Nutritional Supplement Ingredients for Joint Pain
Chronic joint pain is the leading cause of disability in the United States. Supplement business owners can help alleviate this common public health concern affecting 70 million Americans by producing nutritional supplements that have high potential to promote joint health, alleviate pain and increase joint flexibility.
As the vast majority of baby boomers are reaching their 60's and early 70's,more and more of them are finding that their swollen joints are hampering their daily activities. In 1997, 20 percent of adult Americans, or about 43 million Americans, suffered from joint pain or arthritis. Five years later, a more-intensive 2001questionnaire conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that chronic joint problems are more widespread than was indicated in earlier reports. In the 2001 survey, one in three Americans (69.9 million) reported being affected by arthritis or other chronic joint pain, an increase of 63 percent than the 1997 estimate.1
In 2006, the National Health Interview survey reported that approximately 30 percent of American adults suffered from pain, stiffness or swelling around the joint in the past 30 days; 18 reported knee pain; 9 percent reported pain in the shoulder joints; 7 percent reported finger and hip pain. During 2002and 2009, the percentage of people (18 years and above) who suffer from joint pain remained unchanged. Figures show: 2
• About 20 percent in the age bracket of 18 to 44 years
• About 42 percent in the age bracket of 45 to 65 years
• About 50 percent in the age bracket of 65 and 74 years
Joint Health and Consumer Awareness
Joint pain can be caused by wear and tear of the joint, injury to the joint, prolonged abnormal posture, weight-bearing, repetitive use of the joint, as well as degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis. Joint pain is seen to be more prevalent in middle-aged and older women than men in the same age category. Arthritis is also more commonly seen in those who are overweight or lead inactive lifestyles.3Risk of joint pain can be reduced through exercise, weight management and a healthy diet combined with nutritional support from joint health supplements.
According to the Arthritis Foundation, people have very little knowledge about arthritis and tend to treat their ailments on their own by purchasing over the counter remedies. Supplement business owners should create consumer awareness ofcommon science-backed ingredients so that consumers can make a well-informed decision when choosing joint health supplements. Several ingredients show efficacy in promoting overall joint health, alleviating pain and reducingswelling.4 some studies have shown that certain botanicals have been as effective in reducing joint pain as NSAIDs, but without the resultant side effects of NSAIDs.5
Joint Health Product Market
According to the InnovaMarket Insights, a global market research company based in the Netherlands, interest in joint health supplements has remained steady over the past few years, but this interest has not moved significantly into the mainstreamfood and drink market. Here's where the majority of joint health product launches have been in the last year as reported by Innova's Food and Beverage Database:6
• In the area of pet foods which accounted for over 80 percent of the launches last year.
• Joint-aid beverages, both cold and hot, recorded the second highest launches. Hot beverages include herbal teas that contain ingredients such as alfalfa, meadowsweet, nettles, celery seed, devil's claw, ginger, silver birch, and jasmine. Cold beverages include soft drinks or ready-to-drink supplements with joint health ingredients, particularly glucosamine. In the mainstream soft drinks market, super fruit juice blends with glucosamine and other beneficial ingredients to increase joint mobility and flexibility have been introduced.
• Innova also reported a shift in the scope of the joint health market from aging baby boomers to sports nutrition. SPINS, a market research company based in Schaumburg, Ill., reports an increase of 2 percent in sale of Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)in the food-drug-mass channel.7 MSM is a popular ingredient used in sports nutrition for joint health.
• While growth in the joint health product market has been limited to supplements so far, there is room for joint health promoting beverages and several supplement business owners are now offering their consumers a choice of delivery options ranging from capsules, tablets, powders to ready-to-drink joint health liquids.
Science-Backed Joint Health Ingredients
Glucosamine sulfate, an amino sugar, is a precursor to chondroitin sulfate and hyalrunoic acid (HA).
Chondroitin sulfate is a component of healthy cartilage and is believed to prevent cartilage breakdown. HA is also a component of cartilage matrix and synovial fluid needed for joint mobility and flexibility. A combination of HA and phospholipids has been observed to influence joint lubrication and may help to protect the joint from degenerative damage.8-10
SPINS reported sales of $9 million in the natural channel for products containing a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin.11 while the glucosamine-chondrointin combination is by far the most popular joint health combination; it recorded 14 percent decline in the food-drug-mass channel and 8 percent in the natural channel.12
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is an organic sulfur compound. Research shows that it may bring inflammation under control and help block cartilage degeneration and thereby supporting cartilage health.13
Collagen type II is the main collagen component of cartilage. For supplement manufacturing, collagen type II is derived from bovine and chicken bones and joints. It is typically manufactured andsold in liquid and tablet forms.14
Eggshell membrane (ESM) is a natural source of chondroitin sulfate, HA and glycosaminoglycans and is believed to have anti-inflammatory benefits. Studies have shown that ESM may be beneficial for those suffering from joint and connective tissue disorders.15
Boswelia, (bark from the boswellia tree), shows exhibited improvements in functional ability. It is believed to exert beneficial effects by controlling the body's inflammatory responses. It has been shown potential efficacy to improve joint health by reducing the enzymatic degradation of cartilage.16
Capsaicin, an active component of chili peppers, has been shown to produce analgesic effects on patients with mild to moderate joint pain. Topical creams that contain capsaicin have fast-relieving action.17
Cetylated Fatty Acids, a combination of fatty acids in topical application has demonstrated efficacy in reducing pain and improving joint mobility.18
Calcium – building strong bones is an integral part of joint health. Bone health ingredients such as calcium, Vitamin D, phosphorous and magnesium are required to support healthy bones and joint functions.19
Manufacturing Joint Health Supplements
Joint health supplements can be manufactured in several delivery forms such as capsules, tablets, powders supplement drinks, liquid shots and topical applications. Consumer Lab tested several joint health products and found that almost half of the glucosamine/chondroitin supplements did not have the specified amounts of ingredients in them. Choosing the right nutraceutical manufacturer is vitally important. Be sure to look for manufacturers that have the experience and have a reputation in the industry for manufacturing high-quality products.
Along with a healthy diet, optimal weight maintenance, exercise and nutritional support through high-quality joint health supplements, consumers can protect joint health. An experienced nutraceutical manufacturer can help you produce a variety of safe and effective joint health supplements designed to improve joint function/flexibility, reduce pain and protect joints from degenerative damage.
As the vast majority of baby boomers are reaching their 60's and early 70's,more and more of them are finding that their swollen joints are hampering their daily activities. In 1997, 20 percent of adult Americans, or about 43 million Americans, suffered from joint pain or arthritis. Five years later, a more-intensive 2001questionnaire conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that chronic joint problems are more widespread than was indicated in earlier reports. In the 2001 survey, one in three Americans (69.9 million) reported being affected by arthritis or other chronic joint pain, an increase of 63 percent than the 1997 estimate.1
In 2006, the National Health Interview survey reported that approximately 30 percent of American adults suffered from pain, stiffness or swelling around the joint in the past 30 days; 18 reported knee pain; 9 percent reported pain in the shoulder joints; 7 percent reported finger and hip pain. During 2002and 2009, the percentage of people (18 years and above) who suffer from joint pain remained unchanged. Figures show: 2
• About 20 percent in the age bracket of 18 to 44 years
• About 42 percent in the age bracket of 45 to 65 years
• About 50 percent in the age bracket of 65 and 74 years
Joint Health and Consumer Awareness
Joint pain can be caused by wear and tear of the joint, injury to the joint, prolonged abnormal posture, weight-bearing, repetitive use of the joint, as well as degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis. Joint pain is seen to be more prevalent in middle-aged and older women than men in the same age category. Arthritis is also more commonly seen in those who are overweight or lead inactive lifestyles.3Risk of joint pain can be reduced through exercise, weight management and a healthy diet combined with nutritional support from joint health supplements.
According to the Arthritis Foundation, people have very little knowledge about arthritis and tend to treat their ailments on their own by purchasing over the counter remedies. Supplement business owners should create consumer awareness ofcommon science-backed ingredients so that consumers can make a well-informed decision when choosing joint health supplements. Several ingredients show efficacy in promoting overall joint health, alleviating pain and reducingswelling.4 some studies have shown that certain botanicals have been as effective in reducing joint pain as NSAIDs, but without the resultant side effects of NSAIDs.5
Joint Health Product Market
According to the InnovaMarket Insights, a global market research company based in the Netherlands, interest in joint health supplements has remained steady over the past few years, but this interest has not moved significantly into the mainstreamfood and drink market. Here's where the majority of joint health product launches have been in the last year as reported by Innova's Food and Beverage Database:6
• In the area of pet foods which accounted for over 80 percent of the launches last year.
• Joint-aid beverages, both cold and hot, recorded the second highest launches. Hot beverages include herbal teas that contain ingredients such as alfalfa, meadowsweet, nettles, celery seed, devil's claw, ginger, silver birch, and jasmine. Cold beverages include soft drinks or ready-to-drink supplements with joint health ingredients, particularly glucosamine. In the mainstream soft drinks market, super fruit juice blends with glucosamine and other beneficial ingredients to increase joint mobility and flexibility have been introduced.
• Innova also reported a shift in the scope of the joint health market from aging baby boomers to sports nutrition. SPINS, a market research company based in Schaumburg, Ill., reports an increase of 2 percent in sale of Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)in the food-drug-mass channel.7 MSM is a popular ingredient used in sports nutrition for joint health.
• While growth in the joint health product market has been limited to supplements so far, there is room for joint health promoting beverages and several supplement business owners are now offering their consumers a choice of delivery options ranging from capsules, tablets, powders to ready-to-drink joint health liquids.
Science-Backed Joint Health Ingredients
Glucosamine sulfate, an amino sugar, is a precursor to chondroitin sulfate and hyalrunoic acid (HA).
Chondroitin sulfate is a component of healthy cartilage and is believed to prevent cartilage breakdown. HA is also a component of cartilage matrix and synovial fluid needed for joint mobility and flexibility. A combination of HA and phospholipids has been observed to influence joint lubrication and may help to protect the joint from degenerative damage.8-10
SPINS reported sales of $9 million in the natural channel for products containing a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin.11 while the glucosamine-chondrointin combination is by far the most popular joint health combination; it recorded 14 percent decline in the food-drug-mass channel and 8 percent in the natural channel.12
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is an organic sulfur compound. Research shows that it may bring inflammation under control and help block cartilage degeneration and thereby supporting cartilage health.13
Collagen type II is the main collagen component of cartilage. For supplement manufacturing, collagen type II is derived from bovine and chicken bones and joints. It is typically manufactured andsold in liquid and tablet forms.14
Eggshell membrane (ESM) is a natural source of chondroitin sulfate, HA and glycosaminoglycans and is believed to have anti-inflammatory benefits. Studies have shown that ESM may be beneficial for those suffering from joint and connective tissue disorders.15
Boswelia, (bark from the boswellia tree), shows exhibited improvements in functional ability. It is believed to exert beneficial effects by controlling the body's inflammatory responses. It has been shown potential efficacy to improve joint health by reducing the enzymatic degradation of cartilage.16
Capsaicin, an active component of chili peppers, has been shown to produce analgesic effects on patients with mild to moderate joint pain. Topical creams that contain capsaicin have fast-relieving action.17
Cetylated Fatty Acids, a combination of fatty acids in topical application has demonstrated efficacy in reducing pain and improving joint mobility.18
Calcium – building strong bones is an integral part of joint health. Bone health ingredients such as calcium, Vitamin D, phosphorous and magnesium are required to support healthy bones and joint functions.19
Manufacturing Joint Health Supplements
Joint health supplements can be manufactured in several delivery forms such as capsules, tablets, powders supplement drinks, liquid shots and topical applications. Consumer Lab tested several joint health products and found that almost half of the glucosamine/chondroitin supplements did not have the specified amounts of ingredients in them. Choosing the right nutraceutical manufacturer is vitally important. Be sure to look for manufacturers that have the experience and have a reputation in the industry for manufacturing high-quality products.
Along with a healthy diet, optimal weight maintenance, exercise and nutritional support through high-quality joint health supplements, consumers can protect joint health. An experienced nutraceutical manufacturer can help you produce a variety of safe and effective joint health supplements designed to improve joint function/flexibility, reduce pain and protect joints from degenerative damage.
Source...