If you’re dealing with back pain, you know that it can be uncomfortable and even debilitating. To help relieve this discomfort, you may look towards the many back supplements available on the market. However, the options are endless – so which should you choose?
You’ll want to reach for an anti-inflammatory back supplement that is proven to decrease inflammation and minimize pain. We’ll discuss some of our favorites in this article, including glucosamine sulfate, bromelain, magnesium, Boswellia, vitamin B12, and zinc.
Glucosamine is a substance that the body naturally produces within the cartilage. Your cartilage is the connective tissue cushion surrounding the joints. Many chronic pain conditions, like osteoarthritis, are characterized by cartilage degeneration, which can cause pain and swelling.
Glucosamine sulfate is a great ingredient for pain conditions because of its anti-inflammatory properties. It provides a protective effect on chondrocytes, which are essential to maintaining cartilage structure. As such, anti-inflammatory back supplements with glucosamine may delay cartilage deterioration, therefore decreasing pain.
While study results evaluating glucosamine and pain relief are sometimes mixed, a 2016 study found that combining glucosamine and chondroitin helped relieve knee osteoarthritis pain and swelling. Additionally, it worked similarly to celecoxib but without the side effects typical of NSAIDs. Another study conducted in 2015 demonstrated similar findings, showing a decrease in joint space narrowing, which is a sign of cartilage degeneration (1).
Bromelain is a complex, naturally found mixture of several proteolytic enzymes. It has been used in traditional medicine for several years to treat an array of health issues, primarily due to its anti-inflammatory, fibrinolytic, antithrombotic, immunomodulatory, and anticancer effects. Additionally, it has been shown to promote wound healing and improve circulation.
Because of its widespread therapeutic effects, bromelain is great for anti-inflammatory back supplements. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) can contribute to cancer-linked inflammation and is associated with prostaglandin E2 (PGE-2) production. Bromelain can downregulate the expression of both of these, thus limiting inflammation. Additionally, it also activates anti-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1B, IL-6, interferon (INF)-y, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a in mouse and human cells.
Finally, bromelain also acts on CD44, which controls lymphocyte requirements at inflammation sites. In studies of mouse and human cells, it was shown that bromelain decreased CD44 expression levels and regulated transforming growth factor (TGF)-B, a major inflammation regulator in arthritis conditions (2).
As such, bromelain’s anti-inflammatory properties make it a great supplement option for those experiencing back pain.
Magnesium is excellent for anti-inflammatory back supplements because of its pharmacologic effects. For starters, many know and love magnesium for its ability to induce muscle relaxation. Muscle tension, specifically around the joints, is a major contributor to joint pain. Thus, relaxing these muscles may alleviate discomfort and pain.
Magnesium also has anti-inflammatory effects. Inflammation is a key component of many joint pain diseases like arthritis. Therefore, any reduction in inflammation can lead to improvement in pain symptoms.
Some individuals experience nerve pain, and magnesium may also help with that. Magnesium has a key role in regulating nerve function, and as such, can be a useful tool in managing neuropathic pain. Additionally, magnesium is essential to bone health because it helps control vitamin D and calcium levels throughout the body. Maintaining strong and healthy bones can indirectly improve joint health, thereby minimizing pain (3).
Boswellia originates from the Boswellia serrata tree, which is local to North Africa, India, and Middle East regions. Farmers harvest boswellia by tapping the tree to collect its resin, which is rich in both flavor and scent. Traditional medicine has leveraged Boswellia for a variety of reasons, many including supporting chronic inflammatory conditions. Boswellia contains boswellic acid, which is thought to have anti-inflammatory effects.
Boswellia may be effective in reducing inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis and consequent inflammation-related symptoms. In fact, the Arthritis Foundation recommends boswellia as a potential treatment for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. One study conducted in 2019 in rats showed that Boswellia serrata extract may effectively lower inflammation in individuals with arthritis.
Boswellia has also shown efficacy in several other conditions, including cancer, asthma, and Parkinson’s (4).
Neuropathic pain can be caused by several things, including damage to the nervous system or disease. Neuropathic pain symptoms can be particularly debilitating, causing sensations of pain and tingling. One potential support option is vitamin B12, which may minimize neuropathic pain by increasing nerve regeneration, promoting myelination, and lowering ectopic nerve firing.
One analysis evaluated twenty-four published articles evaluating vitamin B12 in nerve pain. This systematic review included studies that assessed vitamin B12 as both monotherapy and combination therapy with other types of treatments. The evaluation found that there was some evidence supporting using vitamin B12 for post-herpetic neuralgia as well as painful peripheral neuropathy.
Because of its ability to relieve neuropathic-like pain, vitamin B12 could be a key ingredient in anti-inflammatory back supplements (5).
Zinc is an essential substance that our bodies need to survive, and it is the second most prevalent trace element in the body, following iron. While zinc performs many different functions in the body, studies suggest that it can play a role in neurological disorders, motor control, and pathological pain. This is thought to happen via NMDA receptors (NMDARs). Zinc may affect NMDARs, which play a key role in the pathology and physiology of the nervous system. In particular, these receptors are important to pain transmission and chronic pain development (6). Because of this relationship between zinc and NMDARs, zinc could potentially alleviate symptoms of pain.
If you’re wanting to reap the benefits of all these ingredients – glucosamine sulfate, bromelain, magnesium, boswellia, vitamin B12, and zinc – look no further than the Everyday Back Vitamin. The Everyday Back Vitamin contains all of these ingredients, and many more! Thus, if you struggle with back or joint pain, this back pain supplement may be a great addition to your overall anti-inflammatory regimen.
https://newyouhealthandwellness.com/magnesium-a-key-to-easing-muscle-joint-pain-and-more/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326599#side-effects
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