Does Supple help arthritis pain? Supple® is a dietary supplement marketed on TV in the infomercial called “Smart Medicine”. As an aside, the infomercial looks a lot like the Larry King Show. The host of the infomercial is Dr Monita Poudyal. The person she interviews is Peter Apatow, CEO of Supple Beverages. The Supple TV commercial looks impressive but does Supple work? Let’s now look at Supple, the claims made during the infomercial and see what can be determined.
Supple is a dietary supplement. Supple is not a prescription or over-the-counter drug. It’s said that the ingredients in Supple have been used alongside medications in other countries. A disclaimer is spoken before the infomercial starts. The person speaking the disclaimer sounds very much like Dr Monita Poudyal, who is hosting the infomercial.
During the infomercial, It is stated that supple can help:
- Gout
- Fibromyalgia
- Joint pain
- Back pain
- muscle pain
- weakness and fatigue
- Weight loss
- Carpel tunnel
The active ingredients in Supple are glucosamine HCL and chondroitin sulfate which are found in other supplements to help ease the pain of osteoarthritis (OA). I am not aware of any published peer reviewed studies showing that the active ingredients in Supple help any condition other than osteoarthritis. Also, not all studies show that these ingredients work.
The Supple Company
According to the Supple website, the company is located at 355 Byrd Ave Neenah Wisconsin. The link is a Google Street view of the company location. As you can see, the picture appears to be of a parking lot attached to a building. I did not see any building called “Supple.”
Supple customer service can be reached by calling 1-866-219-6371 from 7 AM — 11 PM CST, Monday — Friday, and from 7 AM — 5 PM on Saturday. According to the Better Business Bureau, Supple LLC is also called Supple Beverages LLC.
The BBB gives Supple Beverages a rating of “A+” when this review was created. According to the Better Business Bureau, the company Supple LLC was formed in 2001 in Colorado. The BBB file on the company was opened in 2008. See the BBB file on Supple LLC for updates and more information.
Supple Ingredients
According to the Supple website (supplebodies.com) 1 bottle of (300 ml or about 10 oz) has 30 calories. Supple contains the following active ingredients.
- Glucosamine HCL 1500 mg
- Chondroitin Sulfate 1200 mg
Supple also contains several vitamins such as vitamin C, D and E as well as niacin, calcium and others. Some of these nutrients may play a role in bone health (mostly vitamin C, D and calcium) but, with the exception of maybe vitamin D, most people in the industrialized world are not deficient in these vitamins or minerals. As such, I dont think they add anything to the effectiveness of Supple for arthritis.
Glucosamine HCL: The Evidence
Some research studies have noted that glucosamine HCL may help reduce the pain associated with osteoarthritis (OA). But, when we look at the research we find that there are more studies in support of glucosamine sulfate than for glucosamine HCL.
When I looked at the research, I found over 10 studies noting that glucosamine sulfate appeared to help arthritis pain. The evidence for glucosamine HCL is less convincing, with far fewer studies showing that it works. Here is a study noting that glucosamine HCL doesn't work.
This does not mean that glucosamine HCL will not help some people. But, it may not be as effective as glucosamine sulfate. Some research even hits that the sulfate in glucosamine sulfate may be responsible for its pain modifying effects.
Since glucosamine HCL does not have sulfate, it might be expected to be less effective.
Here is a study using pig cells that noted that glucosamine sulfate was better than glucosamine HCL.
Given that most of the well-done peer reviewed research appears to favor glucosamine sulfate, I have often been perplexed that most glucosamine products sold in America contain glucosamine HCL. Just go to your local health food store or supermarket and look at the popular brands sold today and you can see this for yourself.
For those interested, here is glucosamine sulfate on Amazon.
Regardless of which type of glucosamine you use, one thing is clear; glucosamine does not re-grow cartilage. This is a myth.
Glucosamine HCL is also found in Joint Juice too. You've probably seen this product at your local supermarket. Click the link to see my review on that product.
Supple and RA
Does Supple help rheumatoid arthritis? In 2007 there was a study published titled, Effects of glucosamine administration on patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In this study, which consisted of 51 people with RA, those who received 1500 mg of glucosamine HCL per day for 12 weeks – along with their arthritis medications – reported that their pain felt better than those who received a placebo.
The way people reported feeling better in this study consisted on rating their pain on a scale from 0-10 or from another test called the Face Scale, where people pointed to pictures of faces that represented different emotions.
Here's the thing. The blood test measurements in the study were confusing in that some inflammation markers such as CRP (C Reactive Protein) did not change in those who took glucosamine, while another marker (called MMP-3) was reduced.
While some might say that a study like this could lend some evidence that glucosamine HCL helps RA, this is just a single study – and more importantly – it doesn't seem to have been replicated. This study was conducted in 2007 so why no follow up studies?
Chondroitin Sulfate: The Evidence
Does chondroitin sulfate help osteoarthritis? The evidence appears to be less solid than for that of glucosamine sulfate. This is most likely due to the lack of well-controlled research. A few studies have noted that chondroitin sulfate may slow down the joint space degeneration that occurs with OA. That is interesting. The problem is that studies do not consistently show that chondroitin works.
There is no published peer reviewed proof that chondroitin sulfate helps gout, fibromyalgia, carple tunnel syndrome or weight loss as is intimated in the Supple infomercial.
It appears that chondroitin sulfate levels are increased in men who have prostate cancer. At this point, nobody is saying that chondroitin sulfate causes prostate cancer. However, I feel it would be wise to avoid supplements that contain chondroitin sulfate until more is known. Do ask your doctor about this possible connection.
Chondroitin sulfate doe appear to have blood thinner properties. As such those who take blood thinner medications (Coumadin / warfarin) should use caution. Chondroitin sulfate may make asthma symptoms worse.
Peter Apatow, the CEO of the company that makes Supple states in the Supple infomercial he says that you have to take the combination of glucosamine HCL and chondroitin sulfate to get the maximum benefits. But this is not what the research shows. Studies have not consistently shown that the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin work better.
Supple: Other Ingredients
Supple contains several other ingredients like vitamins C, D, and E, as well as some B vitamins. None of these nutrients appear to have any significant peer-reviewed published evidence to support their use in helping OA pain. Supple does contain a little calcium. Some research finds that calcium may help OA, but Supple only contains 8% of the daily value of calcium. That’s not a lot. One cup of milk has 30% of the DV for calcium.
What is Rebaudioside A?
At the very bottom of the Supple label of ingredients is Rebaudioside A, This is another name for Stevia, a natural sweetener. Rebaudioside A is a component of stevia but these names are often used interchangeably in the US.
Does Supple Help Weight Loss?
There is no published peer-reviewed proof that glucosamine HCL or chondroitin sulfate or their combination help weight loss. In the infomercial, Peter Apatow says he lost 30 pounds by using Supple AND exercising. To his credit, he does not say specifically that Supple will cause weight loss. Rather, he states that supple might help relieve joint pain and allow people to move more. This does make sense. Supple alone, however, will not promote weight loss.
The infomercial mentions that Supple can be used as a snack. Since a bottle of Supple is only 30 calories, I can understand how someone would lose weight if they used Supple as a low-calorie snack in place of a meal and did not eat as many calories as they normally did. However, Supple, without changing eating patterns, will not cause weight loss.
Who Is Dr Monita Poudyal?
Dr Monita Poudyal is the “host” of the Supple infomercial. She is indeed a physician, and from what I can tell, she specializes in internal medicine and nephrology (kidney disorders) in Colorado.
Dr Poudyl is highly educated and she is the reason why I investigated Supple. Since I know the research behind glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate I was surprised that she would not challenge the fantastic claims about how Supple is supposed to rebuild cartilage as well as help other conditions that research does not support.
At the time the Supple commercial was made Dr. Poudyal was married of Peter Apatow. That fact was not disclosed in the infomercial. According to this article from ConsumerAffairs, they are now divorded.
One meta analysis did find that long term use of glucosamine sulfate (but not glucosamine HCL) might slow down cartilage breakdown but no study has ever shown a reversal of osteoarthritis.
At the start of the infomercial, Dr Poudyal says :
“the standard of care for the treatment of joint pain includes the use of safe, disease-modifying drugs that can naturally reverse the cartilage breakdown that occurs in osteoarthritis.”
Dr Poudyal goes on to say “These agents are not widely available in the u.s.”.
These statements by Dr. Poudyal are not entirely correct. Here's why:
- Glucosamine and chondroitin are not drugs. They are over-the-counter dietary supplements.
- Neither glucosamine HCL or chondroitin sulfate has been shown to reverse cartilage breakdown. Some research has noted that glucosamine sulfate may slow the progression of osteoarthritis; other research hints that chondroitin sulfate may slow the narrowing of joint space in those with osteoarthritis; So in these respects, they may modify the disease” but they do not “reverse” cartilage breakdown.
- The ingredients in Supple ARE available in the US. Many products contain glucosamine HCL and chondroitin sulfate. Go to your local supermarket and check out the arthritis supplements. You'll see I am right. The majority of glucosamine products sold in supermarkets contain glucosamine HCL. One such is example is Joint Juice which I've reviewed previously.
Supple LLC and The FTC
In 2016 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) fined the makers of supple $150 million dollars for making false claims about their product. According to Wisconsin Public Radio, the company might only have to pay $285,000 “because of the financial condition of Supple and Aptow.” Here is an FTC press release on Supple dated October 5 2016.
Supple Side Effects?
I'm not aware of any side effects from the Supple drink itself. I believe in generally healthy people, Supple is likely safe. That said, I wanted to mention a few potential side effects of some of the ingredients in Supple in the hopes that people will speak to their doctor for a more in depth discussion.
There is some evidence that glucosamine might make asthma worse.
Because both glucosamine and chondroitin appear to have a blood thinner effect, those who take blood thinner drugs should ask their doctor before using these supplements.
Since chondroitin sulfate is often derived from cows, some have wondered if chondroitin sulfate supplements might in theory transmit mad cow disease. This, is probably very unlikely. All well established supplement companies go to great strides to ensure the purity of their products. No supplement has ever been linked cause mad cow disease transmission in the US. To be safe, deal with companies you trust and ask them what countries they get their chondroitin sulfate from and compare that to countries with low levels of mad cow disease.
Because glucosamine contains the sugar glucose, this might be a problem for diabetics. Glucosamine might raise blood sugar levels.
The use of Chondroitin sulfate by men is controversial because of some evidence that it may be linked to prostate cancer. For more information on this see my review of chrondroitin sulfate and prostate cancer.
Does Supple Work?
It’s possible that Supple might in some people who have mild osteoarthritis. My question is will it work better than other, cheaper products? Supple is pretty expensive. On the product website a 24 day supply cost $47.95 Plus 14.95 shipping and handling (by the way, I think that's a LOT for shipping and handling).
Thanks for reviews…will not be ordering.
I’ve started researching all so-called cures since I received a reply from you on Plexus Slim. I have mixed connective tissue disorder and I’m constantly looking for something that will help. I’m so glad I found your site. As much as I want to believe these supplements will help, your research helps me make an informed and logical decision not to buy into the preposterous claims that these companies make. Thank you for the research. I’ll keep looking for something to help my MCTD and I’ll continue referring to your site to do so.
Tracy, thanks and I’m really glad I was able to help, in some small way.
Well I must say the infomercial and the woman on the phone made it seem like I found a miracle. And then I read all the comments on your page and I’m very glad I didn’t pull out my debit card. I am 22 yrs old I’ve had neck pain sense I was 12 due to gymnastics. I was diagnosed arthritis in my neck sense I was 19 and stenosis in my neck sense I was 20. For years I’ve been trying to live at least a little pain free and NOTHING has helped me. Do you have any recommendations that you think may help me?
Brittany, Have you been to physical therapy recently? I’m wondering if strengthening some of the muscles in your neck might help reduce the pain you are having. On my post about Anatabloc, several people are saying its helping their pain. Its an interesting product but I am suspicious of of some of the people commenting. That product is also a lot of money but it may be worth a shot.
Saw the infomercial this morning and was actually looking for the web site to purchase supple when I stumbled across this site. I am very thankful for this information so I don’t get ripped-off as I have a couple times in the past!!!
LC, thanks Im glad you found me 🙂
thanks for the truth.keep up the good work
Thank you so much for your info on this Supple..i caught the infomercial one morning and believed it and looked it up which brought me to you..i have neck and lower back pain and am desperate for some help so i almost fell for it until i saw the price…thanks for your unbiased opinion.
Heidi, you’re very welcome.
Joe,
Thank you for your information on Supple. The infomercial was on this morning and I almost sat down and watched it. I decided to goggle Peter’s name and came across your website! It’s sad that people believe and trust people so easily. Thank you again! For taking the time to research and get the TRUTH out!
Hi Brenda, thanks I appreciate you writing and I’m glad you found my website 🙂
Aloha Joe,
Thanks for the review glad I read your article before buying this stuff for my mom.
I manage to capture a screenie of the commercial where it states they are married.
Hope it helps!
Mahalo
http://i.imgur.com/YdaFI.jpg
Aloha Lopaka and thanks for that screen shot!
My mother has psoriatic arthritis. Does anyone know if this helps this type of arthritis?
Andy, I am not aware of any evidence Supple helps psoriatiac arthritis. If you try it and it helps, I hope you will let me know.
Has anyone here tried:
sierrasil
to relieve PAIN and INCREASE MOBILITY?
I have full body RA.
I am going to order some and see how it goes.
Craig, I looked it up. looks like it has these ingredients
Calcium 23mg
Potassium 20mg
Sodium + 12mg
Aluminium * 6mg
Phosphorus 3.1mg
Magnesium 2.2mg
Iron ** 1.2mg
Silicon ++ 1.0mg
Manganese 0.15mg
Barium ˆ 0.10mg
Copper 0.033mg
Cobalt ˆ ˆ 0.014mg
Zinc 0.014mg
I didn’t see any research on the product. If it works let me know
All but alumininum, phosphorus, silicon, barium and cobalt are in my multi vitamin. I wonder what proprietary advantage those additional supliment minerals have that may help in pain relief?. Naturally if you have less pain ie…. swelling, you will likely have more mobility.
I have been using a product called CosaminDS for years. It is made in the U.S. and has been tested and certified by NSF. The only reason I was considering trying Supple is that I noticed that the product I use contains glucosamine hydrochloride that is derived from crab and shrimp.
I am subject to gout and recently discovered that shellfish is one of the triggers. Since your research indicates that glucosamine sulfate may be more effective than glucosamine HCL, I am wondering where to find a supplement that contains glucosamine sulfate [plus chondroitin sulfate, which is the other major ingredient in CosaminDS.]
Mig, yes that’s correct CosamineDS has glucosamine HCL also. you should be able to find a glucosamine sulfate / chondroitin sulfate supplement at your local health food store (GNC/vitamin shoppe etc). That said if CosaminDS is working for you, I’d say stick with that. The important thing is that you are pain free. 🙂
Hi Joe, great website glad I found it. I have 2 products that I’m curious about that I’ve heard of the first 1 is protandem @ life Vantage.com and the second 1 is Gano dermaUSA.com or Gano.com something like that anyway they sale Gano coffee and pull supplements. have you heard of either 1 of these and if so have you done a review on them you if not could you look into both products for me, I would really appreciate this Joe thanks so much
KC glad you found me too! I’ve not only heard of both of those products, Ive also reviewed them 🙂
heres my review of Ganoderma
http://supplementclarity.com/ganoderma-benefits-review-side-effects/
Here is my review of Protandim
http://supplementclarity.com/protandim-research-review-lifevantage/
Hope that helps KC 🙂
Just found this website, so my comments about Supple may be a bit late, however just wanted to add this: I have severe OA and live with pain 24/7. My left hip was replace in ’09 at age 48 because I could no longer walk, and I still need the right hip replaced. Haven’t been able to ‘squat’, climb stairs, or even walk normally for years- I was a regular hiker, cycler, dancer, aerobics etc.
I’ve tried all the OTC remedies – including Supple. Normally, I won’t spend hard-earned $ on anything I don’t research first and I’m extremely skeptical of miracle claims. I’m a CMA, have worked for several internists so I get to try all the OA samples when they come in.
However, the day I watched that Supple infomercial I was in excruciating pain and not thinking clearly! I got sucked in by the seemingly sincere testimonies and a little false hope.
Purchased the initial case, but cancelled any future orders within 3 weeks of using it -the cost vs the results brought me to my senses and tears! I did finish the entire case with absolutely NO positive results.
The ingredients in Supple are no better or different than any other OTC OA supplements and, frankly, you can get the same results for a lot less $. I wonder…do they pay these people to give false testimony, or do they honestly get this much relief from the product they push?
With the help of my Dr. and chiropractor, I’ve stumbled upon a combination of OTC drugs, supplements, Rx, and adjustments that give me some relief-at least I’m able to get up and go to work. This did not happen by simply drinking some over-priced fake miracle juice!
E.Catriona, appreciate you writing and I’m glad that you have found somethings that have alleviated your pain. I hope things continue to go your way.
Any information about TriVita products?
Liz, yes here is my review of trivita B12
and trivita super sublingual B12
and my review of trivita nopolea cactus juice
I have a friend who swears by Supple.He could not walk up and down stairs without severe pain,now he even squats.
I have been seriously considering taking this supplement.
My friend is a perfect example of the supplements benefits.
Maybe I should tell him to contact the infomercial he could probably receive the product for nothing. I do agree the shipping is very expensive.My Dr. suggests shots I’m going to try Supple.
Maria
Maria, I hope it works for you.
Joe
Thanks for what you do. I also saw the infomercial and saw how scriptive the interview was. Decided to do some research on these yeayhoos and this product and ran into your site. Good thing I did and good thing we have the internet to arm ourselves with tools to either confirm or deny allegations we hear on TV. Keep up the good work.
You are a Soldier out front identifying targets as friendly or foe. You are my scout. SCOUTS OUT!! (Scouts are always out forward of the forces to alert them of any movement or possible issues they may encounter).
Take care
Luis, thanks for that!! 🙂
Hi Joe, found you on a Google search for Supple reviews. Its great that you work so hard to inform people who are considering spending hard earned money on supplements. As you know, the majority of supplements sold on t.v. infomercials are nothing more than what is sold over the counter in stores, the only difference is someone came up with a grand marketing scheme to make millions off of people who are suffering. Of course there are some people who will swear it works for them, but sadly the truth is its most likely a placebo effect.
I see by the above post that you’re up bright and early working on responding to your readers, that’s awesome. Thanks a bunch for your site and for your unbiased reviews. I’m headed to check out your links mentioned above on Krill Oil and SamE. I have severe OA in my entire spine and it drives me nuts, not to mention multiple bulging/torn discs and stenosis, so I’m always researching supplements.
I was taking Salmon Oil but when my cholesterol steadily climbed to 323 my doc told me to stop taking it. I also took SamE a while back but my pharmacist said I can’t take it with Tramadol, although I didn’t have any problems so I might go back to taking it anyhow.
As for these idiots on the Supple infomercial, I feel its a total scam to have them do a dog and pony show in order to take money from people who are hurting. If she is indeed his wife we should turn them in to one of the big t.v. stations to do a report on it.
That really angers me now to see them sitting there pretending to be only working professionals vs. husband and wife making millions.
Thanks again for providing the information people need to make an informed choice.
Carol M.Tjanks Im glad you found me! Good eye too – I do get up pretty early 🙂
Lying here awake and in pain, I almost fell pray to their ad. Its hard when every movement hurts, not to believe in something that promises no pain in 3 weeks. Thanks to you there will be no pain in my purse at least. It is so disgusting that people are allowed to make money from things like this. I think the best bet would be never buy anything from a TV ad. I also think that that there should be some federal regulations on these types of advertising.
Darlene, sorry you are in so much pain. have you tried warm water exercise? its been shown to help arthritis. stretching can help and even strength training can help (do that under the guidance of a physical therapist or a personal trainer who understands arthritis). Ask your doctor what you can do to reduce your pain.
I disagree that you shouldn’t buy anything from a TV ad. I too was skeptical when, out of desperation, I bought an arch support to help me with my plantar fasciitis. Well, let me tell you, the arch worked. It completely cured my plantar fasciitis. I’m not saying that many infomercials are a complete scam, but I can testify that the arch support I bought cured my pain, so it’s unfair to say that all TV ads are a scam.
I have not tried Supple, however, my autistic son has pain in back, and bone so I will try Supple and if it works I will write about how good it is. If not, I will write about what a scam it is. That’s all we can do. Tell the truth. Be honest. Try something and either let people know it sucks, or it works. Period.
More independent testimonials should be submitted before we completely rule out this products effectiveness. I do however agree the husband and wife thing is a red flag However the only reason I say we should wait and see is because the ingredients of most of the supplements we buy in supper markets and health stores are from china and we all know how 70% of the products that come from China are watered down, inferior, or just plain crap, so how can we know for sure that the studies Joe gets his conclusions from aren’t inherently flawed by said facts.
I say we should keep trying because the fact is our food and water have accumulative poisons in them I.E. the pesticide Sulfuryl Fluoride residues from the fumigant at produce storage warehouses facilities and the pesticides sprayed on the produce in the fields, couple this with the fact that the soils are all played out so thereby we don’t get the essential trace elements, vitamins, and minerals our grandparents got.
I believe this is a determining factor in many of the chronic health conditions of the day. I get this info from Dr. Joel Wallach to whom we should all be very grateful because without his success in suing the FDA to allow dietary supplementing and the sale there of we would need a prescription for all vitamin and minerals as is the case in many other countries.
I would say vitamin D is the single most important supplement to take and perhaps Selenium, Calcium and Magnesium. We need to stop buying all that crap from China especially food related stuffs I’m sure this is not helping us along with the genetically engineered crops Monsanto breeds and sells to us in our supermarkets every day.
A high quality well establish supplement company I found is called youngevity they incorporate a large product line that Dr. Joel Wallach the author of “Dead Doctors Don’t Lie” approves of, check them out. Also check out the site infowars. God Bless and good luck to you all.
Mark, it is true that a lot of the vitamins we see in stores come from china. Whether or not that means they are watered down I am not sure, but I would prefer if the supplement ingredients were made in America. As for the references I use in my reviews, I never pretend to be perfect but I do try to chose studies that I feel are of good quality. No study is perfect but I try where I can to use human studies and where those human studies are less than spectacular (small #s of people etc) I try to point that out. If Im forced to link to a animal study, I also mention this as well. Nobody is perfect but I do believe I review products in an unbiased manner. Most websites that sell supplements never link to studies to prove what they are saying. Most of them “list” studies at the end, which in this day and age is unacceptable for me.
As for vitamin D, its best to get levels checked first before supplementation. Some new calcium research has linked it to heart attacks so people should discuss this with their doctor. Same goes for selenium too.
I’ve heard of the book you mentioned but have not read it yet. I just tried to find the audio book version but could not find it unfortunately.
I was poking around on this site (originally looking at a review for Thrive) and saw this comment. I realize this thread is a few years old now, but if you (or anyone else who happens to see this) haven’t read or listened to the book Dead Doctors Don’t Lie by Dr. Joel Wallach you can find it on youtube, or you may listen on my website jessiebame.hearthedoc.com . I’ve met Dr. Wallach in person a few times and it’s impressive how humbled the man is not to mention incredibly educated and knowledgeable!
I am a distributer for youngevity and I can say I love it with my whole heart, body, mind, and soul! I encourage you to check it out if you haven’t already.
Hope this helps!, God Bless. 🙂
Jessie, I’ve heard of Dr. Wallach and his book but have not read it. From what I’ve read its controversial. I did a quick google search and found this: http://skepdic.com/wallach.html
I am on my second shipment of Supple. I have felt some relief from pain in my legs and arms but it took more than a week. I am enjoying the drink however I feel that I am gaining weight from the product. Is there a possible link to cell growth and allergy reaction to the fish products in the supplement? I am going to cancel my auto ship which I feel is very expensive and see if there is something else I can take.