Osteo Bi-Flex

Osteo Bi-Flex is a dietary supplement alleged to provide a proprietary blend of ingredients to support joint health, bone health and decrease muscle cramps.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is also known as degenerative joint disease, wear-and-tear arthritis, or age-related arthritis. OA is also the leading cause of disability in the United States and worldwide.

Arthritis is a term that means inflammation to the joints, occurring most commonly in the knee and hips. While OA is a common joint disorder, the number of people being affected by OA is likely to increase because of aging and obesity.

Dietary supplements like Osteo Bi-Flex are popular over-the-counter products. They are believed to support joint health that includes ligaments and cartilage.

In this article, we will review the available research to help you determine if there is any merit to the alleged benefits that Osteo Bi-Flex provides in supporting joint health.

Ingredients of Osteo Bi-Flex

Osteo Bi-Flex Triple Strength with Vitamin D:

• Vitamin D (as D3 Cholecalciferol) 2000 IU
• Glucosamine HCl 1,500 mg
• Joint Shield ™ 5-LOXIN Advanced® Boswellia serrata Extract (Resin) 100 mg
• Chondroitin/MSM Complex 275 mg

Osteo Bi-Flex Triple Strength with Magnesium:

• Magnesium 420 mg
• Glucosamine HCl 1,500 mg
• Joint Shield ™ 5-LOXIN Advanced® Boswellia serrata Extract (Resin) 100 mg
• Chondroitin/MSM Complex 275 mg

Osteo Bi-Flex One a Day:

• Vitamin D (as D3 Cholecalciferol) 400 IU
• Glucosamine HCl 1,500 mg
• Joint Shield ™ 5-LOXIN Advanced® Boswellia serrata Extract (Resin) 100 mg

How Does Osteo Bi-Flex Work?

Osteo Bi-Flex triple strength and one per day supplement utilize vitamin D to support joint health and bone health.

Osteo Bi-Flex also has a triple strength version with magnesium to help with cramps experienced in the leg.

To take Osteo Bi-Flex triple strength with vitamin D or magnesium, you will take two tablets per day with food according to the product’s directions.

With the Osteo Bi-Flex one per day supplement, you will take one tablet per day, preferably with food.

Will It Help to Improve Joint Health?

In Osteo Bi-Flex, vitamin D is provided in both their triple strength and one per day version.

Vitamin D is well-known for its ability to support healthy bone metabolism.

A study in mice found that vitamin D3 supplementation of 20,000 IU/kg during early adulthood leads to stronger bones than mice supplemented with vitamin D3 of 8000 IU/kg.

The dose contained in both the triple strength and one per day version of Osteo Bi-Flex is much less than what was used in animal studies. Likely, the amount used in Osteo Bi-Flex may not provide the same results.

Osteo Bi-Flex triple strength uses Chondroitin sulfate (CS), which is an important material that makes up the components responsible for the integrity of connective tissues, including cartilage, bone, skin, ligaments, and tendons.

CS consumption is suggested to reduce pain and the breakdown of the joint.

A review of studies to determine the effectiveness of CS has on decreasing the age-related osteoarthritis (OA) changes found that dosages of 1200 mg per day had more of an effect on pain reduction than dosages that were lower than 1000 mg per day.

While the data suggests that CS has a small to moderate efficacy in reducing OA-related pain, there was a minimal effect on joint space narrowing and no effect on cartilage volume.

Glucosamine is another ingredient in Osteo Bi-Flex and, like CS, has benefitted patients with OA. However, therapeutic use in the clinic continues to be debatable.

A review of studies found that oral supplementation of glucosamine reduced pain in adults with knee OA.

Included in the Osteo Bi-Flex vitamin D blend is methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), which is reported to slow the rate of degeneration in knee OA.

However, a randomized study found a decrease in knee OA and progressive degenerative changes in the joint was more effective when glucosamine, CS, and MSM were combined.

Osteo Bi-Flex contains Boswellia in its proprietary blend of ingredients. Boswellia is suggested to play a role in inflammation associated with worsening symptoms and progression of OA.

A review of studies confirmed that Boswellia formulations are a valuable addition to knee OA treatments by relieving symptoms.

However, the review also suggests that the current body of evidence does not provide adequate size or quality to make a meaningful clinical practice recommendation.

Will It Provide Relief from Cramping in Legs?

Osteo Bi-Flex contains magnesium, which is involved in countless reactions in your body. As deficiency is thought to be associated with muscle cramping, treatment with magnesium is available in various forms.

The support for leg cramp relief through orally administered magnesium is mixed, suggesting that Osteo Bi-Flex efficacy is inconclusive.

Is Osteo Bi-Flex Safe to Take?

Osteo Bi-Flex should not be consumed if you have an allergy to shellfish as glucosamine is obtained from shellfish.

Even over-the-counter options for joint pain (Tylenol, for example) can be associated with unwanted effects when used chronically or incorrectly. In contrast, nutraceuticals typically offer a favorable safety profile.

That seems to be the case with all of Osteo Bi-Flex products. The dosages associated with Osteo Bi-Flex are also much less than what was used in studies for safety and efficacy.

While the safety profile of this extract is favorable, your joint pain may require medical care. Always speak with your doctor about your symptoms before starting a new supplement.

Further, you should also contact your physician to determine an underlying cause for your cramps to ensure you are on the best treatment plan.

How Much Does Osteo Bi-Flex Cost?

Osteo Bi-Flex Joint Health is available for purchase on Amazon.com. One bottle of 80 tablets of Osteo Bi-Flex triple strength costs $12.44 and comes with free shipping.

Various pricing exists for other versions of Osteo Bi-Flex through Amazon.

Osteo Bi-Flex does not have a money-back guarantee; however, Amazon’s purchases can also be returned to them.

The Bottom Line

Osteo Bi-Flex is an affordable supplement available as an over-the-counter strategy to help with joint health.

However, the evidence supporting the proposed benefits provides mixed reviews, and dosages in Osteo Bi-Flex are lower than those used in studies.

Adults with joint pain and those who experience muscle cramps should consult with their physician to determine if there is an underlying cause to their condition to ensure you obtain the most appropriate treatment plan.

While Osteo Bi-Flex contains ingredients that can be obtained naturally through diet, it can be a formidable strategy to prevent further degradation of joint surfaces due to increased aging, especially if combined with activity modification and improving hydration.