Side Effects of Joint Supplements: How Safe Are They?

Are you interested in using natural supplements to reduce joint pain and improve joint health, but are not sure if these products are safe?

In this article, I answer the question of safety of joint supplements from multiple angles, providing you with easy to digest, science-backed information on their potential side effects and what to look (out) for.

Potential Side Effects of Joint Supplements

One of the reasons joint supplements are popular is their ability to improve joint health and function, reduce discomfort, enhance mobility, speed up recovery from injuries, and protect joints from impacts, shocks, and other daily wears and tears.

Another reason is that joint supplement side effects are rare. When they do occur, they are minor.

Understanding potential adverse reactions from joint supplements and their causes will help you prevent their occurrence, or, at the very least, minimize their risk.

Potential side effects of joint supplements include¹:

• Gastrointestinal upset. This includes nausea, gas, stomach pain, and diarrhea. These side effects are typically mild and transient, and can often be mitigated by taking a supplement with a meal.
• Allergic reactions and intolerances. Ingredients derived from shellfish or other allergens may cause a reaction if you are sensitive. You should always read the product label if you have known food intolerances.²
• Medication interaction. Some supplements can interact with blood thinners and anti-inflammatory drugs. It’s important to talk with your doctor before taking a supplement if you’re on a medication.
• Blood sugar regulation. Although this is very rare, supplements like glucosamine can affect your blood sugar levels. People with diabetes or at risk should also check with their physician before taking a supplement.

The risk of serious side effects from joint supplements is low, especially when used according to label recommendations. Quality is also important; picking a premium brand with research-backed joint ingredients cuts down the risk of negative reactions even lower.

Risks of Taking Joint Health Supplements

While joint supplements can benefit you in terms of mobility, comfort, and joint health and function, you should be aware of their potential risks like with any supplement. Risk factors include:

• Ingredients. Does the supplement contain study-backed ingredients? Is every ingredient in the product shown to be healthy for daily use? Are any of the ingredients known to cause side effects?

• Dosages and timing. Are the ingredients in a supplement within studied dosage ranges? Always follow label recommendations to avoid taking too much. Also, joint supplements such as green tea extract might contain the stimulant caffeine, which means avoiding taking it too close to bedtime.

• Quality and purity. Does the product contain a lot of “other ingredients,” a.k.a fillers? Does it contain the potentially carcinogenic filler titanium dioxide?³ Whenever possible, opt for a high-quality brand backed by third-party organizations to ensure cleanliness and minimize the risk of unwanted side effects due to poor-quality ingredients.

• X Factors. Your individual health status, lifestyle, and any medications or other supplements that you take can influence your reaction to a joint supplement. I always suggest starting with the lowest dosage first to test your tolerance, and after a few days or weeks, increase the dosage to the recommended amount if necessary. For example, instead of taking the recommended 2 capsules of a supplement per day, start with just 1 capsule.

Possible Adverse Effects of Joint Vitamins

Vitamins are essential for maintaining healthy joints and bones. However, we should be aware of potential side effects of supplementing joint vitamins, especially in excess amounts.

I list several joint vitamin risk factors for you to consider:

• Vitamin D Excess. About 1 billion people are estimated to be vitamin D deficient.⁴ This deficiency can lead to weak bones and joints, and aggravated inflammation levels. This makes vitamin D one of the best joint vitamins to supplement.

However, it’s important to check your vitamin D blood levels regularly in order to avoid excessive supplementation, especially if you take high doses of vitamin D (10,000IU or more) each day. Too much vitamin D can lead to hypercalcemia, a condition denoting excess calcium levels in the blood, leading to nausea, weakness, kidney problems, and other complications.⁵

• Vitamin C Excess. While it’s technically impossible to “overdose” on vitamin C, doses higher than 2,000 mg per day may cause diarrhea and stomach cramps in some people. Very high doses, such as 10,000 mg or more per day, can, in rare cases, elevate the risk of kidney stones in susceptible individuals.⁶

Vitamin K interactions. If you’re on blood thinning medications, make sure to check with your MD before taking high amounts of vitamin K supplements, as this nutrient affects blood clotting and could therefore interfere with the drug.⁷

• Vitamin sensitivities. Some people may be sensitive to certain supplemental vitamins, especially in their synthetic forms. An example is vitamin B3 a.k.a niacin. Doses of 50 mg or higher can lead to niacin flush (skin redness and itchiness) in some people.⁸

• Existing conditions. Certain vitamins, when taken in amounts higher than needed, can make some conditions worse. For example, a person with high iron blood levels (or iron overload) should avoid taking vitamin C, because this nutrient increases iron absorption from food.⁹

Joint Supplement Side Effects on Liver Health

Joint supplements aren’t known for causing liver issues in most cases. In fact, some joint supplements could be beneficial for the liver thanks to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. These include selenium, ginger, curcumin, and Boswellia Serrata.¹⁰

With that said, although rare, it is possible to experience side effects on liver health from joint supplements. These include:

• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Dark urine
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
• Fatigue

These side effects on liver health can happen due to:

1. Excessive ingredient doses
2. Highly concentrated herbal extracts
3. Intolerances or allergies to certain ingredients

• Another way of minimizing side effects on liver health is choosing a quality, reputable manufacturer. Even if it means paying a bit more to get premium ingredients that were produced in FDA-approved and cGMP-approved facilities under stringent control.

It is also wise to speak with your physician about regularly taking blood test for liver enzymes. This is the best way to safeguard yourself against any potential side effects on liver health.

Joint Pills Unwanted Reactions in the Body

Beyond the specific target areas like the stomach or liver, supplements can cause broader unwanted reactions within the body. While rare, a small minority of people might experience:

• Immune system response. Some ingredients might, instead of reducing inflammation, promote it in the case of allergies or intolerances. This is easily avoided by checking product label for know allergens.

• Hormone influence. Some ingredients in joint supplements might act as phytoestrogens, which could potentially affect hormones or any hormone-related conditions.

• Improper nutrient absorption. This is due to excessive amounts of certain ingredients, blocking the absorption of others. For example, if a supplement contains a lot of calcium, it might interfere with the absorption of zinc and iron.¹²

• Energy and Sleep Patterns. These can be influenced by ingredients that affect your blood sugar and sleep-wake cycles, such as magnesium and caffeine.

You might also experience a rash or another allergic reaction to shellfish-derived glucosamine or another ingredient you might be intolerant to. Other unwanted reactions include nausea, headaches, stomach discomfort, and gas.

However, as I’ve repeated, these unwanted reactions are very rare. If you are healthy and taking no medications, it is highly unlikely that you will experience any of these.

Negative Impacts of Joint Supplements on Stomach

While joint supplement side effects are uncommon, when they do happen, they tend to be related to the stomach and digestive system.

Joint supplements don’t have negative impacts on stomach, but a small number of people might experience an unpleasant reaction due to their unique bodily chemistry, lifestyle, medications, and other factors.

These side effects include:

• Stomach irritation. Some supplements, especially when taken on an empty stomach, might lead to nausea, indigestion, heartburn, or other type of gastrointestinal discomfort.
• Digestive upset. These include diarrhea and bloating.

The risk of these side effects can be minimized by taking the supplement with a meal. Drinking plenty of water with supplements may further assist their digestion and reduce constipation and bloating.

Concerns About Joint Supplement Side Effects

As dietary products, joint supplements’ side effects might be underreported compared to pharmaceutical drugs.

One of the biggest concerns is regarding their long-term use.

Most joint supplements – including glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, and curcumin, are shown as safe and healthy for daily use when taken in recommended dosages.

Giving a supplement a try with the lowest recommended dosage is a good way to minimize dangers of side effects from joint pills if you are just starting out.

More severe side effects, such as increased blood pressure, liver problems, and hormone dysfunction are extremely rare with dietary supplements. If you do notice any issues, don’t hesitate to see your physician.

References

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3. Skocaj M, Filipic M, Petkovic J, Novak S. Titanium dioxide in our everyday life; is it safe? Radiol Oncol. 2011 Dec;45(4):227-47. doi: 10.2478/v10019-011-0037-0. Epub 2011 Nov 16. PMID: 22933961; PMCID: PMC3423755. ↩︎
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7. Johnson MA. Influence of vitamin K on anticoagulant therapy depends on vitamin K status and the source and chemical forms of vitamin K. Nutr Rev. 2005 Mar;63(3):91-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2005.tb00126.x. PMID: 15825811. ↩︎
8. Kamanna VS, Ganji SH, Kashyap ML. The mechanism and mitigation of niacin-induced flushing. Int J Clin Pract. 2009 Sep;63(9):1369-77. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-1241.2009.02099.x. PMID: 19691622; PMCID: PMC2779993. ↩︎
9. Lynch SR, Cook JD. Interaction of vitamin C and iron. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1980;355:32-44. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1980.tb21325.x. PMID: 6940487. ↩︎
10. LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2012-. Ginger. [Updated 2024 Feb 10]. ↩︎
11. Grajecki D, Ogica A, Boenisch O, Hübener P, Kluge S. Green tea extract-associated acute liver injury: Case report and review. Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken). 2022 Dec 12;20(6):181-187. doi: 10.1002/cld.1254. PMID: 36523867; PMCID: PMC9745259. ↩︎
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