Bones, Joints & Mobility Recommendations

This range covers ingredients associated with bones and joints, including several nutrients with authorised roles. Calcium and vitamin D contribute to the maintenance of normal bones; vitamin D also contributes to normal muscle function; vitamin K contributes to the maintenance of normal bones; and vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of bones and cartilage. These are authorised EU health claims.

The range also includes glucosamine, collagen, turmeric, MSM and boron, for which no health claims have been authorised, so we describe what they are rather than what they do. Available as capsules and powders.

14 products

Frequently asked questions

Which nutrients support bone health? Popular
Several have authorised roles. Calcium and vitamin D both contribute to the maintenance of normal bones; vitamin D additionally contributes to normal muscle function; and vitamin K contributes to the maintenance of normal bones. These are authorised EU health claims.

Calcium is the main mineral in bone, vitamin D helps the body absorb and use it, and the two are often taken together for this reason. This range includes calcium, vitamin D3 on its own and combined with K2, and vitamin K.
Why are vitamin D3 and K2 often combined?
Vitamin D3 and vitamin K2 are frequently paired in supplements because both have authorised roles in the maintenance of normal bones. Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones and to normal muscle function; vitamin K contributes to the maintenance of normal bones. These are authorised EU health claims.

Combining them in one capsule is a matter of convenience for people who want both. Health Leads supplies a D3 3000iu and K2 100mcg combination, as well as each vitamin individually.
Do I need a vitamin D supplement?
Possibly, depending on the time of year. The body makes vitamin D from sunlight on the skin, but in the UK there is not enough sunlight between roughly October and March for it to do so. Government advice is that most people should consider taking a vitamin D supplement during the autumn and winter months, and that some groups — including people with limited sun exposure — may benefit year-round.

Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones, teeth and muscle function, and to the normal function of the immune system. These are authorised EU health claims.
What are glucosamine and chondroitin?
Glucosamine and chondroitin are natural components of cartilage, the connective tissue that cushions joints. In supplements they are typically derived from shellfish (glucosamine) and animal sources (chondroitin), and are often combined.

They are among the most widely taken supplements by people with joint concerns. However, no health claims have been authorised for glucosamine or chondroitin, so while we supply them, we describe what they are rather than making claims for them.
Does turmeric help with joints?
Turmeric is a spice and plant extract, and its active compounds (curcuminoids) are widely studied. It is commonly taken by people with joint concerns.

However, no health claims have been authorised for turmeric, so we cannot state that it produces a particular effect, and it would be inaccurate to claim otherwise. The evidence, while actively researched, is not settled. We supply turmeric as an ingredient and describe it as such.
What's the difference between the bone and joint products here?
Broadly, the range covers two areas. The bone-focused products — calcium, vitamin D3, vitamin D3 with K2, and vitamin K — contain nutrients with authorised roles in maintaining normal bones. The joint-associated products — glucosamine and chondroitin, turmeric, MSM, rosehip and collagen — are ingredients people commonly take for joints, but which carry no authorised health claims.

Which is relevant depends on your reason for looking. The nutrients with authorised bone claims are the ones with established roles behind them.
Can supplements help with arthritis or joint pain?
Joint pain and stiffness can have many causes, including osteoarthritis and inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, and these need proper diagnosis. Supplements are not a treatment for these conditions, and no product in this range is authorised to make claims about them.

If you have persistent joint pain, it is worth seeing a GP rather than self-treating, as the right approach depends on the underlying cause. Some people take supplements alongside — not instead of — medical care, which is a decision to make with a healthcare professional.

Bone Health, Joints and the Nutrients Involved

Bones and joints are living tissue that the body maintains and remodels throughout life. Bone is a mineral store as well as a structure — constantly broken down and rebuilt — while joints are where bones meet, cushioned by cartilage and lubricated to allow movement. Several nutrients have established, authorised roles in maintaining them.

For bone specifically, calcium and vitamin D contribute to the maintenance of normal bones, and vitamin D also contributes to normal muscle function — relevant to mobility and stability. Vitamin K contributes to the maintenance of normal bones as well. These are authorised EU health claims. Vitamin D is worth particular attention: the body makes it from sunlight, and in the UK, government advice is that most people should consider a vitamin D supplement in the autumn and winter months, when sunlight is insufficient. The combination of vitamins D3 and K2, and of calcium with vitamin D, appears frequently in this range for these reasons.

The joint side of the range is different. Ingredients such as glucosamine, chondroitin, turmeric, MSM and rosehip are widely taken by people with joint concerns, but no health claims have been authorised for any of them, so we describe what they are rather than what they do. Glucosamine and chondroitin are components of cartilage; MSM is a source of sulphur; turmeric and rosehip are plant extracts. Where the evidence for these is discussed, it is worth knowing that it remains mixed and that no authorised claim underpins them.

Collagen is the protein forming the framework of both bone and cartilage. Collagen supplements provide collagen peptides from animal sources; there are no authorised claims for them, though vitamin C — which contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of bones and cartilage — does carry an authorised role in how the body builds its own.

Persistent joint pain, stiffness or reduced mobility can have many causes, from osteoarthritis to inflammatory conditions, and are worth discussing with a GP rather than self-treating. Supplements are not a substitute for diagnosis and treatment where a condition is present.