T Nation

Best Supps for Osteoarthritis

Supplements and Nutrition
#1

JFG had made a comment in another thread - Suggestions on the Following Supplements - and now I’m curious. As per x-rays a couple of years ago, I have osteoarthritis in one hip and two knees. Along with JFG, I take fish oil but am wondering what quantity do others take to find relief? Honestly, I don’t really notice any difference that I can attribute to the fish oil but still take it anyhow because of the science. Currently, I use the following:

Fish oil is:
DHA 750mg
EPA 108

Other supps:

Glucosamine Sulfate 1500 mg
Chondroitin Sulfate 1200 mg
MSM 300 mg

It would really be awesome to get back to squatting and deadlifting with full ROM. For about the last year and a half, it’s been pretty much just above parallel squats and deadlifting from the knee. If anyone’s had some success with different doses, fill me in please!

Thanks in advance for the replies.

#2

i Have been using jarrows brand curcumin and have found it helpful with its anti-inflammatory effects. My arthritis is mainly lumbar facets but i did notice the curcumin helped my neck, feels like it had has sand in my joints which is obviously inflammation, its gets stiff alot and cracks etc but curcumin has definately helped this.

#3

neptune krill oil is awesome for joints. I personally use Now foods brand 500mg, 1-2 tabs per meal. Also gives a boost to workouts.

Jim Wendler recently recommended Ubiquinol and astaxanthin

#4

Got a friend with RA (not sure how similar that is to OA), she was taking Humira and having bad side effects(forget exactly what, just know she really didn’t like taking it). Got her started on curcumin and bioperine(not Biotest, different brand). It helped her so much she was able to stop taking the Humira.

And I don’t have arthritis that I know of, but cissus quadrangularis makes my joints feel way better than Glucosamine/chondroitin/MSM ever did.

#5

[quote]boatguy wrote:
And I don’t have arthritis that I know of, but cissus quadrangularis makes my joints feel way better than Glucosamine/chondroitin/MSM ever did.[/quote]

Hmm.
I’m thinking it may help my knee and elbow tendinitis!

Thanks BoatGuy!

#6

[quote]boatguy wrote:
Got a friend with RA (not sure how similar that is to OA), she was taking Humira and having bad side effects(forget exactly what, just know she really didn’t like taking it). Got her started on curcumin and bioperine(not Biotest, different brand). It helped her so much she was able to stop taking the Humira.

And I don’t have arthritis that I know of, but cissus quadrangularis makes my joints feel way better than Glucosamine/chondroitin/MSM ever did.[/quote]

That’s great that your friend found something that worked for her. Sometimes it’s a long, painful (literally) process.

RA is considered an autoimmune disease and the aches and pains tend to move around the body. People affected are also most sore generally in the AM. OA is wear and tear on the cartilage of a particular joint(s). It’s also worse after activity and not so much in the morning.

Never heard of cissus quadrangularis but I’m going to look into that, thanks!

#7

Wow, I’m overwhelmed at all of the awesome replies, guys! I think I will have some research ahead of me as many of those supplements I’ve never heard of. Up to this point, my method of operation has just been really old school - if you’re hurt, get up, rub some dirt on it and go do it again until you get it right. However, that’s not working this time. ha As a matter of fact, I’m certain that’s how I developed my problem in the first place.

It may take some time but if I have any success or reports about anything listed here, I promise that I will come back and share. In the meantime, if there’s anything else, keep it coming.

Thanks again!

#8

you also have to consider your diet.

I’ve cut down/eliminated coffee, tomatoes and crap food.

Careful when you do research about this. Most are from health food store or health nuts and they always want you to eliminate, well, everything that is not raw, organic, and if you act now, we will included my special formula for… well, you get the jist.

Please be mindful of your limitations. Sometimes, you just have to sit down and take an extra day. just learn from that.

I also do a lemonade cleanse once a year or so. During that 10 days, I have absolutlty no pain. I am not saying it is a cure or that you try it today, it’s what I do.

#9

[quote]JFG wrote:
you also have to consider your diet.

I’ve cut down/eliminated coffee, tomatoes and crap food.

Careful when you do research about this. Most are from health food store or health nuts and they always want you to eliminate, well, everything that is not raw, organic, and if you act now, we will included my special formula for… well, you get the jist.

Please be mindful of your limitations. Sometimes, you just have to sit down and take an extra day. just learn from that.

I also do a lemonade cleanse once a year or so. During that 10 days, I have absolutlty no pain. I am not saying it is a cure or that you try it today, it’s what I do.[/quote]

Some really good points there…

The coffee reduction, I figured out and cut WAY back to one cup in the morning. Junk food is not so much of a worry and maybe for us would be more eating at a restaurant or something like that. The tomatoes though - didn’t even cross my mind. Not to say that one food will affect someone the same way but I will be mindful of that for a while since I do eat a ton of tomatoes.

Perhaps I will have to start some kind of food journal and log responses to various foods. One thing I do know about my diet is that when I completely eliminate all forms of breads, pasta, etc, the constant aching in the joints subsides greatly. So I understand that some foods have an inflammatory effect. Now to figure out which ones for me.

Point taken about health food stores also.

Learning limitations was probably the hardest thing. After repeatedly experiencing waking up in the middle of the night in excruciating pain because I rolled over on my hip…you learn to stop if you need to. It still kills me though when it is supposed to be deadlift day and you know that it’s just not going to happen today.

Cleansing makes sense. I will definitely read up on that.

Thanks for bringing up the diet issue and such. Obviously, I will have much research to do in this area. Lifting, dieting to lose or gain weight - I’ve got a good working knowledge of those things. The OA is a totally different ball game though.

Thanks for the suggestions, glad to have your input.

#10

I’m not a big fan of supplements other than fish oil. I use to take Biotest curcumin and i think it worked alright but i switched to turmican (sp) root and i feel like its working a lot better. I just have a little every night before dinner. its a little hard to find but relatively cheap. i think i should also say i’m 24 and just have the average minor pain the comes with heavy lifting, not sure how much this will apply to someone with real pain.

#11

I also have lots of achey joints etc from yrs of heavy lifting and one thing that’s worked for me that I found laughable and surprising is Osteo Bi Flex from any supermarket.
I’ve tried fish oil(Flameout) which does work, curcumerin didn’t work, cissus actually made things worse and I’ve done the glucosomine/chondroitin/msm combo with no results.

The Osteo Bi flex contains that same triple combo but it also contains something called Bosweilla extract. I’m convinced that the bosweilla herb is what’s effective in the product which cuts inflammation down for me because it’s the only differing factor from everything else I took.

You can easily find the herb on it’s own but since this formula works for me I just stick with this product and the form of bosweilla that it contains.

#12

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative and inflammatory arthritis. Though there is some confusion out there, it is considered a disease by some since not everyone gets it. You have to control overall inflammation and take nutrients that rebuild the joint to really see a positive result. Krill oil and something called astaxanthin that is usually blended along with it. Chicken cartilage is showing promise as a immune regulator in the joint destruction process. Silymarin, green tea extract, quercitin will help inhibit COX2, curcumin, fish oil, and boswelia inhibit 5 LOX, glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM are all effective at rebuilding the cartilage.

You have to remember it is going to take anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months for the benefits to be realized, especially the anti inflamtory herbs and oils. Also, if your diet is shit, you are going to reverse the effects these nutrients are trying to accomplish in the body, which is reducing the inflammatory prostaglandins.

I took this information from a LIfe extension special edition 2011-2012. They have a couple great products with some of these nutrients. The Biotest oils and fruit veggie powder are high quality.

Good luck, I have a form of inflammatory arthritis and joint degeneration and it can be tough, but doing the right things go a long way.

#13

[quote]as wrote:
I also have lots of achey joints etc from yrs of heavy lifting and one thing that’s worked for me that I found laughable and surprising is Osteo Bi Flex from any supermarket.
I’ve tried fish oil(Flameout) which does work, curcumerin didn’t work, cissus actually made things worse and I’ve done the glucosomine/chondroitin/msm combo with no results.

The Osteo Bi flex contains that same triple combo but it also contains something called Bosweilla extract. I’m convinced that the bosweilla herb is what’s effective in the product which cuts inflammation down for me because it’s the only differing factor from everything else I took.

You can easily find the herb on it’s own but since this formula works for me I just stick with this product and the form of bosweilla that it contains.[/quote]

You know what? I have used Osteo Bi Flex before. As a matter of fact, I think I still have some in the cupboard. The bosweilla made the difference too, I’m certain and for the same reasons that you stated. At first, it worked really, really well and after some time, I just needed something stronger. Agree that it works though!

Thanks for the feedback.

#14

[quote]mathew260 wrote:
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative and inflammatory arthritis. Though there is some confusion out there, it is considered a disease by some since not everyone gets it. You have to control overall inflammation and take nutrients that rebuild the joint to really see a positive result. Krill oil and something called astaxanthin that is usually blended along with it. Chicken cartilage is showing promise as a immune regulator in the joint destruction process. Silymarin, green tea extract, quercitin will help inhibit COX2, curcumin, fish oil, and boswelia inhibit 5 LOX, glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM are all effective at rebuilding the cartilage.

You have to remember it is going to take anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months for the benefits to be realized, especially the anti inflamtory herbs and oils. Also, if your diet is shit, you are going to reverse the effects these nutrients are trying to accomplish in the body, which is reducing the inflammatory prostaglandins.

I took this information from a LIfe extension special edition 2011-2012. They have a couple great products with some of these nutrients. The Biotest oils and fruit veggie powder are high quality.

Good luck, I have a form of inflammatory arthritis and joint degeneration and it can be tough, but doing the right things go a long way.
[/quote]

Thanks for that, mathew. I have a question for you…what Biotest oils were you referring to? I am familiar with the majority of their products (my husband has spent a small fortune on them) but I’m unaware of what you mean. The veggie powder, I’m assuming you mean Superfood.

Lots of info there, thanks!

#15

So, yesterday at our house we received an order that included Brain Candy. I had a particularly interesting result with it. Not only does it wake up you and give energy and clarity/focus but it had a pronounced effect on my inflammation and swelling. (The swelling is from me expecting in October though, not any arthritis issues.) Cannot even begin to describe how surprised I was. When my husband got home from work, I shared this with him and he began to tell me that it was probably the choline. To not be achy and sore everywhere was pure heaven for about half the day.

Anyhow, a one-time observation but a thrilling one at that. Just thought I’d share that in case anyone else noticed anything similar.

#16

Yes! FA3 and Flameout, and superfood. Haven’t tried the FA3 yet but have the others. Sorry these small touch screens drive me crazy. Now I know how my parents felt when keyboards replaced their type writers. : ) researched so many supps over the years can’t remember the darn product names without pulling them up! Anyway!

Here are some great products to look into that you can add to the Biotest. They have what you need all in one formula. Thats what is great about the Flameout too it’s so potent you don’t need to take such large amounts to get the active ingredients.

http://www.lef.org/Vitamins-Supplements/Item01618/Arthromax-Advanced-with-UC-II-ApresFlex.html?source=search&key=Joint%20supplements

http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media/product-gallery/B0009F3RW4/ref=cm_ciu_pdp_images_0?ie=UTF8&index=0&isremote=0

#17

[quote]mathew260 wrote:
Yes! FA3 and Flameout, and superfood. Haven’t tried the FA3 yet but have the others. Sorry these small touch screens drive me crazy. Now I know how my parents felt when keyboards replaced their type writers. : ) researched so many supps over the years can’t remember the darn product names without pulling them up! Anyway!

Here are some great products to look into that you can add to the Biotest. They have what you need all in one formula. Thats what is great about the Flameout too it’s so potent you don’t need to take such large amounts to get the active ingredients.

http://www.lef.org/Vitamins-Supplements/Item01618/Arthromax-Advanced-with-UC-II-ApresFlex.html?source=search&key=Joint%20supplements

http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media/product-gallery/B0009F3RW4/ref=cm_ciu_pdp_images_0?ie=UTF8&index=0&isremote=0[/quote]

Of course Flameout. I have no idea why I drew a blank on that one and was picturing something topical when you mentioned oil.

I’m with you on touch screens and happy that I’m not the only one that remembers manual typewriters.

That first link looks interesting. I see that it’s got the boswellia and chickens cartilage. Years ago, sharks cartilage was a huge thing. Are they similar? I will go look them up also, it’s just that this is a new area of supplementation for me and like to hear from others that have a better understanding. I only know if it works for me or if it doesn’t.

Have you tried the New Chapter one? In the past I’ve tried a few of their supplements and I liked them but found they were a little overpriced for what they were. Their probiotics I didn’t care for much. However, if I hear good things about it, I will certainly take it into consideration.

Thanks for the info. I’m pleasantly surprised with the replies that I’ve gotten from everyone so far.

#18

[quote]Jackie_Jacked wrote:

[quote]mathew260 wrote:
Yes! FA3 and Flameout, and superfood. Haven’t tried the FA3 yet but have the others. Sorry these small touch screens drive me crazy. Now I know how my parents felt when keyboards replaced their type writers. : ) researched so many supps over the years can’t remember the darn product names without pulling them up! Anyway!

Here are some great products to look into that you can add to the Biotest. They have what you need all in one formula. Thats what is great about the Flameout too it’s so potent you don’t need to take such large amounts to get the active ingredients.

http://www.lef.org/Vitamins-Supplements/Item01618/Arthromax-Advanced-with-UC-II-ApresFlex.html?source=search&key=Joint%20supplements

http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media/product-gallery/B0009F3RW4/ref=cm_ciu_pdp_images_0?ie=UTF8&index=0&isremote=0[/quote]

Of course Flameout. I have no idea why I drew a blank on that one and was picturing something topical when you mentioned oil.

I’m with you on touch screens and happy that I’m not the only one that remembers manual typewriters.

That first link looks interesting. I see that it’s got the boswellia and chickens cartilage. Years ago, sharks cartilage was a huge thing. Are they similar? I will go look them up also, it’s just that this is a new area of supplementation for me and like to hear from others that have a better understanding. I only know if it works for me or if it doesn’t.

Have you tried the New Chapter one? In the past I’ve tried a few of their supplements and I liked them but found they were a little overpriced for what they were. Their probiotics I didn’t care for much. However, if I hear good things about it, I will certainly take it into consideration.

Thanks for the info. I’m pleasantly surprised with the replies that I’ve gotten from everyone so far.[/quote]

Oh the touch screen… Lol. I give up after a while, editing is loads of fun especially when they keeping replacing the word with something else over and over and over! I swear I am literate and understand proper grammar and punctuation, despite my posts sometimes…: )

To be honest off the top of my head I am not sure. I know it was and still is purported by some to be useful in the treatment for cancer. Not sure however about its use with arthritis . Google life extension and chicken cartiledge and a few articles with sources from research studies will show up. I went through one bottle and it helped tremendously and felt it by week 2. I have never tried chapter 1 products, but do know them to be a reputable company with all the herbs suggested by several research studies for inflammation. I take a comprehensive multi that has ginger, tons of various berry extracts, bromelein, and grapeseed etc. also eat healthier than most, do tons of yoga, massage and juice 1-2 times a week. so I cycle other supplements as needed.

Yea that’s the thing with supplements. Different things work for different people, and even at different times in their lives, what they ate when they took them, what time of day, even where you buy them…the local vitamin shop has their extracts near a window where the sun beats down on them day after day. That destroys the product. Same thing with shipping. I always shell out with second day in the summer. After having fish oil caps arrive after a week on a ups truck, as fish oil liquid , I learned my lesson.

Good luck!

#19

Hey mathew! This slipped on to page 2 so I had missed it.

I have been looking up various articles and studies about chicken cartilage, as well as everything else suggested to me here, and it’s pretty interesting. I think you’re right about the sharks cartilage and cancer too.

Funny you should mention yoga as that’s been recommended to me a few times although all of the bendy movements in the joints make me cringe. I’m not sure if I could do it. What style of yoga do you practice?

Totally agree with your last point. Your fish oil story is making me gag. lol I know what you mean though as I have bought less than desirable fish oil before - yuck - and bad pro-biotics. Also, different supplements working well at different times and on different people. Can’t even tell you how many times something is working fine and then it seems to just, well, not work as well. All I can do is keep trying because I refuse to take 1800 mg of ibuprofen a day, as per my doctor.

Touch screens are evil and I believe that you are literate. Just don’t edit on that thing; hit submit and hope that people can read through the lines. lol

#20

Haha!

Well I do my own form now. I started when I saw this VHS tape, yes I said VHS, called yoga for weight loss, by Gaiam at a girlfriends house. I had no idea what yoga really was at the time. So I popped it in when no one was looking and couldn’t believe how unbelievably inflexible I was. I couldn’t even sit in the opening pose ( Indian style sitting).

I borrowed it for a few months and did it 2-3 times a day until the tape broke. I soon went from barely able to do the poses, and being in trembling pain for most of it. To feeling incredibly relaxed and limber. It also increased some of my lifts and my shoulders and hips didn’t hurt while training. Now, after buying a dozen more DVD’s, taking classes, and just doing my own routine.

I still think this video is the best out there for someone just starting out. It has 3-4 variations on each pose, it isn’t bend your spine into a pretzel difficult. It doesn’t have you light candles and balance your chakras until Vishnu appears hovering in your living room, and it is slow and relaxing.

Appearently for some of the, I trained in India with guru anoop yoga snobs, you are not suppose to start a routine sitting. I guess it is the equivelent of doing tricep kickbacks with a weight belt in the squat rack or something, but whatever.

Now I incorporate foam rolling and tennis ball work with active and static stretching with various yoga poses. I still pop in the DVD every and then and take a class, especially on vacation.

Considering you have medical considerations I would go to a yoga studio and look to see if they have a special class for pain and injuries. Most instructors have some sort of other training in manual therapy. If not, just do the basic course and talk to them about what you are dealing with. They should know what you can and can’t do.

Most joint issues are only a fraction of the pain symptoms. Joint issues will initiate tension issues that turn into soft tissue pathologies. If there are severe joint issues, or hyper mobility is at the source of your problem, it is probably not for you. Some people need to strenghten and stabalize joints rather than lossen and increase ROM.

You might want to go with something more direct like massage therapy or or more maintenance focused physical therapy in that case. Good luck!