MSM COMPLEX

Joint discomfort

Age, sitting or standing for long hours, wear from exercise and extra body weight all add to the load your joints carry every day.

What the studies say

Boswellia extract is widely used in traditional Indian medicine. In a study of 105 people newly diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis, the group taking 150mg of Boswellia extract twice daily had clearly less joint pain and stiffness. In another study of 88 healthy people with mild knee pain, those taking 2000mg of MSM a day had a bigger improvement in knee condition than those taking a placebo.

Sources: a Boswellia extract trial in knee osteoarthritis (Majeed A, et al., Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024); an MSM trial in healthy people with mild knee pain (Toguchi A, et al., Nutrients, 2023).

Cartilage loss

Joint cartilage is only 2–7mm thick. It covers the ends of the bones and absorbs shock, provides cushioning and resists wear. As we age, cartilage loses more of its nutrients, and from around age 30, the body also makes chondroitin more slowly.

What the studies say

Chondroitin sulphate is a key part of cartilage. It adds cushioning to the joint, reduces friction between bones and delivers oxygen and nutrients to the cartilage. In a long-term study of 300 people with knee osteoarthritis, the joint space (the gap between the bones where the cartilage sits) did not narrow further in the group taking 800mg of chondroitin sulphate a day, while it gradually narrowed in the placebo group.

Source: a long-term randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of chondroitin sulphate (Michel BA, et al., Arthritis & Rheumatism, 2005).

Joint lubrication

The joint space between two bones holds a small amount of joint fluid. It carries nutrients to the cartilage, removes waste, and keeps movement smooth and cushioned.

What the studies say

Hyaluronic acid is a key part of joint fluid. Like a lubricant and a shock absorber, it protects the cartilage at the ends of the bones.

Bones losing calcium

Calcium is the main building block of bone, and 99% of the body's calcium is in the bones and teeth. Bone density drops with age. When you do not get or absorb enough calcium, bones are less strong and joints take more stress.

What the studies say

Your body needs three things to top up calcium: calcium is the raw material; vitamin D3 helps the gut absorb calcium, and studies show that with it, the gut can absorb 30%–40% of the calcium you take in; vitamin K2 helps move calcium into the bones.

Source: a review of vitamin D and phosphate (Akimbekov NS, et al., Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 2022).