Best Joint Supplements for Women 2024

Chronic pain in the knees, hips, hands, elbows, shoulders, and any other joint in the body is never ideal—and it’s never pleasant to deal with.

It’s painful, uncomfortable, and at times, can be downright miserable. In most cases, joint pain results from arthritis and inflammation, but at other times, it can result from lifestyle factors like toxins, stress, or food sensitivities.

And while joint issues are common during aging, they don’t have to be. By protecting your joints with nutrients that support the health and production of cartilage, you can save yourself the hassle and pain of dealing with joint problems down the road.

From the classic combination of glucosamine and chondroitin to MSM, turmeric, and Boswellia, we’re covering all the bases on the best joint supplements on the market.

Ready to say goodbye to arthritis pain and joint discomfort for good? Let’s get going through our best joint pain relief supplement list!

The Benefits Of Women's Joint Supplements

If you’re looking for a joint supplement, there’s no shortage of them on the market—but finding a high-quality one specific for women can be difficult.

Because women have different needs than men, you don’t want something general. You want something that’s going to optimize joint health and prevent issues down the road.

When choosing the right nutrients, some are more effective than others. But what do joint supplements do?

Here are some of the proven benefits of adding a good joint supplement to your stack:

Reduce inflammation and joint pain

Do you constantly feel stiff, swollen, and achy when you wake up? Are you tired of avoiding certain exercises because they cause pain? Sounds like a bad case of inflammation and pain.

While osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis might be at the root of your pain, other causes can contribute to joint pain and stiffness, impaired mobility, and inflammation.

A good joint supplement will contain natural anti-inflammatories like turmeric, ginger, or Boswellia to help inhibit the production of inflammatory compounds ³. They also relieve joint pain, enhance mobility, and improve joint function by reducing inflammation.

Enhance joint lubrication

Poor joint lubrication is generally one of the signs of osteoarthritis.

Because the condition is characterized by inflammation, there is an increased production of cells within and surrounding the joint that release inflammatory compounds into the synovial fluid, the fluid in the joint capsule that helps to lubricate the joint.

However, the synovial fluid becomes less viscous with osteoarthritis, which means the inflammatory compounds come into direct contact with the sensory neurons that line the joint capsule ⁴.

The result? A heightened sense of pain.

But when you can reduce the production of inflammatory compounds with powerful anti-inflammatory herbs and nutrients like curcumin or turmeric extracts, glucosamine sulfate, and chondroitin, you can improve synovial fluid levels and significantly reduce pain.

Reduce joint stiffness and improve joint mobility

Are you struggling to move your joints through their full range of motion? If you have limited mobility due to joint pain and stiffness, there is hope.

Although age is a significant factor in the onset of joint stiffness, we also have to consider another major cause—advanced glycation end products (AGEs).

These compounds accumulate from age-related changes in the articular cartilage and are produced from the spontaneous reaction of reducing sugars with proteins ⁵. They accumulate during chronic inflammation and are often present in people with OA ⁶.

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But how do AGEs contribute to joint deterioration? The modification of AGEs can lead to tissue damage via alteration of the tissue protein structure and function and stimulation of cellular responses mediated by a specific receptor called RAGE ⁷.

The mechanisms between AGEs and joint destruction are slightly complex, but herbs and nutrients that reduce oxidative stress and inflammation may help prevent the accumulation of AGEs and, therefore, reducing joint stiffness and improving joint mobility.

Best 4 Nutrients For Joint Health

While OTC medications and pain relievers may be your first line of defense against treating arthritis pain and joint discomfort, they might not be the best option.

Because you’re not getting to the root of the problem, it will only come back. Instead, look at natural joint supplements like herbs and nutrients that support healthier joints and pain relief.

But what’s interesting is that research shows that vitamins, minerals, and herbs can do a comparable, if not better, job at supporting joint health—without the nasty side effects!

Let’s take a look at the best female joint supplements.

Glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin

If two ingredients are a staple to any women's joint supplement, it’s glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin.

Together, they form the building blocks of cartilage, the connective tissue that cushions joints, and supplementing with them may help prevent joint deterioration due to natural wear and tear and the pain associated with arthritis.

People with osteoarthritis experience a wearing down of the cartilage between joints, which causes the bones to rub together. Over time, the rubbing of bones can lead to pain and reduced joint function, especially in the knees, hips, hands, and spine ^{8, 9}.

As natural anti-inflammatories, glucosamine sulfate supplements and chondroitin may help reduce pain and slow cartilage degeneration, thereby supporting better musculoskeletal health and helping to repair cartilage.

A 1994 study in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage looked at the effects of glucosamine sulfate in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee and found that it was substantially more effective than the placebo for treating osteoarthritis knee arthritis pain and mobility¹⁰.

A similar study also found that supplementing with chondroitin or a glucosamine-chondroitin combination was effective in relieving joint pain ¹¹. But while many clinical studies show benefits for using both compounds, evidence is still mixed on their effects.

That said, there’s another aspect to what these two do—studies find that because they’re critical components in cartilage and synovial fluid, increasing intake may stimulate anabolic processes for cartilage production.

Their potent anti-inflammatory properties may simultaneously reduce catabolic processes in cartilage associated with inflammation ¹².

So, on top of relieving chronic joint pain, they may also support cartilage regeneration and a stronger joint structure, leading to less pain and better mobility.

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)

If you’ve never heard of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) before, get familiar with it—it’s one of the best natural compounds for supporting joint health.

MSM is a naturally occurring organosulfur compound with powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Thanks to its ability to penetrate membranes and permeate throughout the body, it’s highly effective for treating joint pain and preventing joint issues in women.

Research finds that MSM has profound effects on reducing inflammation in the body, but it can also inhibit cartilage degeneration—both of these actions help to maintain joint health and mobility ¹³.

A 2015 study published in the International Journal of Biomedical Science found that treatment with 1,200 mg of MSM for 12 weeks in men and women over 50 with at least one symptom of joint degeneration effectively reduced pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints ¹⁴.

A similar study of people with low-back pain found that a glucosamine supplement containing MSM was effective for relieving lumbar stiffness and pain and improving quality of life ¹⁵.

MSM’s ability to do this lies in its inhibitory effect on NF-κB, which downregulates the production of mRNA for interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)—all inflammatory markers.

In doing so, it may also reduce the expression of enzymes and cytokines involved in free-radical formation, which, when in excess, can contribute to inflammation ¹⁶.

Curcumin

Whether it’s joint pain, muscle recovery, digestion, or allergies, curcumin seems to be the answer.

But where arthritis and joint health are concerned, curcumin is particularly effective. It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects that soothe and protect achy joints.

Turmeric and its derivatives, like curcumin, have potent anti-inflammatory activities that modify NF-κB signaling, proinflammatory cytokines, COX-2, and 5-LOX activity ¹⁷.

And because it can modulate the expression of various transcription factors involved in energy metabolism, it may also offer benefits for osteoarthritis, along with conditions like type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia.

Boswellia serrata

Whether you’ve heard it as Boswellia serrata or Indian Frankincense, this powerful herb packs a punch for joint health.

It’s a gum-resin extract that has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties and treatment of inflammatory conditions.

While Boswellia is packed full of active compounds, it’s four boswellic acids we’re interested in for joint health: β-boswellic acid, acetyl-β-boswellic acid, 11-keto-β-boswellic acid, and acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid ³.

These compounds are primarily responsible for inhibiting pro-inflammatory enzymes, which help curb inflammation. Of the four, acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid offers the most powerful effects on 5-lipoxygenase, an enzyme responsible for inducing inflammation.

A 2003 study published in Phytomedicine looked at the effects of Boswellia serrata Extract (BSE) in 30 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee ¹⁸. Fifteen received 333 mg of BSE, while the other half received a placebo for eight weeks.

At the end of the study period, all patients receiving reported decreased knee pain, increased knee flexion, and increased walking distance. Other studies show similar results, with BSE reducing pain and improving physical functioning in patients with osteoarthritis ¹⁹.