The 8 Best Joint Supplements of 2024

Key Specs

Servings per container: 30 | Serving size: 1 tablet | Key Ingredients: UC-II collagen, calcium, vitamin D | Third-Party Tested: Yes, NSF

Why We Recommend It

Voltaren’s Joint Health And Bone Strength supplement is NSF certified and includes nutrients to support both joint and bone health. It has UC-II Collagen, which can help the body preserve cartilage lost naturally with age. It also has bone-building nutrients, calcium, and vitamin D. 

It also contains vitamin C, which aids with collagen absorption to prevent wear and tear on the joints, along with magnesium, copper, zinc, and manganese—more nutrients that play a role in the health of your bones and connective tissue. This is especially great for older adults or those going through menopause whose joint and bone health tends to deteriorate more rapidly.

That’s in part because we don’t make as much collagen as we age, so it becomes more important to get it through food and supplementation. UC-II collagen—the kind in this supplement—is especially helpful for joint health. Studies have shown this type of collagen reduces joint pain in patients with or without preexisting joint disease.

This supplement is widely available from various retailers, and it’s reasonably priced, considering how well-rounded it is. Plus, it’s available in tablet form, unlike many other collagen supplements that are in powder form. 

Keep In Mind

Since this supplement contains a variety of vitamins and minerals, there’s a higher chance you’ll exceed the tolerable upper limit (UL) if you’re also taking a multivitamin or another supplement. So, be sure to check the dosages in other supplements you’re taking to be sure you don’t overdo it. 

Additionally, since there are lots of different vitamins and minerals in this supplement, speak with your healthcare provider if you’re on any medications to be sure there are no interactions.

Key Specs

Servings per container: 60 | Serving size: 2 capsules | Key Ingredients: Curcumin | Third-Party Tested: Yes, NSF

Why We Recommend It

For turmeric’s anti-inflammatory benefits, we suggest Thorne’s Curcumin Phytosome 500 mg because it’s NSF certified and coated in a phytosome, a special layer designed to help your body absorb it better. Dr. Levine says curcumin (the main component in turmeric) is known to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic or anti-pain properties that can help with joint issues. 

Studies support this; researchers have found that curcumin helps reduce joint stiffness and pain. That being said, it may take over 12 weeks to see benefits. One study found that in terms of dosage, 1,000 mg/day may be most effective at treating arthritis symptoms. 

This supplement contains 500 mg per two-capsule serving, so you may need to double the serving to see the benefits. However, if you’re just starting to take curcumin, it may be worth starting with the recommended dose to make sure you don’t experience any adverse effects. We like that this supplement gives you the flexibility to adjust the dose based on your needs.

Lots of turmeric supplements have added ingredients that may or may not have research to support their effectiveness, so we appreciate that this one’s only active ingredient is curcumin phytosome. It’s also gluten- and dairy-free, so it’s suitable for various dietary needs. 

Keep In Mind

Curcumin can interact with blood thinners or blood pressure medications, so speak with your doctor before starting this supplement if you’re on one of the kinds of medications. Plus, you may need to up the dose to see benefits, so the cost burden may be higher than at first glance. 

Key Specs

Servings per container: 180 | Serving size: 1 softgel | Key Ingredients: Cholecalciferol | Third-Party Tested: No

Why We Recommend It

NOW Foods Vitamin D3 1000 IU Tablets contains a dose of vitamin D that helps prevent deficiency without risking toxicity. A recent study found that those with psoriatic arthritis—an autoimmune disease that causes painful inflammation in the joints—have lower vitamin D levels than the general population. Other studies have found that vitamin D isn’t associated with joint pain in arthritis, yet maintaining normal vitamin D levels is important for bone health, immune health, and muscle functioning.

Researchers aren’t quite sure of vitamin D’s role in psoriatic arthritis, but it seems that people with this disease could benefit from more vitamin D. The need for more vitamin D impacts many more Americans, according to studies based on data from 2001–2018, about 22% of Americans had a moderate vitamin D deficiency. 

To find out if you’re deficient, you can request a blood test from your doctor. This supplement provides 1000 IU per serving—far less than the UL of 4,000 IU. In fact, 1,000 IU falls within the recommendation for ensuring optimal vitamin D levels. So, while vitamin D may not reduce joint pain with arthritis, patients with arthritis, particularly psoriatic arthritis, may benefit from consuming more vitamin D to promote normal serum vitamin D levels.

Keep In Mind

Taking this vitamin D supplement may not be helpful if you aren’t deficient in vitamin D or at risk of deficiency. Keep in mind that non-Hispanic black Americans, women, and individuals aged 20–29 are most likely to be deficient, and deficiency is highest during winter. 

Vitamin D supplements can interact with the drugs orlistat, statins, steroids, and thiazide diuretics, so speak with your doctor before starting a vitamin D supplement if you’re taking one of these medications.

Key Specs

Servings per container: 50 | Serving size: 3 caplets | Key Ingredients: Glucosamine, sodium chondroitin sulfate | Third-Party Tested: Yes, NSF and ConsumerLab.com

Why We Recommend It

Cosamin’s DS For Joint Health is NSF certified, tested, and approved by ConsumerLab. This specific supplement has also been used in a few clinical trials, which speaks to its quality. It includes both glucosamine and chondroitin. These ingredients may help reduce joint pain and stiffness from arthritis. They’re go-to supplements for treating arthritis. However, research has found mixed results regarding their effectiveness. 

Some studies revealed them to be effective at reducing joint pain and improving joint structure while others have found little to no evidence of their benefits. The most promising benefits have been found for arthritis of the knee and hand.

If you want to give glucosamine and chondroitin supplements a try, it’s always best to go with a third-party tested option, so we recommend this one from Cosamin. Plus, the dosage in this supplement is similar to that used in clinical trials.

Keep In Mind

The only serious side effect researchers have found is an interaction with the blood thinner Warfarin, so it’s safe for most people with arthritis to try.  Also, the research is mixed on glucosamine and chondroitin’s benefits for arthritis so there’s no guarantee you’ll notice benefits from taking this supplement.

Key Specs

Servings per container: 30 | Serving size: 2 softgels | Key Ingredients: Omega-3 concentrate from fish oil | Third-Party Tested: Yes

Why We Recommend It

Nordic Natural’s Ultimate Omega can help reduce inflammation that may cause joint pain and stiffness. Since they’re softgels, they’re easy to swallow even if you typically struggle to swallow pills. 

While research remains ongoing, there’s promising evidence that omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce inflammation and slow the breakdown of cartilage in osteoarthritis. This is valuable because arthritis can cause inflammation in the joints which leads to pain and stiffness. Research has also found that specifically for rheumatoid arthritis, omega-3 supplementation may help manage symptoms and reduce pain when taken with medication. 

Since these pills contain a high dose of omega-3s, they’re especially good if you struggle to eat food sources of omega-3 fatty acids such as fatty fish, nuts and seeds, and plant oils. There’s no recommended intake for two of the omega-3s in this supplement—EPA and DHA—but these are important nutrients since your body can only make a small amount of them on its own.

Keep In Mind

Like most omega-3 fatty acid supplements, this one is made using fish oil, so it’s not suitable for vegans or vegetarians. Although it is designed to reduce the likelihood of unpleasant burps, it may still cause this. If you need a vegan alternative, we recommend DEVA Omega-3.

Omega-3 supplements may interact with warfarin or other anticoagulant medications, so speak with your doctor before taking any omega-3 supplement if you’re on one of these medications. 

Key Specs

Servings per container: 30 | Serving size: 1 scoop | Key Ingredients: Collagen peptide, Fortigel collagen hydrolysate | Third-Party Tested: Yes, NSF and Informed Sport

Why We Recommend It

For a joint-supporting collagen supplement, we recommend Momentous’ Collagen Peptides because it’s double third-party tested by Informed Sport and NSF certified, easy to consume, and contains different forms of collagen to support joint, skin, and bone health. 

Your body makes less collagen as you age, so getting it from a supplement becomes increasingly important. Collagen gives the cartilage surrounding your joints strength and structure, so it’s key for supporting joint health. In fact, studies have found that collagen supplementation helps improve symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Plus, collagen should be safe for most people to take, according to a recent research review.

In addition to collagen, it also contains vitamin C. The type of collagen used, Fortigel, is a hydrolyzed form of collagen with small peptides, so our bodies absorb it quicker. The vitamin C helps enhance collagen absorption.

This supplement is an unflavored powder, making it versatile in terms of how you choose to consume it. You can add a one-scoop serving to your coffee, smoothie, or your favorite beverage without altering the flavor.

Keep In Mind

Although this collagen peptide powder contains 15 grams of protein per serving, it is not a complete source of protein. So, it’s not a great refueling supplement after a workout, and you’ll want to be sure to incorporate other sources of protein in your diet to get all the essential amino acids. 

Key Specs

Servings per container: 30 | Serving size: 3 tablets | Key Ingredients: Glucosamine, MSM, CMO complex, boswellia resin extract, turmeric root extract | Third-Party Tested: Yes, ConsumerLab

Why We Recommend It

Many glucosamine supplements are made with shellfish, but DEVA’s Vegan Glucosamine MSM & CMO supplement is derived from non-GMO corn, making it vegan-friendly. Plus, it’s third-party tested, and it includes a combination of joint health-supporting ingredients: glucosamine, MSM, CMO, Boswellia, and turmeric. We love that this supplement allows people following a vegan diet a well-rounded option to address their joint issues.

Research on ingredients like glucosamine has shown mixed results in terms of effectiveness for joint pain relief. However, this supplement may be worth considering if you want to try a supplement before starting a medication. These ingredients have the potential to reduce joint pain, stiffness, and inflammation, and you won’t find another vegan supplement with all of these ingredients.

Keep In Mind

DEVA recommends taking this supplement with food. One serving is three capsules, so you’ll want to take one capsule with each meal. The ingredients in this supplement can interact with blood thinners such as warfarin and blood pressure medications. Speak with your doctor before starting this supplement if you’re taking any medications.