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Supplements for joint comfort

Stiff or achy joints, especially knees.

Start with the basics

  • Exercise therapy and weight management have the strongest evidence for knee osteoarthritis.

Talk to a healthcare professional first

This information is for education only and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Supplements can interact with medications and health conditions. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting anything, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA; supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Ranked by strength of evidence

Curcumin (turmeric extract)

BModerate evidence

Meta-analyses of randomized trials found turmeric/curcumin extracts reduced knee osteoarthritis pain versus placebo, with effects in some trials comparable to NSAIDs. Trials are small and short.

Dose used in studies
500–1,000 mg/day curcuminoids
Time to effect
4–12 weeks
Studies (2)
Safety, side effects & interactions →Where to buy (affiliate)

Popular, but the evidence is weak

  • DGlucosamine— A meta-analysis of supplements for osteoarthritis found glucosamine did not produce clinically meaningful pain relief in the short or medium term.

When to see a doctor

  • A joint is hot, red, or swollen, or pain follows an injury.
  • Joint pain comes with morning stiffness lasting over an hour (possible inflammatory arthritis).