Supplements for Arthritis: What Works?

By Hallie Levine Sklar
Updated March 07, 2021
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What the latest research says about natural remedies for arthritis pain.
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Supplement scorecard

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Numerous natural remedies have been touted as arthritis busters. But which ones really work? We scoured the latest research to separate the supplements that may be helpful from those that probably won't do you any good.

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Omega-3 fatty acids

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Do they work?

Yes

Early research suggests that they may reduce your risk of osteoarthritis. And even if that doesn't pan out, omega-3s have so many health perks that getting them in fatty fish or a supplement that contains DHA and EPA can't hurt.

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Vitamin D

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Does it work?

No

Popping D supplements doesn't appear to reduce the pain or progression of knee osteoarthritis, according to a Tufts Medical Center

study published in January 2013.

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Glucosamine with chondroitin

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Does it work?

Yes

Try taking these building blocks of cartilage together: In a recent study, 80 percent of people with osteoarthritis who popped 1,500 milligrams of glucosamine and 1,200mg of chondroitin a day noted pain relief.

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Ginger

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Does it work?

Yes

People with knee osteoarthritis who took a ginger extract twice daily had less pain and needed fewer painkillers than those who took a placebo, according to one

study. Other research suggests it may be just as effective as ibuprofen.

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