With the consumer base for joint health products expanding, key ingredients are helping sufferers find relief.

As the human body ages, it also changes. Bone mass and density decrease, making the body more susceptible to breaks and fractures. The joints also degenerate, causing pain and inflammation, making it difficult to accomplish everyday tasks.

“One in four people are suffering from chronic joint symptoms,” said Lara Niemann, marketing manager for GELITA (Sioux City, IA). “This translates to 70 million people in the U.S. alone. Of these 70 million, nearly a quarter—or 16 million people—have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Furthermore, half of all physically active people perceive to experience some form of joint discomfort, and almost all people aged 60 and older, experience some form of osteoarthritis, or wear and tear of the joints.

“Aside from the human factor, the socio-economic costs (both direct and indirect) are high,” she added. “Each year, approximately $33 billion are spent in the U.S. alone to manage the effects of chronic joint symptoms.” 

According to data from the 2003 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), it is estimated that by 2030, 67 million Americans (25 percent) ages 18 years and older will have doctordiagnosed arthritis. Additionally, 2007-09 data from the NHIS states that approximately 50 million (22 percent) adults in the U. S. reported that they have some form of arthritis, as diagnosed by their doctor.

“Wear and tear of smooth, protective muscles around joints are the main cause for joint pains. It’s like running a ball bearing without proper lubricants; certain physical conditions further aggravate the situation and lead to pain and complex medical conditions,” explained Vinod Khanijow, executive vice president of HerbaKraft, Inc. (Piscataway, NJ).

Arthritis is the general term for disorders that affect the joints and surrounding tissue in the body. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, affecting approximately 33 million Americans, especially among older people. A condition once thought to be due simply to wear and tear on the cartilage of a joint, OA is now known to be a complex process that involves an active disease process. “Much of the pain and discomfort associated with joints is due to osteoarthritis and general physical strain that can lead to swelling,” said Holly Harmon, director of marketing for Vancouver, WA-based Bergstrom Nutrition. “Similarly, the overuse and inflammation associated with many sports injuries can lead to deterioration of the joint’s soft and connective tissues.” 

The other most common type of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis (RA). According to the Arthritis Foundation, RA is an autoimmune disease in which the joint lining becomes inflamed as part of the body’s immune system activity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 1.5 million adults had RA in 2007. Further, RA is one of the most serious and disabling types of arthritis and is two to three more times common in women.

“Most of the problem in joint arthritis is the ‘wear and tear’ of the joints,” said Kathy Lund, director of business development and marketing for AIDP Inc. (City of Industry, CA). “It results in joint inflammation as gradual deterioration of the joint. Ingredients need to address three issues of joint management: pain relief, inflammation, as well as longterm cartilage rebuilding.” 

Joint Market 

With all the figures pointing to increasing cases of arthritis and OA, it comes as no surprise that the market for joint health supplements remains strong and continues to grow, especially with the expanding aging population. “The entire subject of joint health is getting increased attention from the supplement industry as well as from the consumer,” explained Harmon. “The medical science around joint function in general is gaining momentum, possibly driven by growing interest from the aging population in the U.S.” 

While joint problems are usually associated with the older generation, anyone can experience them. An estimated 294,000 children under the age of 18 (approximately one in every 250 children) in the U.S. have some form of arthritis or rheumatic condition, according to the 2001-04 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. While children can develop almost all types of arthritis that affect adults, the most common type that affects children is juvenile idiopathic arthritis (also known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis).

“Joint health is of concern to many people—not just seniors,” said Niemann.

“Contributing factors of joint cartilage degradation (poor joint health) include aging, weight (being underweight or overweight), physical activity (too much or too little), genetic predisposition or a metabolic dysfunction. We are, in general, born with new, healthy, plentiful cartilage. Over time, after physical impact and activity, cartilage can begin to degrade and eventually, we could end up with significant cartilage loss and suffer the symptoms of this loss.” 

As the joint health market continues to expand, the lack of new ingredient innovations seems to be the one thing that is slowing the growth of the market. While there are a number of ingredients that have become the cornerstones of the joint health category, including glucosasmine, chondroitin, collagen, boswellia, tumeric and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), there have not been many introductions of ingredients that can help those with joint pain. “The joint health category continues to grow at a moderate rate,” said Lund. “Although joint products have been supported by consumers for their efficacy, there has been a lacking of new innovations, which would be needed to drive the growth of this category.” 

Proven Ingredients 

Chondroitin (also known as chondroitin sulfate) is a naturally occurring compound found in cartilage. When chondroitin is present in the body, it is supposed to promote healthy joints by blocking damaging enzymes, increasing water retention and enhancing the elastic properties of the cartilage.

“Chondrition is natural occurring substance in our body that helps in maintenance of cartilages connective tissues. By supplementing chondrition, we can help in delaying or reducing cause of the pains,” explained HerbaKraft’s Khanijow.

Glucosamine (also known as glucosamine sulfate) is a natural component of healthy human cartilage. An amino sugar compound that is produced by the body, glucosamine aids in repairing damaged cartilage, building new cartilage, cushioning joints, relieving pain and reducing inflammation. “Glucosamine and chondroitin are the most recognized products for joint health,” said Lund. “Various types of collagen have [also] gained acceptance for joint health.” 

Collagen is a type of protein that very important in maintaining healthy joints. There are more than 25 types of collagen; it is fibrous in nature and connects and supports other bodily tissues, including the skin, bone, tendons, muscles, as well as cartilage. Some types of arthritis can cause the cartilage in joints to lose elasticity and begin to wear away in the areas that see the most movement, such as knees, ankles and wrists. Without the natural shock absorbers present, tendons and ligaments stretch to fill in for the missing cartilage, which causes pain.

GELITA has been marketing FORTIGEL ®, a unique combination of highpurity bioactive collagen peptides, since 2004. This natural substance promotes the regeneration of cartilage tissue, restoring flexibility to joints, according to the company. “Rather than addressing only the symptoms, FORTIGEL has been proven to repair and protect cartilage, which ultimately offers relief of symptoms,” said Niemann. “We know that FORTIGEL positively impacts 95 percent of the cartilage, by affecting both collagen and proteoglycans.” 

In addition to distributing glucosamine and chondroitin, AIDP Inc. offers several types of collagen including Kolla 2®, a patentented collagen type II product that contains important glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), including chondroitin and hyaluronic acid. According to the company, Kolla 2 offers the complete building blocks for cartilage and a unique advantage as a nutritional supplement product for joint health. “AIDP is one of the largest suppliers of glucosamine, chondroitin and calciums, in addition to providing a full portfolio of vitamin K products,” said lund kolla 2has been a Successful collagen product and KoACT® is the company’s newest product for overall bone and joint health. “KoACT is a patented chelated compound of calcium and collagen that uniquely delivers a special form of calcium and collagen that bones need to stay healthy.” 

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is an organic sulfur compound found naturally in fruits, grains, vegetables, animals and humans. MSM provides sulfur, which is a building block of various parts of the body including the joints and cartilage. Additionally, MSM can help improve joint flexibility, reduce stiffness, swelling and pain, improve circulation and cell vitality.

Bergstrom Nutrition produces OptiMSM®, an organic sulfur that appears as a white, crystalline, watersoluble powder that is available in a variety of topical applications and internal dosage types. It is non-toxic, nonallergenic and is 99.9 percent pure, according to the company.

Bergstron Nutrition is continuing research to expand the uses for OptiMSMS. “We are currently involved in a continuation of research looking at how OptiMSM assists in sports performance as well as injury recovery,” said Harmon. Currently, consumers in more than 20 countries purchase hundreds of different retail products that contain OptiMSM, Harmon added.

Boswellia is a genus of trees that contain a number of species. The resin of boswellia trees contains boswellic acids that can be used as an anti-inflammatory that is helpful for arthritis pain. “We attribute the demand for the natural-spectrum form of boswellia to the increasing consumer need for a natural, bioavailable and fast-acting solution that could perhaps synergize with other established ingredients, such as glucosamine,” said Blake Ebersole, technical director of Verdure Sciences (Noblesville, IN).

WOKVEL® Extract is a botanical ingredient from Verdure Sciences that supportports joint health and flexibility through regulation of 5-lipoxygenase synthesis. Derived from Boswellia serrata, and used traditionally for its inflammatory-modulating properties, WOKVEL Extract is an allnatural, science-backed ingredient for premium dietary supplements offering superior joint health. “WOKVEL Extract was one of the first Boswellia extracts evaluated in peer-reviewed clinical trials, and over this time we have seen demand for this ingredient grow tremendously,” added Ebersole.

Turmeric is a spice made from grinding the roots curcumin plant. Used since ancient times in ayurvedic and Chinese medicine to treat arthritis, turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory and can help to reduce the swelling, pain and stiffness in the body’s tissues and joints. HerbaKraft, Inc. offers a number of ingredients that promote joint health including turmeric, glucosamine, boswellia serrata and boswellia AKBA.

Results & Innovation 

While there may not be many new ingredients being introduced, innovation is happening in delivery methods. Manufacturers are continuing to look for new and inventive ways for consumers who have trouble swallowing pills or prefer other ways to take supplements. According to a Natural Marketing Institute (NMI) report, approximately 30 percent of consumers that take supplements said they are interested in alternative forms. Additionally, recent studies have shown that 40 percent of American adults have difficulty swallowing pills. Capsules, tablets, beverages and other liquid supplements, stick packs, powders, gummies and chewables are some examples of delivery methods with growing popularity.

“New developments in supplement delivery, as in new forms such as drinks and more food-like energy and recovery bars, are showing promise, and the potential market for joint health supplements is quite large, given an aging Baby Boomer population that desires to maintain the active lifestyle they’ve become used to,” said Harmon.

To ensure product efficacy, companies are taking the time to do the research and clinical trials before releasing a product onto the market. “The timeline is longer, but the products are better developed and provide true, clinically proven benefits,” explained Lund. “Paying attention and taking the time to ensure quality, purity and safety will give consumers the confidence in the product.” 

“People suffering from any kind of pains, especially joint pains, look for treatment which is very effective, and can bring in symptomatic relief faster so as to improve, mobility,” added Khanijow. “Quality ingredients have better bioavailability, and hence can work better.” 

What the Future Holds 

As health care costs rise, consumers will continue to look for other options for their joint issues. While some of the prescription drugs such as pain killers and anti-inflammatories that doctors can prescribe may provide short-term relief and improvements in mobility, they may only treat the symptoms, which will not help in the long run. “Joint pain treatments are ongoing process, with increasing cost of prescriptions, more people are looking for alternatives, and market size is increasing by 30-45 percent annually,” said Khanijow.

“Joint health is a concern for everyone, because it directly impacts mobility and therefore overall quality of life,” concluded Harmon. “We might think of seniors first, but young athletes and moderately active adults have an interest in maintaining joint health as well.