Relief Factor is arguably the most popular joint supplement in the world today. Made by a company called Promdev, Relief Factor is described as a natural, drug-free solution for joint pain relief – hence the name!
According to the Relief Factor website, the ingredients in Relief Factor werechosen with the help of notable physicians from a “well known” clinical in the US. The website states: “Relief Factor was designed to help your body reduce pain associated with aging, exercise, and everyday living. Physicians at a well-known clinic in the Pacific Northwest were asked by their patients to create a 100% drug-free supplement to help their bodies lower or eliminate pain. As a result of much research, four ingredients were combined together in one amazing product that we now call Relief Factor.”
The website makes a lot of the fact that the Relief Factor ingredients were chosen by physicians. But what are these special ingredients hand-picked after so much clinical research?
In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at the ingredients in Relief Factor. We will examine each Relief Factor ingredient in detail, looking at what it is supposed to do, what the scientific research says about it, and what we make of the side effect risks. For those of you who haven’t already, it may be worth reading our Relief Factor review before buying this joint supplement.
Ingredients in Relief Factor
What ingredients are in Relief Factor?
Here is the Relief Factor ingredients list as it appears on the bottle:
Here is a list of the ingredients in Relief Factor along with ingredient doses:
- Epimedium (Aerial) (Standardized to 20% Icariin) – 200mg
- Turmeric (Rhizome longa L.) Phospholipid (Standardized to 18% Curcuminoids) – 667mg
- Japanese Fleeceflower (Root) (Standardized to 96% Resveratrol) – 70mg
- EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) – 647mg
- DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) – 253mg
There are some very unusual ingredients in Relief Factor; ingredients we do not normally see used in joint supplements, or any supplements for that matter! You’d be forgiven for not knowing what some of these substances are or what they do!
On the other hand, Relief Factor contains natural substances we do often see used in joint pain supplements. These ingredients you will most likely recognise if you have been looking for natual joint pain relief for some time.
We will now go through each ingredient in Relief Factor individually in more detail. Have all of Relief Factor’s ingredients really been clinically proven to ease joint pain? That’s the most important question we now need to answer. If you have any questions about the ingredients, please post them in the comments at the end.
Epimedium (Aerial) (Standardized to 20% Icariin) – 200mg
Epimedium is more commonly known as Horny Goat Weed. You will often see this natural herbal extact included in men’s health and sexual performance supplements because of its ability supposed ability to boost nitric oxide production. More nitric oxide means increased blood flow, which is obviously benficial for a male enhancement supplement, but not necessarily good for a joint pain supplement like Relief Factor!
We cannot find any scientific evidence showing that Icariin – the active ingedient in the epimedium extract used in Relief Factor – has nay positive effct on joint health, join pain or flexibility. According to the Relief Factor ingredients section on the website, Icariin “may support the natural response to everyday wear and tear by affecting the genetic expression of key enzymes.” This claim is not backed up with any scientific evidence or references to independent clinical trials.
Turmeric (Rhizome longa L.) Phospholipid (Standardized to 18% Curcuminoids) – 667mg
Turmeric is a fantastic natural ingredient for alleviating joint pain, promoting good long-term joint health, and increasing mobility. The active ingredient in turmeric is a class of compounds called curcuminoids, of which curcumin is the most potent. Clinical trials have found that the consumption of curcumin greatly reduces joint pain and joint stiffness. The evidence suggests that curcumin is particularly effective for the alleviation of aches and pains resulting from inflammation; rheumatoid arthritis is one condition that seems to respond well to curcumin supplements.
This makes sense, as curcumin is known to have powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Consuming curcumin reduces inflammation across the entire body, including the joints. How it does this is still being debated, but it is clear that curcumin reduces inflammation via multiple different mechanisms at the same time.
Th turmeric used in Relief Factor is 18% curcumin by weight. This isn’t bad at all. Many low quality joint supplements use basic turmeric as an ingredient. While it is the best natual source of curcumin, turmeric is actually quite low in curcumin, which is why we need to use extracts in joint supplements. However, 18% is nothing groundbreaking. Other, higher quality joint supplements offer more curcumin than Relief Factor. Some of the best joint supplements on the market today provide more curcumin and a more bioavailable form of curcumin!
Japanese Fleeceflower (Root) (Standardized to 96% Resveratrol) – 70mg
Japanese fleeceflower is not a normal joint supplement ingredient. However, we do often see resveratrol used in joint supplements, and in health supplements more broadly. It is just that Japanese fleeceflower is not a normal source of resveratrol, and we aren’t sure why Relief Factor uses such an unusual herbal ingredient to obtain what is a commonplace and relatively cheap substance.
Resveratrol is a naturally occurring anti-oxidant. It is found in particularly high quantities in red grapes, although it is also found in abundance in peanuts, blueberries, and dark chocolate. This is why we don’t usually like to see resveratrol used in premium supplements like Relief Factor; you can get plenty of this ingredient from food so why pay good money for it in a supplement stack?
The logic of using an antioxidant in a joint supplement like Relief Factor is that it will protect your connective tissues and bone tissue from oxidative damage. While this is definitely true, resveratrol has not proven to be particularly effctive for protecting joint tissues. Better ingredients are out there which would be more suitable for Relief Factor.
EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) – 647mg & DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) – 253mg
EPA and DHA are omega 3 fatty acids. We have long known that omega 3 fatty acids are highly beneficial for maintaining healthy, flexible joints and preventing achy joints over the long-term. Omega 3 fatty acids like EPA and DHA seem to primarily work by preventing and reducing inflammation, just like turmeric. The doses of EPA and DHA we get from Relief Factor are rightin line with what we expect from comprehnsive joint supplements. Consuming this much extra omega 3 per day will no doubt ease joint pain and promote flexible, mobile joints going forward.
Does Relief Factor work for arthritis?
While the Relief Factor website doesn’t explicitly say that the product is effective for treating arthritis, there is a lot of insinuation going on here. Relief Factor is specifically marketed to older people with chronic joint pain, which implies that it is effective for treating arthritic joint pain. The website explicitly says that Relief Factor is effective for treating joint pain “associated with ageing”.
Do the ingredients in Relief Factor really help with arthritis?
The answer is NO. There is little in the Relief Factor formula capable of meaningfully reducing joint pain associated with arthritis. There aren’t many ingredients in Relief Factor capable of easing joint pain of any description!
Of the five ingredients in Relief Factor, only two can be said to have any effect on arthritis symptoms whatsoever. They are turmeric and DHA. Clinical trials have shown that these substances can be effective at reducing the symptoms of, and in some cases slowing the progression of, arthritis. However, the doses in Relief Factor are likely too low to really make a difference.
Can I make my own Relief Factor?
Looking at the ingredients in Relief Factor, it is clear that some are effective for relieving joint pain while others are not.
It is also obvious that some of Relief Factor’s ingredients are cheap and widely available, while others are more difficult to purchase and slightly more expensive.
This has led many people to ask, can I not just make my own Relief Factor?
After all, the cheapest ingredients in Relief Factor are also the most effective. The unusual ingredients like Japanese Fleeceflower and Epimedium are totally unnecessary and not particularly effective at easing joint pain.
The truth is that making your own version of Relief Factor would be incredibly easy and most likely cost you a lot less than buying Relief Factor itself. By purchasing the most effective Relief Factor ingredients individually – and ignoring the bogus fillers – you will probably get better results than you would from Relief Factor while spending less money.
To make your own version of Relief Factor, purchase some high quality, high-curcumin turmeric extract and take that each morning with a good omega 3 supplement. You could combine turmeric, omega 3 fats and some blueberries and grapes into a smoothie and have that for breakfast; this would easily recreate all the benefits of Relief Facto while saving you a lot of money!
Relief Factor: Is it good or bad?
Relief Factor is not a bad joint supplement, but it is not a good one either. It is ridiculously overpriced given the ingedients used. It contains some completely useless ingredients that have never been shown to improve joint health or flexibility. The only active ingredients in Relief Factor are turmeric and omega-3 oils; things you can get cheaply from the grocery store.
If you are looking for a supplement to help reduce joint pain and promote long-term joint health, we strongly recommend using a high-quality joint supplement designed by professionals. The best joint supplements will exclusively use clinically proven, effective, active ingredients known to reduce joint pain and prevent injuries. They will not contain the kind of cheap, unproven, ineffective ingredients that Relief Factor offers.
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