PlainVitamins

Joint Essentials

by Optimal Naturals · tablet or pill · 90 tablets

  • Off the market since October 2023 (NIH)
  • DSLD label 20118
  • Serving 1 to 2 tablets; amounts per 2 tablets

Joint Essentials by Optimal Naturals lists 24 ingredients, 24 with an amount per serving of 2 tablets, such as 100 IU of vitamin A, 1 mg of vitamin C, 1 IU of vitamin E and 1 mg of vitamin B1. Its current label entered the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database on April 25, 2013.

What is in Joint Essentials?

Each row as the label prints it, per serving of 2 tablets. The capsule beside an amount places it among every product in the NIH database that lists the same ingredient: the bar is the middle half of their amounts, the line in it the median, the whiskers the 10th and 90th percentiles; the green tick is the FDA Daily Value and the red dashed tick the adult upper limit (IOM).

Joint Essentials: Supplement Facts rows against the market (DSLD label 20118, January 2026 release)
IngredientAmount% DVAmong products listing it
Vitamin Aas Vitamin A Acetate100 IU2%Vitamin A in Joint Essentials against 5,772 products100 IU per serving; the middle half of products list 2,000 IU to 5,000 IU, the median 4,000 IU.100 IU

96% of 5,772 products listing vitamin A give more (median 4,000 IU). Per day at the most servings: 300 IU.

Vitamin Cas Ascorbic Acid1 mg2%Vitamin C in Joint Essentials against 18,583 products1 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 60 mg to 270 mg, the median 100 mg.DV 90 mgUL 2,000 mg1 mg

99% of 18,583 products listing vitamin C give more (median 100 mg). Per day at the most servings: 3 mg.

Vitamin Eas D-Alpha-Tocopheryl AcetateVitamin E (Form: as D-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate)1 IU3%Vitamin E in Joint Essentials against 6,459 products1 IU per serving; the middle half of products list 15 IU to 100 IU, the median 30 IU.1 IU

99% of 6,459 products listing vitamin E give more (median 30 IU). Per day at the most servings: 3 IU.

Vitamin B1as Thiamine Hydrochloride1 mg67%Thiamin in Joint Essentials against 9,830 products1 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 1.5 mg to 25 mg, the median 5 mg.DV 1.2 mg1 mg

84% of 9,830 products listing thiamin give more (median 5 mg). Per day at the most servings: 3 mg.

Vitamin B2as Riboflavin1 mg59%Riboflavin in Joint Essentials against 9,824 products1 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 1.7 mg to 25 mg, the median 4 mg.DV 1.3 mg1 mg

84% of 9,824 products listing riboflavin give more (median 4 mg). Per day at the most servings: 3 mg.

Niacinamide1 mg5%Niacin in Joint Essentials against 12,413 products1 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 13.2 mg to 48 mg, the median 20 mg.DV 16 mgUL 35 mg1 mg

98% of 12,413 products listing niacin give more (median 20 mg). Per day at the most servings: 3 mg.

Vitamin B6as Pyridoxine HydrochlorideVitamin B-6 (Form: as Pyridoxine HCl)1 mg50%Vitamin B6 in Joint Essentials against 15,277 products1 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 2 mg to 20 mg, the median 6 mg.DV 1.7 mgUL 100 mg1 mg

88% of 15,277 products listing vitamin B6 give more (median 6 mg). Per day at the most servings: 3 mg.

Vitamin B12as Cyanocobalamin10 mcg167%Vitamin B12 in Joint Essentials against 14,425 products10 mcg per serving; the middle half of products list 6 mcg to 200 mcg, the median 36 mcg.DV 2.4 mcg10 mcg

67% of 14,425 products listing vitamin B12 give more (median 36 mcg). Per day at the most servings: 30 mcg.

Manganeseas {manganese} sulfate320 mcg16%Manganese in Joint Essentials against 7,016 products0.32 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 1 mg to 3.92 mg, the median 2 mg.DV 2.3 mgUL 11 mg0.32 mg

93% of 7,016 products listing manganese give more (median 2 mg). Per day at the most servings: 0.96 mg.

Zincas Zinc Amino Acid Chelate200 mcg1%Zinc in Joint Essentials against 13,186 products0.2 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 5 mg to 15 mg, the median 11 mg.DV 11 mgUL 40 mg0.2 mg

99% of 13,186 products listing zinc give more (median 11 mg). Per day at the most servings: 0.6 mg.

Seleniumas Selenium Amino Acid Chelate20 mcg29%Selenium in Joint Essentials against 7,658 products20 mcg per serving; the middle half of products list 27 mcg to 100 mcg, the median 55 mcg.DV 55 mcgUL 400 mcg20 mcg

84% of 7,658 products listing selenium give more (median 55 mcg). Per day at the most servings: 60 mcg.

Copperas Copper Amino Acid Chelate100 mcg5%Copper in Joint Essentials against 6,468 products0.1 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 0.5 mg to 2 mg, the median 1 mg.DV 0.9 mgUL 10 mg0.1 mg

93% of 6,468 products listing copper give more (median 1 mg). Per day at the most servings: 0.3 mg.

Chromiumas Chromium Amino Acid Chelate20 mcg17%Chromium in Joint Essentials against 7,825 products20 mcg per serving; the middle half of products list 45 mcg to 200 mcg, the median 100 mcg.DV 35 mcg20 mcg

88% of 7,825 products listing chromium give more (median 100 mcg). Per day at the most servings: 60 mcg.

Glucosamine Sulfate500 mgGlucosamine Sulfate in Joint Essentials against 875 products0.5 g per serving; the middle half of products list 0.5 g to 1.5 g, the median 1 g.0.5 g

65% of 875 products listing glucosamine sulfate give more (median 1 g). Per day at the most servings: 1.5 g.

Chondroitin Sulfate400 mgChondroitin Sulfate in Joint Essentials against 950 products400 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 200 mg to 1,200 mg, the median 400 mg.400 mg

48% of 950 products listing chondroitin sulfate give more (median 400 mg). Per day at the most servings: 1,200 mg.

Shark Cartilage750 mgCartilage in Joint Essentials against 199 products750 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 40 mg to 750 mg, the median 100 mg.750 mg

Higher than 74% of 199 products listing cartilage (median 100 mg). Per day at the most servings: 2,250 mg.

New Zealand Green Lipped Sea Mussel250 mgNew Zealand green-lipped mussel in Joint Essentials against 78 products250 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 100 mg to 750 mg, the median 250 mg.250 mg

49% of 78 products listing new zealand green-lipped mussel give more (median 250 mg). Per day at the most servings: 750 mg.

MSM250 mgMethylsulfonylmethane in Joint Essentials against 1,454 products250 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 150 mg to 1,000 mg, the median 500 mg.250 mg

60% of 1,454 products listing methylsulfonylmethane give more (median 500 mg). Per day at the most servings: 750 mg.

L-Histidine10 mgHistidine in Joint Essentials against 591 products10 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 50 mg to 402.8 mg, the median 125 mg.10 mg

92% of 591 products listing histidine give more (median 125 mg). Per day at the most servings: 30 mg.

Boronas Boron Amino Acid Chelate1 mgBoron in Joint Essentials against 3,339 products1 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 0.3 mg to 2 mg, the median 1 mg.UL 20 mg1 mg

42% of 3,339 products listing boron give more (median 1 mg). Per day at the most servings: 3 mg.

Alfalfa powder25 mgAlfalfa in Joint Essentials against 477 products25 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 50 mg to 500 mg, the median 200 mg.25 mg

79% of 477 products listing alfalfa give more (median 200 mg). Per day at the most servings: 75 mg.

Yucca Extractas SaponinsYucca Extract (Form: 29% saponins)1 mgYucca in Joint Essentials against 106 products1 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 25 mg to 450 mg, the median 50 mg.1 mg

86% of 106 products listing yucca give more (median 50 mg). Per day at the most servings: 3 mg.

Devil's ClawDevil's Claw Note: powder1 mgDevil's Claw in Joint Essentials against 162 products1 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 30.25 mg to 507.5 mg, the median 122.5 mg.1 mg

91% of 162 products listing Devil's claw give more (median 122.5 mg). Per day at the most servings: 3 mg.

Cetyl Myristoleate1 mgCetyl Myristoleate in Joint Essentials against 63 products1 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 8.25 mg to 500 mg, the median 52 mg.1 mg

76% of 63 products listing cetyl myristoleate give more (median 52 mg). Per day at the most servings: 3 mg.

Source: NIH ODS Dietary Supplement Label Database, label 20118 (entered April 25, 2013), version 9.4.0. See the label on DSLD. Amounts are what the maker printed; DSLD does not test products. Daily Values: the FDA's Daily Value page.

Is that a lot?

The rows in the top or bottom tenth of the products that list the same ingredient, and any above the adult upper limit at the most servings a day the directions give:

  • 96% of the 5,772 products that print an amount of vitamin A list more than its 100 IU of vitamin A (median 4,000 IU).
  • 99% of the 18,583 products that print an amount of vitamin C list more than its 1 mg of vitamin C (median 100 mg).
  • 99% of the 6,459 products that print an amount of vitamin E list more than its 1 IU of vitamin E (median 30 IU).
  • 98% of the 12,413 products that print an amount of niacin list more than its 1 mg of niacin (median 20 mg).
  • 88% of the 15,277 products that print an amount of vitamin B6 list more than its 1 mg of vitamin B6 (median 6 mg).
  • 93% of the 7,016 products that print an amount of manganese list more than its 0.32 mg of manganese (median 2 mg).

The NIH database records 3 servings a day from the label's directions; its % Daily Values are for adults and children 4 or more years of age. The directions as printed are further down this page.

The Tolerable Upper Intake Level is the most of a nutrient per day, from food, water and supplements together, that is likely to pose no risk for almost all adults (Institute of Medicine, 2011). It does not apply under medical supervision. This page compares labels; it is not medical advice.

Sources: amounts from the DSLD label; Daily Values from 21 CFR 101.9(c)(8)(iv); adult upper limits from the Institute of Medicine's DRI summary tables (2011). How positions are computed.

Which products have the closest formulas?

5 products list the very same ingredients; the nearest amounts come first.

Source: ingredient lists of every product's current label in DSLD (version 9.4.0); similarity weights each shared ingredient by how rare it is.

What does the label say about taking it?

Quoted from the label as DSLD transcribed it: the maker's words, including any claim about what the product does, which the FDA has not evaluated and PlainVitamins does not endorse.

Directions
SUGGESTED USE: As a dietary supplement, take one (1) or two (2) tablets three times daily.
Warnings
CAUTION: Do not exceed recommended dose.
This product is not intended for persons with allergies to shellfish.
Not to be used by pregnant or nursing mothers or children under the age of 18.
ALLERGEN WARNING: CONTAINS FISH (SHARK) SHELLFISH (GLUCOSAMINE, NEW ZEALAND GREEN LIPPED SEA MUSSEL), AND SOY.
If you have questions about the advisability of taking this product, consult your physician prior to use.
This product is manufactured and packaged in a facility which may also process milk, soy, wheat, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and crustacean shellfish.
KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN.
DO NOT USE IF SAFETY SEAL IS DAMAGED OR MISSING.
Storage
STORE IN A COOL, DRY PLACE.

Source: label statements in DSLD label 20118.

What else is on the label?

Other ingredients: Dicalcium Phosphate, Stearic Acid, Croscarmellose Sodium, Magnesium Stearate, natural Vanilla.

How many labels does Joint Essentials have?

One label is on file, entered on April 25, 2013.

  1. Label 20118 (current) Entered April 25, 2013 · off the market October 4, 2023 · 90 tablets

Source: DSLD label entry and market events, version 9.4.0 (labels entered through September 25, 2025).

Who makes it?

The label names Optimal Naturals(TM) (manufacturer), Orange County, California. All Optimal Naturals products.

Where next?