Supplements for Cytokine Support and Joint Health‡

Supplements for Cytokine Support and Joint Health‡

What You’ll Learn: In this blog, we will explore the supplements that can aid in maintaining healthy joints, examine the effects of cytokine imbalance on the body, and discuss effective strategies to support your joints by promoting a balanced cytokine environment.

Did you know there is a relationship between cytokine imbalance in the body and joint health? What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘cytokine’? If you’re not totally sure – that’s okay! Let me help clarify it for you.

Cytokines are proteins in the body that are responsible for cell signaling, cellular production and metabolism, particularly in relation to the immune system.

This information is not intended for self-diagnosis of any joint or autoimmune disorder, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). It’s always important to note that any recommendations are not meant to treat, cure, or prevent diseases or be a substitute for a medical, diagnostic, and treatment options. We always encourage reaching out to your healthcare provider as they know your health history. They would be best at selecting the correct course of action for you as dietary supplements are not intended to replace the use of any medications he or she may prescribe.

If you’re looking to learn more about cytokines and how they might affect joint health and supplements to help support healthy joints, stick with me! We will dive deeper into the nutrients aimed to support a healthy self-tissue response, while not losing sight of the fact that supporting healthy joints is equally as important.

Cytokines for Joint Support

The immune system plays a central role in protecting and maintaining a healthy balance in the body. It does this by distinguishing between self (your cells) and non-self (non-beneficial microorganisms, etc.). The robustness of this process depends on appropriate activation of specific immune cells, as well as balanced cytokine expression.1

The importance of a strong immune system goes beyond simply supporting natural defenses. The immune system plays a central role in many common clinical goals, such as promoting joint health.2 ‡

We can recognize occasional discomfort in our joints due to oxidative stress, including after exercise, that can accumulate within our connective tissue. Cytokines are directly responsible for orchestrating the immune system to function. They initiate specific gene expression to kickstart the immune system to activate and help increase a self-tissue response within our bodies.  

Our Balanced Immune supports immune balance, tissue integrity and cytokine balance. It helps promote liver, detoxification and cellular protection against oxidative stress.3 It also offers curcumin as enhanced-absorption sunflower phytosome. Curcumin itself has also been a favorite when it comes to supporting joint health.4

These are some ways nutrients can help promote cytokine balance so your body is prepped to provide optimal self-tissue response when oxidative stress may be taking its toll. Now, let’s talk about specific nutrients that help with joint support and overall joint health.

Nutrients for Joint Health

As we mentioned a little earlier, nutrients like Curcumin have been shown to not only help mitigate oxidative stress, but also help promote overall joint health. Let’s take a closer look at other nutrients like collagen and how they play a crucial role in promoting healthy joints.

Collagen for Joint Health

As the most abundant protein in your body, collagen is essential to making connective tissue. These connective tissues connect to other tissues in your body and are an integral component of healthy bones, muscles, tendons, cartilage, skin, and joints.5 ‡

Along with normal wear and tear, your production of collagen drops as you age. This reduction may impact the health of your joints.6 ‡

What is Collagen?

Collagen is an essential nutrient used throughout your body to provide structure, foundation, cushioning, elasticity, and support to connective tissue. This protein is essential to creating flexible connective tissues throughout your body, including your skin and cartilage.5,7 ‡

Collagen acts as a foundation of support, providing strength and elasticity to the skin, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and other tissues.5

There are more than 16 types of collagen in your body. The 4 primary types of collagen are type I, II, III, and IV: 8

  • Type I: 90% of your collagen is made from these tightly packed fibers. Type I collagen gives structure to bones, tendons, skin, fibrous cartilage, teeth, and connective tissues.8
  • Type II: these more loosely packed fibers are essential to the elastic cartilage cushioning your joints.8
  • Type III: this type of collagen gives structure to your arteries, organs, and muscles.8
  • Type IV: located in the layers of your skin, this type of collagen helps with filtration.8

For the purpose of this blog and how we focus specifically on collagen’s impact on joint health, let’s chat more about Type II Collagen.

What is Type II Collagen?

Type II collagen is found in the lining of joints. It is the most common type found in cartilage and the fluid that lubricates our joints. Aside from your cartilage, it’s also found in your eyes and spinal cord.9 Cartilage is key for shock absorption for your joints, as well as strength and flexibility. It keeps your joints supple and able to bounce back from impact.10

Type II collagen production naturally decreases with age. It’s also affected by normal wear and tear, especially with overuse.7 Certain joint-related health concerns, including after exercise, may cause symptoms of occasional discomfort, stiffness, or swelling, affecting joint health.11 Supplementing with type II collagen may help support a better quality of life.12 ‡

Dietary Sources of Collagen

If you’re not supplementing from collagen, you can also find it in the foods that you eat. Some type II collagen can be found in natural and unprocessed food sources. However, type II collagen supplements make it much easier to obtain amounts that match the effective doses in clinical research.

Remember that joint health isn’t just about delivering collagen. Your body requires other nutrients, like vitamin C, to make its own collagen.13

Try to incorporate these collagen-rich foods and foods that include key collagen essentials into your diet: 14,

  • Homemade bone broth: simmering bones may help extract collagen, amino acids, and other essential nutrients including magnesium and calcium14
  • Chicken: is a leading source of collagen.14
  • Citrus fruits, berries, tomatoes, bell peppers: provide vitamin C.14 ‡

Collagen Benefits for Joint Health

Collagen has been found to have a wide range of benefits when it comes to its supplementation impact on joint health. Collagen supplementation has been associated with:

  • Supporting occasional joint comfort, swelling, stiffness and joint function.15
  • It’s also been found to help support healthy joint comfort, function, flexibility, and promote mobility for day-to-day activities.16, 17 ‡
  • One study even found that consistent supplementation with collagen supported knee joint comfort and mobility issues and noted significant improvements in knee health.18 ‡
  • Hydrolyzed collagen supplementation even in older individuals has been associated with significant support for joint function and comfort after 8 weeks of consistent use.19 ‡

Cytokine Balance, Collagen and Your Joint Health

Although they may appear to be vastly different, the relationship between maintaining healthy joints, supporting a balanced cytokine environment in relation to oxidative stress, and promoting a robust collagen cushion between the joints is intricately interconnected. Promoting your intake of type II collagen and collagen in general may provide a range of benefits to your health. Supporting your body’s self-tissue response through cytokine balance helps your immune system combat oxidative stress.. These are just a few benefits of clinically supported ways you can help support your body’s overall wellness and natural functioning.

If you’re ready to learn more about different ways you can help support your overall wellness, visit us today at www.PureForYou.com and take our Vitamin Quiz to discover the products that might just be a good fit for your unique nutritional needs today!


1. Cleveland Clinic. (2023, March 1). What are Cytokines? Types and Function. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24585-cytokines
2. Zhu J, Paul WE. Blood. 2008 Sep 1;112(5):1557-69.
3. Lu M, et al. Biomed Res Int. 2017;2017:1516985
4. Moon DO, Kim MO, Choi YH, et. Al. Int Immunopharmacol. 2010 May;10(5):605-10.
5. Collagen: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (Accessed September 21, 2021) https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/collagen
6. Varani, James, et al. “Decreased Collagen Production in Chronologically Aged Skin.” The American Journal of Pathology 168, no. 6 (June 2006): 1861–68. https://doi.org/10.2353/ajpath.2006.051302.
7. Lodish, Harvey, et al. “Collagen: The Fibrous Proteins of the Matrix.” Molecular Cell Biology. 4th Edition, 2000. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21582/.
8. Collagen – What Is It and What Is It Good For?: Healthline.org https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/collagen
9. Poole, A. R., et al. 61, no. suppl 2 (November 1, 2002): ii78–81. https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.61.suppl_2.ii78.
10. Cartilage | Description, Anatomy, & Function. https://www.britannica.com/science/cartilage
11. Joint Pain: https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/joint-pain
12. Clark, L. Kristine, et al. National Library of Medicine (May 2008): 1485-96 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18416885/
13. The Best Way You Can Get More Collagen: Clevelandclinic.org (Accessed September 22, 2021) 18 Foods With Collagen Boosting Benefits
14. ‌3 Foods That Help Your Body Produce Collagen: Healthline.org (Accessed September 22, 2021) https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/collagen-food-boost
15. Top 6 Benefits of Taking Collagen Supplements: Heathline.org (Accessed September 22, 2021) https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/collagen-benefits
16. Bagchi D, et. al. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res. 2002;22(3-4):101-10. 
17. Bakilan, Fulya, et al. The Eurasian Journal of Medicine 48, no. 2 (June 2016): 95–101. https://doi.org/10.5152/eurasianjmed.2015.15030.
18. Lugo, James P., et al. Nutrition Journal 15, no. 1 (January 29, 2016): 14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-016-0130-8
19. Lugo, James P., et al. “Undenatured Type II Collagen (UC-II®) for Joint Support: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study in Healthy Volunteers.” Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 10, no. 1 (October 24, 2013): 48. https://doi.org/10.1186/1550-2783-10-48.

Back to blog