Osteo Bi-Flex is a dietary supplement that promotes joint health. Some consumers use it to relieve pain. The brand claims that users can “start feeling the difference in your joint comfort in just 7 days.”
But does Osteo Bi-Flex contain research-backed ingredients for pain relief and joint support? Does it contain any questionable additive ingredients? How do real users rate it and describe its effects? And can the supplement cause side effects?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we review the ingredients in Osteo Bi-Flex based on clinical research to give our take on whether the supplement is likely to be effective or if it’s a waste of money.
We’ll also share our thoughts on whether Osteo Bi-Flex is likely to cause side effects, and feature real, unsponsored user reviews of the supplement.
Ingredient Analysis
The ingredients for Osteo Bi-Flex Triple Strength are shown above.
Glucosamine is an effective ingredient for relieving joint pain. A medical review compared glucosamine therapy to ibuprofen use for joint pain, and the researchers found the two treatments equally effective.
The exact same dose (1.5 grams) was used in the above-linked review as is included in Osteo Bi-Flex.
Joint Shield is a trademarked ingredient which is an extract of Boswellia serrata, a plant native to India and northern Africa.
As we documented in our review of Golden Revive Plus, Boswellia extract is clinically shown to relieve pain in arthritis patients at the same dose as included in Osteo Bi-Flex.
Chondroitin/MSM Complex is the final active ingredient, and this blend appears to be more effective than either ingredient in isolation. A 2017 clinical trial compared the pain relief effects of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate to the effects of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate and MSM.
Only the latter blend reduced pain to a statistically significant degree, and this is the exact same blend as included in Osteo Bi-Flex.
While Osteo Bi-Flex is an effectively formulated supplement, it does contain one questionable inactive ingredient.
Titanium dioxide is a colorant that is banned in the E.U. for use as a food additive over concerns of genotoxicity, which refers to the potential for a compound to cause DNA damage.
Overall, we consider Osteo Bi-Flex to likely be effective for relieving pain and providing joint support. This is a very well-formulated supplement, and is one of the few dietary supplements we’ve reviewed on Illuminate Health with all of its active ingredients appearing to be effectively dosed.
We don’t recommend the supplement due to the inclusion of titanium dioxide, but from an efficacy standpoint, it’s definitely better than the majority of joint support supplements we’ve reviewed.
Real, Unsponsored Osteo Bi-Flex User Reviews
A TikTok user named Julie Johnson had favorable things to say about Osteo Bi-Flex’s effects on her joint pain:
@justjuliej #osteobiflex #supplement #kneepain #aging #midlifecrisis #midlifewomen ♬ original sound - Julie Johnson
A TikTok user named Cassandra Souza claims to have experienced side effects from Osteo Bi-Flex:
@noturnunstoned #psa #sideeffects #heartpalpitations #osteobiflex #tornmenisucus #badkneesclub #OutlanderChallenge #fyp #anxiety #readthefineprint #wholetmeadult ♬ A 3-minute song that is ideal for the BGM of cooking videos(1031572) - mi-ya
Does Osteo Bi-Flex Cause Side Effects?
Consumers are often curious about whether Osteo Bi-Flex is likely to cause side effects, given that the brand’s website does not include any information about side effects at the time of publishing this article.
Osteo Bi-Flex does not appear to have been studied in any clinical trials, so it’s impossible to say for certain whether or not the supplement will cause side effects. However, we can make an educated guess based on its ingredients.
Glucosamine, which is the highest-dosed active ingredient in Osteo Bi-Flex, was not shown to cause side effects in a medical review published in the American Family Physician journal.
When glucosamine was combined with chondroitin, the risk of gastrointestinal adverse events was 2.7x higher than placebo, according to a 2018 meta-study.
This data suggests that Osteo Bi-Flex may cause side effects because it contains both of these active ingredients, however it’s impossible to say conclusively since the brand has not funded a clinical trial.
There are no warnings listed on the Supplement Facts label, so we do not believe this supplement is likely to cause severe side effects.
Where to Buy Osteo Bi-Flex for the Best Price
Osteo Bi-Flex is sold at a variety of online retailers. Here’s a price breakdown for Osteo Bi-Flex Triple Strength, 120-count:
iHerb: $50.31
Rite Aid: $44.99
Walmart: $29.99
Amazon: $23.29 (link to official product listing)
It’s rare to see such a wide price discrepancy for the same product. Osteo Bi-Flex Triple Strength is currently retailing for 54% less on Amazon than on iHerb.
Real Customer Reviews of Osteo Bi-Flex
Amazon is a more objective resource for customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion.
The most-reviewed Osteo Bi-Flex product on Amazon is the Triple Strength version we analyzed above. It has over 11,000 ratings with an average review rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars.
The top positive review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Allie K.” who claims it’s effective for pain relief:
“I'd been using topical pain creams, but this has been much more effective for knee pain (sharp pains in left knee walking/hiking uphill). Can't believe the difference after one month b.i.d.”
The top negative review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Lenny B” who claims it caused side effects:
“Irregular heartbeats as soon as I started using it! No refund allowed, Amazon must be aware of its issues. You will get cheated and your heath will suffer if you try this!”
What’s the Best Osteo Bi-Flex Product?
Triple Strength is only one of many Osteo Bi-Flex products. Here’s our quick takes on some of the brand’s other products:
Regular Strength
Doesn’t contain MSM so may be less effective. Recall the clinical trial from the previous ingredient analysis which found glucosamine and chondroitin to only be effective for pain relief if combined with MSM.
Triple Strength + Magnesium
Doesn’t contain MSM. Also contains three artificial food dyes: Red 40, Blue 2 and Yellow 5.
As we documented in our review of Midol ingredients, artificial dyes have no health benefits and have some toxicity concerns, so it seems logical to avoid supplements containing them.
Triple Strength with Vitamin D
Low vitamin D status is associated with increased risk of joint pain and arthritis according to a meta-study published in the Public Health Nutrition journal.
This supplement may be more effective for patients with low vitamin D status than Osteo Bi-Flex Triple Strength. We’d recommend getting bloodwork done at a doctor’s office to check vitamin D status first.
Overall we consider Osteo Bi-Flex Triple Strength to be the most effective formulation, but Osteo Bi-Flex Triple Strength with Vitamin D may be more effective for patients with low levels of vitamin D.
Why Was Osteo Bi-Flex Sued?
In 2018, the manufacturer of Osteo Bi-Flex was sued over claims of false advertising, according to the Top Class Actions website.
The plaintiffs alleged that the supplements were “worthless” because the glucosamine did not relieve pain.
It’s unclear if the lawsuit was ever brought to trial or if it was settled out-of-court.
While in some cases it can be a red flag for a supplement company to be sued, we don’t consider this to be much of a red flag given that there is extensive clinical data backing the active ingredients in Osteo Bi-Flex for joint support. This doesn’t mean that the supplement will work for all consumers, but it’s certainly better-formulated than many joint support and pain relief supplements we’ve reviewed.
Can Food-Based Supplements Relieve Pain?
Cinnamon is a spice that has been studied for its ability to reduce pain and support joint health.
A clinical trial published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that cinnamon supplementation at a daily dose of 500 mg reduced inflammation and joint swelling in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
A 2020 clinical trial found that cinnamon supplementation reduced inflammatory markers. The study authors concluded that “Cinnamon could be regarded as a safe supplement to relieve pain.”
Illuminate Labs manufactures a Ceylon Cinnamon Extract supplement that’s potent (standardized to minimum 8% flavonoids) and third-party tested to ensure purity and label accuracy (test results published transparently on the product page). It only costs $15 for a monthly subscription.
Interested consumers can check out Illuminate Labs Ceylon Cinnamon Extract at this link.
Collagen is the core structural protein in joints. The body produces it naturally, but its production decreases with age. Medical research has shown that collagen can reduce joint pain in athletes at a 10 gram (g) daily dose, and can reduce arthritic pain (meta-study, doses ranging between 40 mg and 10 g daily dose).
We recommend Bulletproof Collagen Powder as our top collagen product because it provides an effective collagen dose per serving (20 g) and contains one single ingredient: collagen peptides sourced from grass-fed animals. There are no questionable additives. This supplement only costs $45.16 for over a month's worth of product.
Interested consumers can check out Bulletproof Collagen powder at this link to the brand's official website.
Cornbread CBD Lotion is our top pick for a topical CBD product.
CBD is clinically shown to be effectively absorbed through the skin, and CBD caused "significant improvements in pain" when applied topically in a 2020 clinical trial.
This lotion also contains menthol, which was shown in a 2022 clinical trial to reduce pain scores.
Interested consumers can check out Cornbread CBD Lotion at this link to the product page on the official brand's website.
We do not recommend using dietary supplements to treat any specific medical condition related to pain, and we recommend that individuals speak with their doctor prior to using any supplement for pain relief.
