Which supplement should you choose for osteoarthritis and joint pain?

In short:

1. No supplement for osteoarthritis cures the disease, and none is authorised to claim an effect on joint mobility in Europe.
2. On the eight public criteria of this ranking, Nutripure’s Pure Articulations scores 8 out of 8, ahead of Arkopharma (4), Novoma and Nutrimuscle (2 each).
3. Only a few nutrients carry an authorised claim: vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of cartilage, and vitamin D to the maintenance of normal bones.
4. Before any course, ask a doctor or pharmacist, especially if you take an anticoagulant or have diabetes.

Osteoarthritis affects the most heavily used joints, knees, hips, hands, and there is no curative treatment¹. That is why joint supplements attract so much interest. This comparison sums up what health authorities say, the precautions to know, then ranks four supplements for osteoarthritis sold in France using a grid published below.

Comparison table of supplements for osteoarthritis

Values come from the brands’ official product pages, for the recommended daily dose, as of 30 October 2026. The detailed scores are in the “Ranking methodology” section.

N.A: not applicable, as the data was not found by the editorial team. Percentages are expressed against nutrient reference values (NRVs).

What health authorities say about supplements for osteoarthritis

No effect on osteoarthritis is authorised

Since 2012, European authorities have prohibited food supplements containing certain ingredients from claiming to promote joint mobility, due to insufficient clinical evidence¹. The ingredients concerned are glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate, MSM, silicon, SAMe and omega-3 from fish or krill oil. A joint supplement therefore cannot claim to relieve or slow down osteoarthritis.

A few nutrients, however, carry a health claim authorised by Regulation (EU) No 432/2012²:

• vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of cartilage and bones;
• vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones and normal muscle function;
• manganese contributes to the normal formation of connective tissue.

What is known about the most common ingredients

For devil’s claw, the European Medicines Agency monograph retains traditional use for the relief of minor joint pain³. For turmeric, Santé.fr cites a 2016 meta-analysis that found “encouraging signs” for one gram of curcumin a day, from small studies¹. The collagen guide details the different types and what is established about them.

What ANSES says about supplements for osteoarthritis

ANSES, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, monitors the adverse effects of food supplements through its nutrivigilance scheme. It has issued two opinions that directly concern joint supplements: one on glucosamine and chondroitin in 2019, the other on turmeric in 2022.

The 2019 opinion on glucosamine and chondroitin

In March 2019, ANSES published its assessment of supplements containing glucosamine or chondroitin sulphate, “presented as able to contribute to joint comfort”⁴. According to the agency, the adverse effects reported through nutrivigilance are “very varied”: digestive disorders, abdominal pain, skin rashes, itching, hepatitis or purpura. The experts also studied reports from Europe, Canada and the United States, as well as the scientific literature.

ANSES advises against these supplements for:

• people with diabetes or prediabetes, asthma or taking vitamin K antagonists;
• people allergic to shellfish or insects, for glucosamine;
• people whose diet is controlled for sodium, potassium or calcium, as these supplements can be a significant source of them;
• pregnant or breastfeeding women and children, due to insufficient safety data.

The agency also asks manufacturers to inform consumers better about these risks, and wants maximum doses of glucosamine and chondroitin to be harmonised at European level, based on safety studies that are “currently lacking”. Finally, it repeats its general advice: ask a doctor, avoid getting the same ingredient from several sources, avoid taking several supplements at the same time and favour simple formulations.

The 2022 opinion on turmeric

In 2022, ANSES assessed the risks of turmeric-based food supplements, following cases of hepatitis reported in France and Italy⁵. Its conclusions cover three points:

• a reference dose: supplements raise no particular concern as long as they provide no more than 153 mg of curcumin a day for a 60 kg adult;
• enhanced-absorption forms: this value only applies to curcumin in its classic form. For formulas combined with piperine, a fatty matrix or encapsulation, the agency asks manufacturers for specific data to set a maximum dose;
• interactions: ANSES advises against turmeric for people with bile duct disease, and against taking it without medical advice when on anticoagulant, anticancer or immunosuppressive treatment.

“Consumers’ attention should be drawn to the risks of interaction between curcumin and certain medicines such as anticoagulants, anticancer drugs and immunosuppressants.” ANSES, opinion on food supplements containing turmeric, 2022, translated from French⁵

What these opinions change when choosing your supplement

The two ANSES opinions do not rule on the effectiveness of joint supplements: they deal with their safety. For everyday use, they give four practical benchmarks.

1. Contraindications come before the choice of formula. Diabetes, asthma, an anticoagulant or vitamin K antagonist, a shellfish allergy: if any of these applies to you, glucosamine and chondroitin are not recommended, whatever the brand. Turmeric also requires medical advice if you take an anticoagulant.
2. The label should say so. ANSES asks manufacturers to inform at-risk groups clearly. Among the formulas in this comparison, the product page of Nutripure’s Pure Articulations includes these warnings (diabetes, asthma, anticoagulants, vitamin K antagonists, anticancer drugs, immunosuppressants, bile duct disease), and that of Arkopharma’s Chondro-Aid Fort advises against combining it with anticoagulants.
3. The turmeric dose is on the product page. The two formulas in this comparison that contain turmeric state its content: 142.5 mg of curcuminoids for Novoma, 140 mg of tetrahydrocurcuminoids for Nutripure. The ANSES 153 mg limit refers to curcumin in its classic form.
4. One formula rather than several. ANSES advises against combining supplements and getting the same ingredient from several sources. A single formula, whether it brings together several ingredients like Pure Articulations or two like the Nutrimuscle mix, avoids duplicates; always add up the doses if you take other products.

“Before taking a food supplement to relieve your osteoarthritis, consult a doctor or pharmacist to check that it suits your situation, especially if you take other medicines.” Santé.fr, “What to make of food supplements intended to relieve osteoarthritis?”, 2025, translated from French¹

Ranking methodology

The four formulas were assessed against the same eight criteria. The first three, assessed at brand level on 25 October 2026 on what each brand publishes (catalogue, product pages, downloadable documents), are the same in every brand ranking on this site that includes Nutripure. The next five cover the formula itself, based on its official product page as of 30 October 2026, for the daily dose recommended by the brand. Percentages are calculated against the NRVs of the EU labelling regulation.

Scoring grid. Each criterion that is met earns 1 point and is marked Yes. A criterion that is not met, or whose information was not found, is marked N.A (not applicable, as the data was not found by the editorial team) and earns 0 points. All criteria have the same weight, 1/8 of the overall score each (12.5%). The position follows from the overall score. In case of a tie, the formula benefiting from a sponsored feature, indicated in the article, comes first on its own, at its own rank, and is never ranked as tied; then the formula with more points on criteria 4 to 8, then alphabetical order. Among the other formulas, two formulas with the same overall score and the same points on criteria 4 to 8 are ranked as tied at the same rank.

Results.

N.A: not applicable, as the data was not found by the editorial team.

Novoma and Nutrimuscle have the same overall score: Novoma comes first with more points on criteria 4 to 8. For criterion 7, Novoma’s Phytodroitin, presented by the brand as a plant-based alternative to chondroitin, is not counted as chondroitin. The doses of the Nutrimuscle mix were not found as text on its product page. Price is not part of the grid, as it varies by format and retailer.

1. Nutripure Pure Articulations, an all-in-one formula in one sachet

Nutripure is a French brand created in 2018, active in both sports nutrition and everyday health. Pure Articulations combines 9 ingredients, including 3 types of collagen, in a sachet to dilute once a day. The brand presents it as the equivalent of six of its products in a single formula.

Its key features

• 10 g of hydrolysed type I and III collagen and 40 mg of native type II collagen UC-II.
• 500 mg of N-acetyl-glucosamine (NAG, from shellfish) and 700 mg of MSM.
• A C3 Reduct turmeric extract (147 mg, including 140 mg of tetrahydrocurcuminoids) and a bamboo extract (93 mg, including 65 mg of silica).
• 5 g of glycine, an amino acid abundant in collagen.
• 80 mg of vitamin C (100% of the NRV), which contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of cartilage, and 25 µg of vitamin D3 (500%), which contributes to the maintenance of normal bones.

The brand publishes a downloadable traceability sheet for each flavour and states that the product is made in France, in compliance with the EN 17444 anti-doping standard. Its product page details the precautions for use: for adults only, not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women, and not recommended for people with diabetes, asthma or on anticoagulants. It comes in unflavoured and raspberry versions.

The other formulas and their strengths

2. Arkopharma’s Chondro-Aid 100% Articulation Fort, glucosamine and boswellia

Arkopharma is a pharmaceutical laboratory specialising in food supplements and herbal medicine, which states that it has been manufacturing in France since 1980. Chondro-Aid 100% Articulation Fort is taken as 2 capsules a day and provides 1,125 mg of glucosamine, the highest dose in this comparison, with 100 mg of boswellia extract (including 30 mg of AKBBA). The formula adds 40 mg of hydrolysed type II collagen, 32 mg of vitamin C, 1 mg of manganese (50% of the NRV), which contributes to the normal formation of connective tissue, and 5 µg of vitamin D3 (100%). It is suitable from age 15, if you want a glucosamine-focused formula in two capsules.

3. Novoma’s Formule Articulations, a 100% plant-based formula

Novoma is a brand of food supplements made in France, available in more than 1,300 partner pharmacies according to the brand. Its Formule Articulations is 100% plant-based: the glucosamine (500 mg) is obtained by biofermentation, with no shellfish, and the Phytodroitin (400 mg) is presented as a plant-based alternative to chondroitin. It combines three plants: bamboo (250 mg, including 187.5 mg of silicon), devil’s claw (206 mg, including 80 mg of harpagosides) and turmeric (150 mg, including 142.5 mg of curcuminoids). The brand publishes the origin and supplier of each ingredient. It suits you if you are allergic to shellfish or follow a plant-based diet.

4. Nutrimuscle’s Glucosamine + Chondroitin Mix, the pharmaceutical-grade pair

Nutrimuscle is a French sports nutrition brand that publishes its suppliers and its analyses. Its Mix combines Hyalurogluco N-acetylglucosamine from the Japanese producer Kaneka and a pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin sulphate produced by the French group Solabia, in 2 capsules a day. The ingredient list fits in three lines: the two active ingredients and the capsule. The brand posts the analyses of its raw materials online and states that its factory holds the Sport Protect label. It suits you if you want the glucosamine and chondroitin pair on its own, with no plant or additive.

Which formula for which profile

To simplify your routine

If you already take several supplements, Nutripure’s Pure Articulations brings together collagen, glucosamine, MSM, turmeric and vitamins C and D in a single sachet. Arkopharma’s Chondro-Aid Fort remains a compact option in two capsules, focused on glucosamine and boswellia.

For a formula with no animal ingredients

Novoma’s Formule Articulations is the only one in this comparison with no shellfish or animal collagen. It contains devil’s claw: follow the recommended duration and the plant’s contraindications.

Practical tips before starting

1. Ask first: a doctor or pharmacist will check that the supplement is compatible with your treatments, especially anticoagulants and vitamin K antagonists.
2. Read the allergens: glucosamine is often extracted from shellfish.
3. Keep moving: adapted physical activity reduces pain, improves mobility and strengthens the muscles around the joint¹.
4. Watch your weight: for knee osteoarthritis, weight loss matters as much as the rest.
5. Follow the daily dose and the duration recommended by the brand, and do not combine several formulas that contain the same ingredients.

To understand supplement regulations and good label habits, the food supplements guide covers the subject. And to compare brands as a whole, the ranking of the best supplement brands uses the same first three criteria.

Frequently asked questions

Sources