Dietary Supplements for Bones and Joints

Joints are made up of tendons, ligaments and cartilage, which covers the ends of the bones. This cartilage is lubricated by synovial fluid to ensure that the bones glide smoothly without causing excessive friction that could wear it down.

Over time and with overuse of the joints, the cartilage can become brittle, leading to reduced mobility and joint comfort in everyday life. There are several ways to maintain the suppleness of the cartilage, as well as the mobility and comfort of the joints:

• Regular physical activity stimulates the joints, which helps to lubricate the cartilage more effectively. It is therefore recommended to take part in moderate physical activity or sport to look after your joints, maintain their mobility and ensure general comfort. This also helps to strengthen the periarticular muscles that support the joints and prevent potential weight gain, which places excessive strain on the joints.
• A healthy, varied and balanced diet helps provide cartilage with all the nutrients necessary for good health: vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids, etc. To help ensure you’re getting these essential elements, consider taking dietary supplements for the joints.
• Good hydration is vital for transporting essential nutrients to the cells that are working to repair the joint. It also helps to flush out toxins and promotes joint comfort.

Maintaining bone mass

Bone mass represents the total amount of healthy bone acquired by a person by the end of their growth. It comprises two phases:

• bone formation, which involves the development of bone shape and mass during childhood and adolescence,
• bone remodelling, which allows bone tissue to adapt to changes in mechanical stress, as well as hormonal or metabolic changes, throughout the rest of a person’s life.

Thus, our bones are constantly adapting throughout our lives, which is why nothing can be taken for granted: we must look after our bone mass to maintain strong bones. To this end, there are several ways to influence the structure and density of our bones.

Tips for strong bones

Among the factors that can weaken our bones, some are beyond our control (genetics, metabolic disorders, age, etc.), but others can be influenced:

• A lack of physical activity reduces bone mass and weakens our bones. Regular physical activity puts stress on the skeletal system and thus strengthens it.
• Certain nutritional deficiencies can contribute to bone demineralisation. Throughout life, it is recommended to ensure an adequate intake of calcium, vitamin D and protein. Dairy products are an excellent source of calcium and protein. Mineral waters are another source of calcium, as are salmon, sardines, cabbage, almonds, etc. As for vitamin D, it is essential for the intestinal absorption of calcium and for skeletal mineralisation. It is found in oily fish, certain mushrooms, dark chocolate, meat…
• To ensure ideal, easy and rapid supplementation of nutrients essential for bone health, nutraceutical specialists such as Synergia specifically develop dietary supplements for bones.
• Make sure you get plenty of sunshine, especially in winter, to top up your vitamin D levels! Vitamin D is mainly produced by the skin when exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
• Limit your intake of salt, alcohol, coffee and tobacco, as these can increase calcium loss in the urine and lead to bone demineralisation.

The aim of dietary supplements for bones and joints is to help maintain the flexibility of joint cartilage and bone density. On the one hand, they help to improve joint comfort and mobility; on the other, they help to preserve bone structure. To this end, certain active ingredients are commonly used in dietary supplements.

• Vitamin C contributes to the normal formation of collagen to ensure the normal function of bones and cartilage, and helps protect cells against oxidative stress.
• Vitamin E is also an excellent antioxidant.
• Vitamins D and K contribute to the maintenance of normal bones.
• Vitamin D contributes to normal blood calcium and phosphorus levels.

Plants, minerals and other essential active ingredients

• Selenium and zinc help to protect cells against oxidative stress. Zinc also helps to maintain normal bones.
• Horsetail stimulates collagen synthesis and has a remineralising effect; it therefore helps to maintain and balance bone structure.
• Silicon is a trace element essential for the structure of nails, hair, cartilage and arterial tissue. It is known for its tissue-regenerating properties.
• Collagen is a structural protein; it is one of the main components of cartilage, bones and tendons. An adequate intake therefore helps to maintain the normal functioning of bones and joints.

Synergia has developed two dietary supplements for joints and bones to help you maintain your bone mass and joint mobility. They provide the nutrients necessary for healthy cartilage and bones, thanks to a selection of recognised, high-quality active ingredients:

• Flex-Tonic Comfort & Joint Mobility is available in tablet form as a 45-day course and is very well tolerated. Formulated with patented type II collagen, silica and vitamin C, it has a proven effect on joint comfort.
• Bi-Ostéo is a complex of omega-3s, vitamins C, E, B6, D and K, and zinc, which helps maintain normal bone structure. Available in capsules, it is a one-month programme.

Who is it for?

Synergia Laboratoties offers dietary supplements containing high-quality ingredients and active compounds. These are particularly suitable for older adults and postmenopausal women, but may also be suitable for growing teenagers. In all cases, please seek advice from a healthcare professional beforehand.