Joint and Bone Supplements

Healthspan customer reviews

Joint and bone health guides

Joint and bone health

Joint pain can occur at any age, although it becomes more common as we get older, thanks to everyday wear and tear. As load-bearing joints, the hips and knees tend to be particularly prone to issues.

Joint supplements can be used to provide preventative support as well as reduce existing symptoms – usually by protecting the body's cartilage or collagen, or by reducing inflammation.

Reduce joint pain and stiffness

Several changes can occur within the joints as we get older. Notably, this includes lower concentrations of glucosamine and chondroitin.

Chondroitin is an important structural component of cartilage (which in effect cushions and protects your joints), while glucosamine is often described as a 'building block' for the proteins that make joint cartilage.

Both have been available as supplements for a long time and can be taken separately (our favourites include Optiflex® Glucosamine HCl 1,325mg and Chondroitin, as well as these two nutrients combined in joints tablets like our bestselling ChondroMax®.

When choosing your supplement, always look for added vitamin C to support joint and cartilage health,¹ a high-grade chondroitin (such as 90% concentration) and check the type of glucosamine. Most experts recommend glucosamine HCl as it contains 40% more glucosamine per gram compared to glucosamine 2KCl. Find out more about what to look for in a quality glucosamine supplement.

Protect joint health

Collagen has also become a popular option for protecting joint health, with research showing that age-related collagen loss increases your risk of degenerative joint disorders.

As health journalist and author Karen Evennett explains, "Collagen is the protein that provides strength and structure to most of your body's tissues – from your skin and nails to your teeth, bones, and muscles."

If you choose to supplement, types I, II and III are the ones you are likely to come across, says Evennett. "Type II collagen is a key component in your articular cartilage – the cushioning in your joints that protects the ends of your bones to stop them rubbing together, and acts as a shock absorber," so is of particular interest for joint care.

Read more about the role of collagen in joints, or shop Healthspan's Super Strength Marine Collagen Complex.

Rose hip is the fruit of the wild rose species Rosa canina, and is an excellent source of vitamin C, which is needed to produce the collagen that forms cartilage.

Healthspan has two rose hip supplements: Rose Hip (120 tablets), which provides 250mg of rose hip extract, and Super Strength Rose Hip (90 tablets), which provides 625mg of rose hip extract. Both supplements contain added vitamin C for extra joint support.

Improve joint lubrication

Turmeric is another well-known supplement – and with good reason.

There is research to show that turmeric's active ingredient, curcumin, blocks the production of the powerful inflammatory chemical TNF-alpha, which is also targeted by new antibody treatments given to treat inflammation.

Read more about the role of turmeric and collagen in joint health.

Omega 3 fatty acids are also thought to have a beneficial effect on the joints, as they are converted by the body into substances that help reduce inflammation.

Shop omega 3 supplements.

Joint supplements for over 70s

As we get older, the cumulative effect of wear and tear is amplified by the fact our joints are also less able to repair themselves, while our body is less efficient at absorbing vitamins and minerals.

To help, Healthspan has two joint health supplements specifically designed for people over 70, with higher amounts of active ingredients and fast-absorbing formulas.  

Fast Release Glucosamine 70 Plus contains Optiflex® Glucosamine HCl, plus calcium and vitamins C and D3 to support joint cartilage, bones and muscles. The easy-to-digest, fast-release capsules work faster than standard tablets, so the active ingredients are better absorbed.

ChondroMax® 70 Plus provides all the same ingredients, with added chondroitin and white willow bark extract, to ensure comprehensive joint support in fast-dissolving tablets.

Bones can also become thinner as we get older, particularly after the menopause. A calcium supplement can make sure you're getting enough of this important bine mineral. Healthspan's Calcium product has added vitamin D, which is vital for calcium to be absorbed properly by the body.

Joint supplements for athletes

Thanks to high training loads and extra demands on their joints, athletes are another group who are likely to benefit from joint supplements.

Healthspan Elite supplements are trusted by some of the world's biggest athletes and sports teams, thanks to their high-strength, premium ingredients. Everything in the range is batch-tested for banned substances and approved by Informed Sport, to make them safer for competing athletes.

Bestsellers include Elite Opti-Turmeric®, Elite Joint Physio Glucosamine HCl 1,325mg (which contains the maximum permitted amount of glucosamine) and Elite Joint Physio Glucosamine & Chondroitin, combining expert-recommended levels of glucosamine and chondroitin in a single supplement. 

One of the newest additions to the range, Elite Collagen Repair is specially formulated to support repair and recovery. The advanced formula provides 20g collagen peptides per serving, mirroring the proportion of type I and type III collagen peptides found in ligaments and tendons.

Vegetarian and vegan joint supplements

As a stalwart of joint care, glucosamine should be available to everyone – so Healthspan created a patented form, known as Optiflex®, that is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Glucosamine is traditionally made from shellfish, but Healthspan's Optiflex® glucosamine is made from a sustainable and natural corn-based source.

Find out more about this innovation and why it is a market leader in purity, strength and minimising environmental impact.

Healthspan's turmeric formulations are also suitable for vegetarians and vegans. However, any formulations containing chondroitin and collagen are not vegetarian, as they are, by nature, made from animal products.

Summary

The broad range of joint supplements in the Healthspan range means there is something for everyone – whatever your lifestyle, dietary preferences, age or joint health concerns.

As joint health can be a multifaceted issue, many people get the best results from a combination of joint health nutrients, so you might want to pair your products for the optimum benefits. Find more information on our bestsellers' perfect partners.

In addition, supplements can take 8-12 weeks to reach optimum levels in your body, so do give them enough time to work before deciding if they are right for you. Find out more about how long it takes supplements to work.

If you need more advice or have any questions about Healthspan's joint health range, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our expert team.