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Healthy aging: Spotlight on ingredients for joint health

Glucosamine and chondroitin are commonly used ingredients for healthy joints, but with increased focus on improved mobility as the population ages, other innovative ingredients are gaining ground.

Many active consumers experience joint health concerns as they age, and increasingly they are seeking natural solutions. Older consumers no longer accept joint pain as a normal part of the aging process, and more often are aware of ways to prevent joint pain in the first place, such as maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, and controlling blood sugar. And while many consumers look to nutritional supplements to help mitigate joint problems after they appear, supplementation may also be part of a preventative approach.

Omega-3 fatty acids have emerged among the most promising ingredients for better joint health in recent years, including in conjunction with glucosamine. A study from German contract research organisation Analyze & Realize, for example, found that when taken together, omega-3-rich extracts from the New Zealand green lipped mussel helped reduce joint pain associated with osteoarthritis more than glucosamine alone. The researchers reported that the fatty acids’ anti-inflammatory effects probably worked synergistically with glucosamine, which is said to support the rebuilding of lost cartilage.

Collagen supplements have also received a lot of attention, and some studies have shown promise for reducing joint pain and stiffness. Gelita and Rousselot are among the companies looking to increase the body of research supporting collagen’s role in joint health. Emerging evidence has suggested that when collagen is broken down into peptides, these could help stimulate collagen production in the body, but data proving this theory are still scarce. Nevertheless, collagen is an ingredient on the rise. Globally, there were nearly twice as many new collagen-containing food and drink products launched in 2017 as there were five years earlier, according to Mintel.

Meanwhile, several companies are exploring the potential of botanical extracts for their reported anti-inflammatory effects. Sabinsa supplies Boswellia serrata extract, for example, which is used as an anti-inflammatory in Ayurvedic medicine, and the company claims its standardised ingredient could increase knee flexion and walking distance in osteoarthritic patients.

Another potential anti-inflammatory ingredient is French maritime pine bark extract, branded as Pycnogenol, which researchers have shown to inhibit enzymes associated with inflammation and pain. And Vitamin K may also hold promise. Although it is more commonly associated with bone health, a 2006 review found an association between high vitamin K intake and lower incidence of osteoarthritis.

While there is much more research needed to back up joint health claims for many ingredients, the size of the opportunity is clear. The European population is ageing rapidly, but is increasingly aware of the role of good nutrition to prevent age-related ill health. What’s more, over-65s worldwide have an estimated spending power of $7 trillion a year, according to Merrill Lynch, helping to fuel new research and product development.