5 Dietary Supplements Scientifically Proven to Ease Chronic Pain

by Dr. Craig A. Maxwell

According to a report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM), more than 100 million Americans suffer from some type of chronic pain condition, which results in $600 billion a year in lost productivity and medical treatments. The most common types of chronic pain are chronic back pain, chronic headaches, joint pain, neuropathic pain, and pain related to autoimmune disease.

With so many dietary supplements on the market today, it can be difficult to figure out the best ones to invest your hard-earned money on. After all, some of them are quite expensive yet don’t offer the results you expect.

If you’re going to choose a supplement, you want to go beyond the simple manufacturer and get some science-based evidence that it has a good chance of working for you.

As a doctor with over 30 years of clinical experience, I can say that the following 5 dietary supplements often provide my patients with significant and lasting pain relief and they have science to back them up.

These supplements include:

1. Vitamin D3

Vitamin D3, a fat-soluble secosteroid, enhances the absorption of minerals including calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphate and zinc. It is the most common vitamin deficiency in the United States and Canada.

• Chronic Pain Linked to Vitamin D3 Deficiency

According to a study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care[1.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3347929/], vitamin D3 deficiency has a close link with multiple chronic pain conditions.

• Men With Vitamin D3 Deficiency Prone to Pain

A study conducted by the University of Manchester in the UK[2.  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/275615.php] noted that men with vitamin D3 deficiency were more than twice as likely to experience chronic, wide-spread pain than men whose levels were optimal.

• Low Back Pain Linked to Vitamin D3 Deficiency

The Bastyr Center of Natural Health[3.  http://www.bastyrcenter.org/content/view/372/] released a study conducted by Spine that tested 360 men and women between the ages of 15 and 52 suffering with low back pain. Initial tests revealed that a startling 83% of the study participants were deficient in vitamin D3! After taking high doses of a vitamin D3 supplement, all participants reported improvement in their back pain.

Diamond Nutritional’s Vitamin D3 – 5,000 helps to optimize your vitamin D3 levels, boost your immune system, and help your body heal itself of chronic pain. It has worked very well for my patients.

2. Magnesium

Magnesium deficiency is the most common mineral deficiency in the world. This deficiency is largely due to a decrease in the quality of the soil in which our food grows.

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Relieved

A study conducted on patients with chronic fatigue syndrome,[4.  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/014067369191371Z] showed that participants taking intravenous magnesium experienced improved energy, better emotional state, and less pain.

• Fibromyalgia Patients Deficient in Minerals

The Journal of Korean Medical Science[5.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3192333/] cited a study that revealed women with fibromyalgia were far more likely to have a deficiency in calcium, magnesium, iron, and manganese according to tested hair samples.

• Magnesium and Malic Acid Treats Fibromyalgia

The University of Maryland[6.  http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/magnesium] cited a small preliminary study of the effect of magnesium supplementation on fibromyalgia. When combined with malic acid and taken for a period of 2 months, both pain and tenderness decreased.

Diamond Nutritional’s Chelated Magnesium supplement is ideal for patients with chronic pain. Unlike many other magnesium supplements, chelated magnesium is easier to absorb. In addition to easing chronic pain, it also helps the anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia associated with autoimmune conditions.

3. Boswellia

Boswellia is an herbal supplement extracted from a resin that has shown real promise in providing significant pain relief. It treats chronic pain by blocking a pro-inflammatory enzyme called 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX).

• Ulcerative Colitis Patients Go into Remission

A study published by the European Journal of Medical Research[7.  http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/9049593], showed that 82% of ulcerative colitis patients taking boswellia three times a day for six weeks achieved complete remission of their disease.

• Osteoarthritis Patients Achieve Lasting Relief

A randomized, double blind trial[8.  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0944711304701890] studied 30 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Half the participants were given a placebo, while half received boswellia. At the end of the trial, those taking the herbal supplement reported decreased pain, increased flexibility, and ability to walk further.

• Chronic Cluster Headaches Relieved

A study published in the journal, Cephalalgia[9.  http://cep.sagepub.com/content/32/9/719.short] revealed boswellia reduces the intensity and frequency of headaches in patients with chronic cluster headaches.

4. Bromelain

Bromelain is a pineapple protease commonly used as a digestive enzyme. Studies reveal that when taken shortly before or after a meal, this enzyme will help you break down and absorb nutrients from food. However, when taken on an empty stomach, this enzyme acts as a potent natural anti-inflammatory.

• Bromelain Helpful in the Treatment of Multiple Conditions

According to in vivo and in vitro studies published by the Pakistan Journal of Nutrition[10.  http://ebookbrowsee.net/bromelain-therapeutic-application-pdf-d502759837], bromelain demonstrates several therapeutic properties including diarrhea control, thrombus formation, inflammation control, inhibition of malignant cell growth, and reduction in dermatological and skin disorders.

• Osteoarthritis Relieved by Bromelain

A study published by Evidence Based Complementary Medicine[11.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15841258] revealed that bromelain offers anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

• Acute Sinusitis Treated by Bromelain

A study published by the University of Cologne in Germany[12.  http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/19/2/417.short] showed bromelain to be effective in the treatment of children with acute sinusitis.

5. Capsaicin Cream

Capsaicin is the ingredient in chili peppers that gives them their heat. Used topically, capsaicin inhibits substance P, a neuropeptide which is associated with pain and inflammation.

• Postherpetic Neuralgia

According to a study published by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology[13.  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190962289701717], 80% of patients with chronic postherpetic neuralgia experience relief from pain using topical capsaicin cream.

• Osteoarthritis

A double-blind trial published by Northwestern University[14.  http://www.scholars.northwestern.edu/pubDetail.asp?t=pm&id=25823149&] revealed that 80% of osteoarthritis patients using topical capsaicin cream experienced relief.

• Diabetic Neuropathy

According to the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association[15.  http://www.japmaonline.org/doi/abs/10.7547/87507315-81-6-288], 90% of patients with diabetic neuropathy who used capsaicin 0.075% cream for a period of 8 weeks improved.

When you’re living with chronic pain, you want honest relief you can trust. These dietary supplements have been scientifically proven to provide pain relief for many.

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