The 5 Best Supplements for Arthritis Pain—and 1 Popular Combo To Skip

If you’re among the 53 million Americans with arthritis, you know the daily toll—morning stiffness, aching joints, simple tasks that feel impossible. But with so many supplements promising relief for arthritis, what actually works? Here, leading experts share what’s worth adding to your regimen, what you may want to reconsider and how to get real results.

True to their name, supplements are just that—supporting players that can help ease arthritis, but far from the stars of the show. That honor goes to diet and exercise, notes rheumatologist Micaela F. Bayard, MD, an associate professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. 

“Getting all your nutrients from foods, particularly following an anti-inflammatory Mediterranean diet, is really the best strategy,” she says. “I encourage a holistic approach to overall health—one that includes proper nutrition, regular exercise, stress management and appropriate medication. Supplements can be a valuable addition to that foundation.”

Indeed, if we’re not doing the foundational work, including weight management, supplements aren’t going to be as effective, confirms Melina Jampolis, MD, board-certified physician nutrition specialist and author of Spice Up, Live Long.