membrane (NEM)
69
Rutin
69
Amla / Indian gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica)
69
Chondroitin sulfate (standalone)
68
Bromelain
68
Andrographis paniculata
68
Green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus)
67
Flaxseed oil (ALA omega-3)
67
Marine collagen (fish-derived)
66
Wobenzym (systemic enzymes)
Educational reference, not medical advice. Discuss any supplement change with a qualified clinician before acting on this list.