Achy joints may seem like a minor issue at first, but it is often the first sign of a problem like rheumatoid arthritis. That is why it's vital you act as soon as possible to support healthy bones and joints. This is especially true for women, as research suggests they are more likely to experience joint health issues.
While things like hyaluronic acid injections are a popular option, public health studies show that taking supplements and over the counter medications is the best way to go. These can successfully boost your joint health and treat rheumatoid arthritis pain and symptoms, without causing any side effects.
The problem is, with so many supplements for arthritis on the market, it can be hard to know which one to use. That is why we have created our guide to the best anti inflammatory supplements for women, to help them improve their joint pain levels and overall health as safely and effectively as possible.
The 6 Best Joint Health Supplements For Women
FlexAgain – The best joint supplement for women
EstroCare – The best supplement for menopausal joint pain
Elm and Rye – The best turmeric supplement
Elm and Rye – The best fish oil supplement
Osteo bi Flex – Best budget joint supplements for women
Nordic naturals – The best vegan omega
FlexAgain - Best Joint Supplement For Women Overall
FlexAgain is produced by FA Nutra and has quickly established itself as one of the most effective and popular supplements to reduce inflammation in the joints on the market today. Consisting of only high quality, clinically proven, natural ingredients in their optimal doses, it is ideal for treating joint pain.
The FlexAgain formula contains omega 3 fatty acids, curcumin extract (turmeric), glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, ginger and blue galangal extracts, bromelain, resveratrol, boswellic acid, MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), and the fat soluble vitamins vitamin k and vitamin d.
Omega 3 fatty acids are a type of healthy fat most often found in fatty fish and fish oil, but which are also present in some plant sources as well, such as certain seeds, nuts, pulses, and algae. They come in three forms, ALAs (alpha linoleic acid), EPAs (eicosapentaenoic acid), and DHAs (docosahexaenoic acid)
They are extremely useful for lubricating joints, promoting the growth of connective tissue, reducing the production of c reactive protein, and providing relief from degenerative autoimmune diseases, such as arthritis, both of which cause inflammation (1).
Becoming vitamin d deficient can cause both inflammation and joint pain, so making sure you get plenty of the essential nutrient from foods and dietary supplements such as this will prevent a deficiency from developing. This will also stop you from experiencing the many health conditions that it can lead to (2).
Vitamin k serves a very similar purpose to vitamin d, and studies show it is particularly effective for helping treat knee osteoarthritis. (3). It is also capable of improving both the efficacy and absorption of vitamin d when they are paired together in joint supplements such as this.
Ginger is a herbal root extract that has been used in traditional medicines around the world for centuries, as it is proven to be a great compound for reducing inflammation and joint pain (4).
Blue galangal extract is another root extract that is a popular traditional Asian joint remedy, as it is also capable of relieving inflammation and joint pain, while also being able to improve the absorption and efficacy of blood thinners and many anti inflammatory foods, such as ginger (5).
The Arthritis Foundation claims that pairing ginger and blue galangal extracts together like they are here can improve the bioavailability, efficacy, and natural anti inflammatory properties of both by as much as 1200 percent.
Boswellic acid is extracted from the boswellia serrata trees in India and the Punjab region of Pakistan, resveratrol is mainly extracted from grapes and grapevines, but is also found in almonds, and turmeric is from the roots of the curcuma longa plant and contains a chemical compound called curcumin (6)(7)(8).
All three of these ingredients are potent antioxidants that have long been used in various traditional medicines around the world, as they all have potent anti inflammatory properties.
They can provide joint pain relief, protect the joints, cartilage, and connective tissue from damage, block free radicals, reduce cytokine levels, and prevent inflammation and oxidative damage and stress.
Chondroitin and glucosamine sulfate are each seen as a building block for human cartilage, which can also be found and extracted from shellfish or manufactured in labs for use in supplements for arthritis.
They are paired together in chondroitin and glucosamine sulfate supplements, as together they form one of the most effective joint pain relievers. They can be used to repair cartilage and treat everything from mild joint discomfort to chronic joint pain or arthritis symptoms (9).
MSM is a compound high in sulphur that is mainly found in green vegetables like broccoli. It is often put in joint supplements that feature glucosamine and chondroitin as it can boost both their absorption and efficacy even further. Meanwhile, bromelain is an enzyme that is most commonly found in pineapples.
Bromelain and MSM can help treat joint pain and arthritis symptoms and restore joint mobility and functions that have been lost due to joint inflammation or cartilage degradation (10)(11). The two natural compounds work especially well to keep the joints healthy when paired together like they are here.
The diverse range of ingredients that it uses, each with their own proven benefits and pain relieving effects, allows FlexAgain to reduce pain, inflammation, and joint stiffness from every angle, without causing any side effects, even in people with allergies or food sensitivities.
You will start seeing improvements in your joint health and pain levels almost immediately, while continuous use can have you pain free in as little as a few weeks. That is why we feel FlexAgain is comfortably the best supplement to help women combat their joint issues on the market today.
Pros
All its ingredients are proven in clinical studies to relieve pain and inflammation
Can be used by people who avoid fish oil supplements
Everything is optimally dosed to ensure maximum efficacy, without causing any side effects
Can provide joint pain relief and restore joint health and functions
Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate work especially well when paired together, and with MSM
Can treat arthritis pain and symptoms
Cons
Quite pricey and only available for purchase direct from the official FlexAgain website
EstroCare - Best Joint Supplement for Menopause
Estrocare is supplement specifically designed to help women combat the symptoms of the menopause. However, as joint pain is one of the most common symptoms, it is also a great way for older women to combat joint issues, especially as all of its ingredients are optimally dosed and clinically proven.
The Estrocare formula contains DHEA, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin d, iron, zinc, black cohosh, red clover, ginseng extract, bifidobacterium animalis, lactobacillus gasseri, 5-htp, chromium, soy isoflavone, calcium citrate, magnesium, maca root extract, and Siberian rhubarb extract.
DHEA is a hormone made by the adrenal glands that regulates your oestrogen and testosterone levels. It can prevent weight gain, joint pain, depression, and sexual dysfunction, improve bone, heart, and immune system health, and boost your stamina, insulin response, and physical performance (12).
Vitamin a supports good bone, eye, lung, skin, and immune system health and functions, and it is especially important for women as they age, as the health of these organs can diminish (13).
Vitamin b6 and vitamin b12 both benefit the immune system too, while also preventing brain fog, mood swings, and depression, and boosting your mental clarity, functions, energy levels, and health (14)(15).
Vitamin C supports healthy brain and immune functions as well, and it keeps the skin, joints, and bones of menopausal women strong, healthy, and young looking, as it prevents the decline in your natural collagen production that low oestrogen levels will cause (16).
Vitamin d works the same as it did in FlexAgain, to combat inflammation and joint pain, and prevent vitamin d deficiencies and the many health issues that accompany them.
Older women are also at a great risk of developing mineral deficiencies, and the food and drug administration recommend it is especially important for them to keep their levels up.
The calcium and iron will keep your skin, nails, and bones healthy, and prevent tiredness, weakness, and head and chest pains (17)(18). Chromium aids the absorption of calcium, while also improving your cholesterol and blood sugar levels, insulin sensitivity, mental health, and physical performance (19).
Magnesium improves bone density and sleep quality, while reducing menopausal joint pain, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, sleep issues, anxiety, and fatigue (20)
The final mineral, Zinc, then reduces inflammation, menopausal joint pain, weakness, tiredness, anxiety, and low libido, and improves your eye health, vision, and nerve and immune health and functions (21).
Black cohosh is a herbal extract that studies on alternative medicine show has the ability to alter your production of neurotransmitters and hormones, to prevent or relieve hot flashes and night sweats (22).
Red clover extract contains a type of natural compound known as isoflavones. These reduce hot flashes and night sweats, regulate hormone levels, and keep your body and lungs healthy, especially in asthmatic women (23).
Soy isoflavones are a pure and more potent version of the active compound we looked at in red clover, so will again deliver the same benefits, only perhaps more effectively (24).
Ginseng extract is known to optimise your hormonal balance, cognitive functions, energy levels, and sex drive, and prevent fatigue, hot flushes, mood swings, sleep problems, and vaginal dryness (25).
Siberian rhubarb is then said to be capable of reducing menopausal joint pain, as well as either preventing or combatting virtually all of the other symptoms of the menopause (26).
Bifidobacterium animalis and Lactobacillus gasseri are both probiotics, a type of healthy gut bacteria. They can help to reduce inflammation and c reactive protein production, prevent or treat vaginal dryness, and combat poor digestion and gut health (27).
5-htp (5-hydroxytryptophan) is an amino acid that can suppress inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis, boost sleep quality, prevent and treat headaches, and reduce the frequency of hot flashes (28). Maca root extract then provides similar benefits, while also helping to prevent or combat depression (29).
With every ingredient being present in its optimal dosage, Estrocare provides maximum efficacy without causing any side effects. This makes it easily the best supplement on the market to combat joint pain if it is caused by the menopause, as it also treats all of the other symptoms of the condition as well.
Pros
Can treat both menopausal joint pain and all other menopause symptoms
Contains a wide range of ingredients that support menopausal women from every angle
All of the ingredients are optimally dosed to provide maximum efficacy, without any side effects
Does not feature anything that has not been clinically proven to work
Cons
As a new menopause supplement, reviews from past users are still very limited
Only available directly from the official Estrocare website
Elm and Rye Turmeric - Best Turmeric Dietary Supplement
Elm And Rye Turmeric is a supplement that is available as either a gummy or a powder form housed within a capsule. It contains nothing but 700 mg of pure turmeric, as well as a few other ingredients to create the gummy or capsule and stabilise it.
As we saw in FlexAgain, turmeric contains a chemical called curcumin, which reduces inflammation and joint pains, prevents damage to the joints, cartilage, and connective tissue, or repairs any that's already occurred, blocks free radicals and lowers cytokine levels, and prevents oxidative damage and stress.
The dosage of turmeric present is also more than sufficient to deliver the most potent effects possible.
The only problem is curcumin is very hard for the body to absorb without a bioavailability enhancer like black pepper extract or blue galangal extract being present, neither of which are included here. This means you would need to take an additional supplement to enable it to work correctly.
That said, if you are happy to do this and set on using a supplement that contains nothing but pure turmeric, Elm And Rye Turmeric is definitely the best product for you to give a try.
Pros
Available as a choice of either gummies or capsules
Contains a potent dose of turmeric
Cons
Turmeric is very hard for the body to use on its own, so you will need to take an additional supplement with it
Nordic Naturals Vegan Algae Omega - Best Vegan Omega Joint Supplement
Vegans often can't use the best omega 3 supplements as, despite how effective they are, omega 3 fatty acids commonly come from fatty fish and their oils. This will often lead to them instead turning to ASU supplements (avocado soy unsaponifiables), which provide similar benefits only to a far lower degree.
Nordic Naturals Vegan Algae Omega is a far better option in this instance, as it is packed with a fairly potent dose of 715 mg of pure omega 3 fatty acids in every serving, which are derived from marine algae oil, high oleic sunflower oil, and rosemary extract.
This will enable it to lubricate the joints, promote the growth of connective tissue, reduce the production of c reactive protein, and provide relief from inflammation and degenerative autoimmune diseases, like arthritis. It can also be particularly useful to help treat common physical issues, such as knee pain.
Admittedly, not only could the dosage present be a little higher, but the omega 3 sources all being lumped into a proprietary blend is not ideal, as you cannot see how much of each is present. Both of these factors could lead to it being less effective than a traditional omega 3 supplement.
However, as vegan omega 3 supplements are few and far between and this one can deliver some notable benefits, Nordic Naturals Vegan Algae Omega is among the best options for women who want to use this kind of product.
Pros
Omega 3's are great for lubricating the joints and treating inflammation
Can be used by vegan women
Reasonably priced
Cons
The dosage is a little low and the proprietary blend hides the amount of each ingredient present
Using only one ingredient limits how many ways it can benefit your joints
Elm and Rye Fish Oil - Best Omega 3 Fatty Acids Joint Supplement
Much like the previous supplement we looked at, Elm And Rye Fish Oil contains only pure omega 3 fatty acids. This means it can lubricate the joints, aid connective tissue growth, reduce inflammation and c reactive protein production, and provide relief from degenerative autoimmune diseases like arthritis.
Sold as either a gummy of a capsule, it also offers flexibility, so people who do not like or simply can't swallow capsules will be able to use them.
There are admittedly a few issues, such as a lack of any ingredient dosages being listed, only one ingredient being present, or it not being suitable for use by vegetarian or vegan women.
However, if you are set on using a high quality omega 3 supplement, do not follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, and have no issue using animal products, Elm And Rye Fish Oil is the best option for women to try.
Pros
Available as either a capsule or a gummy
Contains pure, high quality omega 3s
Cons
No dosages are listed
Not suitable for vegetarians or vegans
Relies solely on a single ingredient to achieve results
Osteo Bi Flex One Per Day - Best Glucosamine Supplement
Osteo Bi Flex One Per Day is a gluten free supplement designed to deliver improved joint comfort in as little as 7 days, while also supporting a healthy immune system and not requiring you to swallow handfuls of pills.
The Osteo Bi Flex One Per Day formula consists of 1,500 mg of glucosamine hydrochloride, 10 mcg of vitamin d, and 100 mg of their patented Joint Shield 5-LOXIN Advanced boswellia serrata resin extract.
Glucosamine hydrochloride is actually a more effective way to combat rheumatoid arthritis and joint pain than glucosamine sulfate, as it will still deliver deliver the same cartilage repairing and pain relieving effects, only while being slightly more potent.
The boswellia serrata extract will then again reduce joint pain, inflammation, cartilage, and connective tissue issues, free radicals, cytokine levels, and oxidative damage and stress.
The vitamin d will then prevent inflammation, joint pains, and vitamin d deficiencies and the health issues that come with them, although the dosage could be a little higher.
The main concern with Osteo Bi Flex One Per Day is that it does not contain either chondroitin or MSM. As both of these have been proven to dramatically improve the efficacy of glucosamine, the supplement will be a little harder for the body to utilise.
That said, if you are set on using a supplement that relies almost exclusively on glucosamine, Osteo Bi Flex One Per Day can still be one of the best joint supplements for women to try.
Pros
All of its ingredients are proven to work
Contains a pure form of glucosamine
The price and serving size are both very reasonable
Cons
Does not contain a diverse range of ingredients
The vitamin d dosage is a little low
The lack of chondroitin or MSM will make the glucosamine harder for the body to use
Final Thoughts On The Best Supplements For Women To Reduce Joint Pain & Arthritis Symptoms
Whether you are suffering from mild joint pain, a condition like rheumatoid arthritis, or even chronic knee osteoarthritis, joint health supplements are a good way to cure your issues. However, while there are a number of good options to use, FlexAgain is easily the most effective option on the market today.
Using only ingredients that have undergone rigorous testing, all of which are proven to be able to deliver anti inflammatory effects, it can combat joint arthritis and pain from every angle, making it a great way to help women of any age return to active lifestyles. This is all while not causing any side effects.
If you feel it is not the right joint supplement for you, then one of the other options on our list surely will be. For everyone else though, we highly recommend that you give FlexAgain a try and see how it can support joint health for yourself, especially when used as part of a greater integrative medicine routine.
resources:
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/glucosamine-and-chondroitin-for-osteoarthritis
https://joe.endocrinology-journals.org/content/163/1/1.short
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB6-HealthProfessional/
https://centertrt.org/blog/is-red-clover-good-for-hot-flashes-and-menopausal-symptoms.html
