Understanding Your Joint Health Supplement Label

Supplements can help make sure your joints get the nutrients they need so you can move through life without stiffness and soreness. Unfortunately, some supplement labels misrepresent what’s inside. It is, therefore, important to understand your joint health supplement label to make sure you are getting optimal support.

Important Information to Look For

How can you be sure which supplement to pick? It is important to have the right information, so you can make good purchasing decisions and to ensure you use your supplement effectively and safely. Your joint health supplement’s label is where you will find all the information you need.

The important features to look for include:

• Suggested use: Labels must contain information about suggested use or servings, and it is important to take only the recommended amount, or as advised by your physician, for effective and safe results.
• Cautions or warnings: These warnings must be clearly noted to indicate if you need to avoid or take precautions when taking certain products, or if there are any potential interactions with other products.
• Storage: Knowing how to properly store the supplement helps you maintain its effectiveness and freshness for optimal health results.

1MD Nutrition’s MoveMD® features each of these on the box and right side of the bottle label.

• Expiration date: The expiration date is your assurance that your supplement will contain the claimed potency until the date provided, and serves as a warning to not use the supplement after the given date has passed.
• Dietary seals: All dietary restrictions and allergen information must be listed clearly.
• Quality standards: The GMP logo on your label means that the supplement was manufactured according to the current FDA good manufacturing practices (cGMPs).
• Manufacturer information: A quality supplement will provide the manufacturer’s information, including phone number, email, and website, so you can reach out to them with any questions or concerns about their product.

A quality supplement will also include a statement of FDA compliance, like the one below. This provides assurance that the manufacturer is compliant with FDA regulations.

Failure to include this statement would be a red flag that the company is not following basic regulations to ensure their product is safe and effective.

Joint Health Supplements

You have all the important general information you need. Now, take a deeper dive into the ingredients and benefits you can expect.

To ensure you get a high-quality bone health supplement, these are the key features of the label that you want to focus on:

The functional description is a summary of the benefits and ingredients your supplement contains. For MoveMD®, this description is located on the box.

You should also look for the health function category and highlighted function claims. These will be listed clearly, so you can easily identify health benefits at a glance.

When looking at MoveMD®, you see right away the main health attribute and the key health benefits on both the box and bottle label.

The next important component to look at is the ingredients. Every supplement should include a supplement facts table that includes every ingredient with its amount per serving and the %DV (the percentage of the daily recommended value, this amount of a given ingredient is).

If you do not see a number listed in the percentage daily value column, don’t panic. This does not mean you should not be consuming that ingredient. It is normal for supplements to be missing this information, and simply means that the FDA has not made an official recommendation for how much of this nutrient you should have.

• AprèsFlex® Boswellia serrata extract is a patented and bio-enhanced form of boswellic acid clinically shown to support joint health and function for those suffering from joint pain. A daily dose of 100 milligrams is considered safe and clinically effective.
• Zanthin®​ Natural Astaxanthin is considered safe when taken as recommended and helps to reduce inflammation to promote joint comfort and mobility.
• Advanced Collagens, consisting of type X.I.V. Eggshell Membrane Collagen and Type II Chicken Collagen, help promote a normal range of motion and reduces inflammation in the cartilage.
• Hyaluronic Acid is naturally produced in the body, so it is safe when taken as recommended. It is an important component of synovial fluid, which is a lubricating agent that allows your joints to move smoothly.

Krill Oil Supplements

Krill oil supplements are popular for boosting joint health. If you are looking for a krill oil supplement, there are a few important things to look for on the label.

• Omega-3 fatty acids: EPA and DHA are potent omega-3 fatty acids that help support joint health. These beneficial compounds help to reduce oxidative stress, so you have less pain and better flexibility and mobility.
• Phospholipids: One of the most significant differences between fish oil and krill oil is phospholipids. Phospholipids, only found in krill oil, are attached to the omega-3s to promote efficient absorption for optimal joint health support.
• Sustainability: Krill are highly sought after for supplemental use, so look for a product that helps protect krill at the source. This information should be clearly displayed on the label, like 1MD Nutrition’s KrillMD, which uses sustainable Antarctic krill to support healthier oceans.

No matter which joint health supplement you are purchasing, make sure you choose one that does not contain any unnecessary fillers or additives. You can find these additions in the ‘other ingredients’ section of your label. Some non-harsh ingredients may be used to bind components of the supplement together or make up the capsule, like vegetable cellulose or silica.

Final Thoughts

As a board-certified rheumatologist, I have a strong appreciation for the benefits that naturally-sourced supplements have for joint health. But, you want a supplement you can trust. 1MD Nutrition® understands the role that labels play in helping you make your choice, and they make the choice easy. Just look at your 1MD Nutrition® joint health supplement labels — all the information you need, and all the ingredients your joints want!