Joint Support Supplements

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This range includes joint and bone products such as glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, hyaluronic acid, collagen, calcium and vitamin D, from NOW Foods, Life Extension, Horbaach, California Gold Nutrition, Doctor's Best, Cyborg Sports, Rule 1 and others.

Read the Joint Support Supplements buying guide
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Joint Support Supplements: buying guide

How to compare joint products

  • Compare the amount of each ingredient per serve; many products combine several.
  • Glucosamine products may be made from shellfish, so check allergen statements.
  • Calcium and vitamin D are commonly used together; your GP can advise if you need them.

Lifters can also look at supports, sleeves and wraps, and collagen.

Order online with Australia-wide delivery, free on orders of $100 or more, or visit a Supps247 store in Melbourne, regional Victoria or Brisbane to compare tubs in person and taste flavours before you buy. Members can use our price match guarantee on full-priced items.

Supplements should not replace a balanced diet. Always read the label and use only as directed. If symptoms persist, or if you are pregnant, take medication or have a medical condition, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Joint Support Supplements: questions and answers

Is glucosamine suitable if I have a shellfish allergy?
Many glucosamine products are made from shellfish. Check the label for allergen warnings and talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have an allergy.
How can I support joint health if I train?
Start with the basics: sensible training progression, a proper warm-up, strength work around the joint and a healthy body weight. Supplements are optional extras. The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health says research on glucosamine and chondroitin is inconsistent, and it is still uncertain whether they help knee osteoarthritis symptoms. Popular formulas here include Piping Rock Glucosamine Chondroitin with Turmeric & MSM, California Gold Nutrition Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM plus Hyaluronic Acid and 5% Nutrition Joint Defender. If you take warfarin, ask your doctor first, and see a GP or physio about ongoing pain.
What is MSM and how is it used?
MSM, short for methylsulfonylmethane, is a sulfur-containing compound found in small amounts in fruits, vegetables and grains. It is sold on its own, such as Horbaach MSM in 1,000 mg and 2,000 mg capsules, NOW MSM 1000 mg and Life Extension MSM 1000 mg, and in joint blends with glucosamine and chondroitin. Human research on MSM is limited to fairly small, short studies, so keep expectations modest. Follow the label dose, and talk to your doctor or pharmacist first if you are pregnant, take medication or have a medical condition.
Should I take a calcium supplement?
Food comes first. Australian nutrient guidelines put adult needs at about 1,000 mg of calcium a day, rising to 1,300 mg for women over 50 and everyone over 70, and dairy foods, calcium-set tofu and fortified plant milks are good sources. If your diet falls short, your GP may suggest a supplement, often with vitamin D. Life Extension Bone Restore with Vitamin K2, for example, combines three forms of calcium with vitamin D3, K2 and magnesium. The US NIH notes that calcium is absorbed best in amounts of 500 mg or less at a time, so split larger doses.
What are the benefits of glucosamine, and do joint supplements work?
The evidence is mixed. Arthritis Australia says high-quality, independent studies show little or no benefit from glucosamine and chondroitin for osteoarthritis pain, and many doctors no longer recommend them. The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) calls the research inconsistent: a 2018 analysis found that glucosamine or chondroitin taken on their own reduced knee pain, but guidelines disagree on whether they help. Some people still try a joint supplement alongside exercise and a healthy weight. If you do, keep expectations modest and judge it over a few months rather than days.
How should I take a glucosamine or joint supplement?
Follow the serve on your label, because products differ a lot. Arthritis Australia lists commonly used amounts of 1,500 mg of glucosamine a day and 800 to 1,000 mg of chondroitin a day. For example, EVL FlexMode lists 1,500 mg of glucosamine per dose, California Gold Nutrition Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM plus Hyaluronic Acid gives 750 mg in two capsules taken with food, and Joint Defender by 5% Nutrition is an eight-pill serve. Take it consistently, since trials have run for months, and talk to your doctor first if you take warfarin or have diabetes.
What are the side effects of glucosamine and joint supplements?
NCCIH says large studies have found no major safety problems, and Arthritis Australia lists upset stomach, diarrhoea, headaches and skin reactions as possible side effects. Glucosamine may raise blood glucose in some people, so check with your doctor if you have diabetes, and glucosamine and chondroitin may increase bleeding risk with warfarin. Little is known about use in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Many joint formulas also add turmeric, which the TGA has linked to rare cases of liver injury, so stop and see a doctor if you notice yellow skin or eyes, dark urine or unusual tiredness.
What is the best glucosamine in Australia, and can I buy it online?
The best one is the label that fits your needs. Arthritis Australia suggests glucosamine sulfate may work better than glucosamine hydrochloride, so check the form, then compare the amount per daily serve with the commonly used 1,500 mg. Check the source too: Joint Defender by 5% Nutrition uses shellfish-free glucosamine sulfate, California Gold Nutrition uses plant-sourced glucosamine, and GAT Joint Support contains shellfish. For glucosamine with an MSM supplement in one capsule, see NOW Glucosamine and Chondroitin with MSM. Order online for Australia-wide delivery, free on orders of $99.99 or more.
Do runners and lifters need different joint supplements?
No. Joint formulas are not made for one sport, so runners and lifters choose from the same glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM and collagen products. What differs is the format and the amount of each ingredient: GAT Joint Support is two tablets a day, Joint Defender is eight pills a serve, and R1 Collagen Peptides by Rule One is a collagen powder you mix into a drink. Training load, recovery and strength work matter more than any capsule. If you compete in a drug-tested sport, the AIS recommends batch-tested products, and see a physio or GP about pain that keeps coming back.
Is glucosamine different for women and men?
No. Glucosamine products are not made differently for women and men, and Arthritis Australia lists the same commonly used amount for everyone, about 1,500 mg a day. A few other points matter more. Little is known about glucosamine in pregnancy or breastfeeding, so check with your doctor first. Glucosamine may raise blood glucose in some people, and many products are made from shellfish. Women over 50 have higher calcium needs, which a joint formula does not cover, so ask your GP whether you need calcium as well. Anyone taking warfarin should get medical advice before starting.

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