How Joint Supplements Aid Bone Health

Our joints and bones are unsung heroes of our every step and movement.

While caring for your bone health is important at any stage of life, it becomes even more crucial as you get older, when the risk of fractures, joint function problems, and falls increases.¹

Joint supplements aren’t just analgesics. Another little-known benefit of these supplements is that they support your bone strength and integrity.

How do they work? Find out in this Mobility Outreach Intercontinental article.

1. They Help to Protect Cartilage

Cartilage is a rubber-like tissue at the ends of your bones. It helps the bones not rub against each other, ensuring smooth and pain-free movement. But our cartilage can wear down due to ageing, injury, or excessive wear and tear—which can bring problems.

Glucosamine and chondroitin are two common joint health supplements that are suggested to help delay the breakdown of cartilage.

This effect, in turn, helps to maintain bone health in the long-run. While studies are mixed as far as glucosamine and chondroitin go, many people report relief of joint problems after taking them.

4. They Fight Osteoarthritis Progression

Osteoarthritis can make it difficult to walk and enjoy daily activities, especially if it progresses due to cartilage destruction. Joint supplements can help counter osteoarthritis.

Curcumin is a compound from the turmeric spice that is commonly used in joint supplements for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties. Studies show it may enhance bone strength and health in various osteoporosis models.²

The anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin might protect your bones from long-term damage.

3. They Promote Bone Density

One of the less talked about joint supplements for bone health is vitamin D. Also known as the “sunshine nutrient”, vitamin D is a secosteroid hormone that regulates inflammation in your body, reducing its damaging impact on your bones and joints.

Furthermore, vitamin D boosts calcium absorption, working together with vitamin K2 to prevent bone loss and osteoporosis.³

4. They May Reduce Hip Fracture Risk

Joint supplements like fish oil (containing EPA and DHA) might be important for bone metabolism—in other words, the repair and growth of new bone tissue.

Studies suggest that the EPA and DHA molecules from fish oil increase bone mineral density, leading to improved bone turnover markers.⁴

5. They May Aid Overall Bone Health

There is a part of your joint which contains synovial fluid, which is vital for lubricating cartilage for frictionless movement and indirect protection of your bones. One of the best joint supplements for this purpose is hyaluronic acid, which is a key part of our synovial fluid. ⁵

A well-hydrated joint is crucial for reducing wear and tear of bones when moving. In addition, hyaluronic acid is shown to promote new cell growth important for bones and cartilage. Hyaluronic acid may also reduce inflammation and pain in joints.⁶

6. They Protect from Oxidative Stress

Another common joint supplement for bone health is MSM (methylsulfonylmethane). This sulfur compound is naturally occurring in our body and is crucial for making collagen which is a crucial structural component of your bones and joints.

Furthermore, MSM provides slufur to the body, which is an essential component of glutathione, a master antioxidant which protects your cells from damage caused by oxidative stress.⁷ This can indirectly contribute to the overall and long-term health of your skeletal system.

Citations

1. Office of the Surgeon General (US). Bone Health and Osteoporosis: A Report of the Surgeon General. Rockville (MD): Office of the Surgeon General (US); 2004. 2, The Basics of Bone in Health and Disease. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK45504/# ↩︎
2. Yang S, Sun Y, Kapilevich L, Zhang X, Huang Y. Protective effects of curcumin against osteoporosis and its molecular mechanisms: a recent review in preclinical trials. Front Pharmacol. 2023 Sep 18;14:1249418. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1249418. PMID: 37790808; PMCID: PMC10544586. ↩︎
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9944083/ ↩︎
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6893665/ ↩︎
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3788189/ ↩︎
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10537104/#:~:text=HA%20provides%20lubrication%20and%20viscoelastic,surfaces%20and%20enhancing%20joint%20mobility.&text=HA%20can%20modulate%20inflammation%20by,migration%2C%20and%20suppressing%20immune%20responses. ↩︎
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5372953/ ↩︎