1 in 4 women over 50 experience hip bursitis1 and this statistic doesn’t even include women who develop knee or shoulder bursitis.
But what is bursitis and why does it affect older women specifically?
Turns out, bursitis is caused by an inflammation of the bursae, which are small sacs filled with fluid that act as cushions between bones and soft tissues such as tendons and muscles.
Women are also more susceptible to develop bursitis than men (FOUR times in fact2!) because of menopause.
Menopause – Estrogen levels fall during menopause and this can start as early as 40 during the first phase – perimenopause. Estrogen plays a key role in keeping our bones and joints healthy because of its anti-inflammatory properties. When estrogen levels fall, inflammation levels go up inside our body, making us more likely to develop achy bones and painful joints.
Multiple studies3,4,5,6 have associated lower estrogen levels during all stages of menopause (perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause) with inflammatory joint conditions like bursitis, frozen shoulders, and osteoarthritis, so while we’re discussing bursitis in this article, it’s actually not unique to just bursitis alone.
Here is a story submitted by an anonymous woman about her experience,
After visiting two doctors who couldn't decide if I had arthritis or bursitis in both hips, it was agreed I'd try steroid injections in my hips to see if it helped. It didn't. (Shock!) after some personal investigation I asked my doctor if I could try to addressing my estrogen levels, within 3 weeks the pain was gone! That and many other symptoms I hadn't even recognized as menopausal. That was two years ago and I've never looked back!
Repetitive motion – aside from menopause, repetitive motion leading to overuse can also cause bursitis.
Pre-existing medical conditions – Some systematic conditions like diabetes7,8 and rheumatoid arthritis9 can also lead to bursitis. Being overweight is also a risk factor as it places more pressure on the hips and knees.
The good news is that you don’t have to put up with the pain and pray that it’ll go away.
Although there is no “cure” for bursitis, it is only a temporary condition and you can recover quicker by managing the root cause.
While pain medication like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly prescribed, they’re not a long-term solution for managing bursitis.
Before opting for NSAIDs, it’s wise to consult with a pharmacist or doctor, especially if you fall into any of the following categories:
Bursitis is one of the lesser known menopausal symptoms often classified under joint pain.
Like most menopausal symptoms, bursitis can result from a rapid decline in the hormone estrogen.
HRT reintroduces estrogen through pills or topical applications.
But here’s what doctors won’t tell you – HRT is expensive and it is not covered by many insurance plans.
Studies also show10,11 HRT increases risk of heart disease, stroke, blood clots, and breast cancer.
Compared to the harsh nature of NSAIDs, nutritional supplements offer support that’s gentle, and more catered to women over 40.
With the right blend of ingredients (like curcumin and moringa leaf), some supplements may be able to do wonders for your joint health…
Without the unwanted side effects you get with NSAIDs.
What’s more, you may even get to enjoy the benefits that the natural ingredients provide, benefits like:
Our team independently reviewed 45 bursitis relief brands using data from independent consumer testing laboratories, Labdoor and ConsumerLab, combined with our internal ratings system to determine the top 5 bursitis supplements for women.
We discovered there’s ONE thing that makes or ‘breaks’ a bursitis supplement – its blend of ingredients.
Here are some popular ingredients in bursitis supplements & we’ll tell you which are the ‘must-haves’ and which you should avoid.
Curcumin (the main active ingredient in turmeric) is an anti-inflammatory phytoestrogen (a plant source of estrogen) that helps women by supporting hormonal balance healthily and naturally12.
Achieving hormonal balance can help women to ease inflammation and experience pain relief.
Two clinical trials13,14 comparing curcumin and NSAIDs found curcumin to be just as effective in addressing inflammation and joint pain as NSAIDs without the negative side effects.
Curcumin is the main active ingredient found in turmeric. For the best effect, make sure to take Golden Turmeric Root Extract (95% Curcuminoids) together with Black Pepper, which helps to increase the absorption of Curcumin15.
Naturopaths and holistic doctors commonly recommend curcumin to manage hormonal symptoms too16.
Known as the “Miracle Tree,” and largely unknown in the west, the moringa tree is the most nutrient-dense food on the planet. Moringa leaf contains a host of antioxidants, polyphenols, vitamins and micronutrients.
Moringa leaves are capable of easing inflammation17 and studies have found it produces anti-arthritic effects. Another study18 also showed that moringa leaves can also act as antioxidants, which addresses higher oxidative stress caused by lower estrogen levels.
Christina Cooks, a celebrity chef, recently credited Moringa leaf for providing arthritis pain relief19.
Probiotics are common these days, but they are also the most underrated ingredients for improving joint health and accelerating your recovery from bursitis.
Probiotics regulate and support nearly every vital function including bone density, joint inflammation, weight management and even vaginal health, mood, and more.
Emerging studies20 show that a healthy gut can regulate estrogen levels and support hormonal balance. This is key to keeping inflammation in our body under control, and helping women undergoing menopause to recover faster from bursitis.
Some probiotic strains also demonstrate anti-inflammatory properties and they address inflammation head-on just like curcumin does. Some of these strains include B. Lactis R101-821, L. Rhamnosus 4B15, and L. Gasseri 4M1322.
Some probiotic strains also possess weight-management properties. The most famous example is L.Gasseri SBT2055. Consumption of this probiotic for 12 weeks saw 4.6% to 8.5% fat loss around the belly in two clinical trials23,24. Maintaining a healthy weight is also key to keep our joints happy.
Glucosamine and chondroitin are commonly used to alleviate joint pain.
Unlike curcumin or moringa leaves, they do not possess hormonal properties so they may be less useful for women experiencing bursitis due to hormonal reasons.
Instead, they have been shown to alleviate joint pain and inflammation in clinical trials25.
However, recent news have emerged and cast doubts on the efficacy of glucosamine. The article26, titled “Not helpful, can be harmful”, highlights the allergic reactions due to the shellfish origin and rare life-threatening side-effects reported including anaphylactic reactions, as well as brain bleeds, gastrointestinal bleeding, difficulty breathing, convulsions, numbness, hepatitis, liver failure, irregular heartbeats and blindness.
They also quoted another study in 685,778 people which found that glucosamine use is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases in patients with osteoarthritis27.
We recommend speaking to your primary care doctor to take glucosamine and chondroitin.
As supplements can be sold without approval by FDA, reliable supplement manufacturers get third-party certifications to distinguish their products as trustworthy. These certifications verify the ingredients and quantities claimed on the product label, and that the product meets stringent manufacturing and performance standards. Established certifications to look out for include GMP, USP, NSF, Certified Organic, Non-GMO certified, etc.
Supplements that can’t be absorbed by the body are essentially ineffective. Unfortunately, most people aren’t aware of this, allowing manufacturers to get away with cheaply-made supplements with low bioavailability. Your selection process should consider supplements with ingredients that enhance absorption. Also, look for high-quality capsules that break down at the right time for nutrients to be fully absorbed.
Clinical trials help substantiate the efficacy of ingredients through proper tests. Look for a supplement with clinically-tested ingredients for real benefits, and avoid those based on anecdotal evidence. Even better if there are multiple studies backing the product. We based our top 5 osteoarthritis and joint supplements on clinically studied ingredients supported by a solid body of evidence.
Sadly, according to the New York Times28, one in four products sold on Amazon is fake. This is especially true of nutritional supplements. When buying from Amazon, ensure you do so from the brand’s Amazon store. Otherwise, purchase directly from the brand’s official website. Consuming fraudulent products may cause nasty side effects — so be extra cautious.
All supplements made in the USA are under FDA regulation. The same applies for Canada and Australia. Ensure products you buy come from FDA/TGA-registered facilities using GMP certified manufacturing processes. Many supplements, especially those purchased on eBay and Amazon are manufactured abroad, with little to no regulation. One study looked at 44 herbal supplements sold in North America and found 60% do not contain the ingredients or quantities claimed on the labels29.
A risk-free guarantee lets you try supplements without fear of losing your money. If you try the product and don’t experience results, simply contact the manufacturer for a refund. A 60- or 90-day guarantee is the minimum a manufacturer should have as a show of confidence in their products. Also, avoid companies that make you jump through hoops. One common strategy that companies use is “bottle return” – they require you pay for return shipping and return the empty bottles before they process your refund.
One of the most important reasons women over 40 develop bursitis is because of the decline in estrogen levels during all stages of menopause.
Provitalize is the only joint supplement formula that addresses estrogen-related bursitis effectively through:
Provitalize contains 350mg of curcumin formulated with Bioperine® per serving, a patented version of black pepper extract known to help our body absorb curcumin more effectively. It also contains 350mg of moringa leaves and 150mg of curry leaves per serving.
In addition, it also contains 68.2 billion CFUs of premium probiotic strains with anti-inflammatory and weight-management properties. This includes L. Gasseri SBT2055, a probiotic strain backed by two studies showing a reduction in abdominal visceral fats by up to 4.6%23 and 8.5%24 respectively. More importantly, L. Gasseri SBT2055 works by naturally blocking fat absorption and promoting fat excretion through the feces30.
The other two probiotic strains (B. Breve IDCC4401 and B. Lactis R101-8) are also clinically studied and researchers found that they stimulate cholesterol metabolism31 and saturated fat metabolism32. B. Breve IDCC4401 was also found to lower total cholesterol and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels, while B. Lactis R101-8 was also found to improve two inflammatory markers32.
The probiotics in Provitalize help to improve gut health and address gut dysbiosis, enabling the gut to perform its function of regulating the estrogen levels in our body and supporting hormonal balance.
According to their official website, over 1,200,000 women have tried Provitalize and over 100,000 women subscribe to it monthly. The tens of thousands of glowing reviews on TrustPilot, Amazon, and Okendo are undeniable proof that Provitalize is worthy of our top spot.
Want faster relief from Provitalize? Then add Previtalize into the mix. Previtalize is a prebiotic formula combining 4 prebiotics – FOS, GOS, XOS, inulin – and burdock root.
The probiotics in Provitalize feed on these fibers to multiply faster in the gut. This means women can see faster visible results such as faster joint relief.
Several clinical studies33,34,35 of FOS, inulin, and burdock root also show anti-inflammatory benefits for people experiencing joint pain.
We listed the Slim Gut Bundle 2nd only because it costs more than Provitalize alone. Fortunately, they provide an 18% discount on the prebiotic when you get the bundle. Other than that, we believe it’s the best-value-for-money bundle in the market right now.
Each serving of Osteo Bi-Flex contains 1,500 mg of glucosamine, 1,103 mg of chondroitin, 100mg of Joint Shield™ 5-LOXIN Advanced®, a patented version of boswellia serrata, as well as 60mg of Vitamin C and 2mg of Manganese.
Boswellia serrata was found in a study to ease inflammation in osteoarthritis patients36.
What we don’t like about Osteo-Biflex is that it contains unnecessary ingredients such as crospovidone, a disintegrant used in pharmaceutical tablets, guar gum, a food additive, and magnesium silicate, a neutralizing agent. Emerging doubts about glucosamine and its harmful effects from long-term use are also concerning to us.
These are the main reasons we placed Osteo-Biflex in the 3rd position instead of the top 2.
OmegaXL is a joint support supplement made from a proprietary blend of Green Lipped Mussel Oil Extract containing omega fatty acids, extra virgin olive oil, and d-alpha tocopherol (Vitamin E). It is free of gluten, allergenic levels of shellfish protein, artificial ingredients, milk, yeast, and corn.
The only thing to be aware of is that the FDA sent a warning letter to the company behind OmegaXL in 2021 for making drug claims36.
OmegaXL was promoted with statements such as “[S]hown to help relieve joint pain due to inflammation” and “OmegaXL is widely recognized as a leader in natural relief from pain due to inflammation.” It has also been promoted as a “highly concentrated Omega-3 ‘Super Oil’ supplement,” although past ConsumerLab tests of the product found surprisingly little omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA).
Despite the warning, we think that OmegaXL deserves the third spot in our list as the majority of its Amazon customers have reviewed it favorably. We think that the warning is served because of the aggressive claims made, but it does not reflect the efficacy of the product.
Blackmores need no introduction as it is a well-known supplement brand sold in many retail stores. This supplement contains 1500mg of Glucosamine Sulfate and nothing else, just like its name suggests.
If you would like to try Glucosamine, we think that Blackmores’ Glucosamine Sulfate is one of the better options in the market given the reliable brand name.
Bursitis is a painful but temporary condition that can be treated if the cause is known. Women over 40 tend to experience bursitis due to hormonal reasons.
If OTC pain meds don’t work for you, we suggest checking out the supplements recommended above.
