Long associated with strong bones and joints, vitamin and mineral supplementation is backed by scientific studies to remain active and thus maintain a better quality of life.9,10
Consumers may therefore be drawn to calcium and vitamin D3 blends for bone and joint health. A study commissioned and funded by Food Supplements Europe but conducted independently by Frost and Sullivan found that an intake of at least 1,200 mg of calcium and 800 IU (20 µg/day) of vitamin D from all sources for over-55s could reduce osteoporosis-related fracture incidences by around 15%.11
“Over several decades, a significant amount of clinical research has been conducted showing that the daily use of calcium and vitamin D food supplements is highly correlated to a lower risk of experiencing an osteoporosis-attributed fracture,” says Ingrid Atteryd, who chairs Food Supplements Europe.
“It has never been more important to leverage the substantiated benefits of calcium and vitamin D to help minimise the financial burden of this disease on healthcare systems across Europe.”12
It has never been more important to leverage the substantiated benefits of calcium and vitamin D to help minimise the financial burden of [osteoporosis-attributed fractures]
Other blends of interest may be the pairing of calcium with vitamin K2 (as MK-7), as the European Commission has authorised a health claim for vitamin K’s use in maintenance of normal bone.13
MK-7 has been shown to have the highest bioavailability and the most significant effect on OC carboxylation in humans, demonstrating its use as a promoter of bone health.14,15 “MK-7 increases bone mineral density and promotes bone quality and strength,” conclude the authors of one review.16
Derived from the exoskeletons of shellfish, glucosamine is one of the most common dietary supplements taken to support to the structure and function of joints. It is particularly targeted to people with osteoarthritis and is often paired with chondroitin sulphate, found in animal cartilage.
However, there are no EU-approved claims under the 2006 nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR) for glucosamine or for chondroitin sulphate.
In February 2022, South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) announced it was to re-evaluate the safety and functionality of N-acetylglucosamine, among other ingredients, citing the need to update its 2012 approval off the back of new data on its safety and functionality.17
Botanicals such as curcumin and ginger remain a popular choice for consumers seeking natural, organic solutions for optimal bone and joint health without the adverse effects.
Scientific support for botanicals remains flimsy, though, with the validity and relevance of traditional use often dismissed by today’s modern analytical methods and scientific thinking.
Botanicals are also considered difficult to work with, being subject to multiple processes such as extraction, distillation, purification, concentration, or fermentation to extract maximum herbal efficacy. Regulatory agencies, too, are hesitant in awarding botanical ingredients specific health claims on this basis.
As a raw extract, ginger’s (Zingiber officinale) strength stems from its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties,18 and thus it can be used for the relief of pain emanating from joints.
Other botanicals linked to bone and joint health include curcumin (Curcuma longa),19 green tea,20 and Boswellia serrata,21 a herbal extract taken from a tree that is native to India and Pakistan.
