JointBrex lists four add-ins at 16.7 mg each: quercetin, methionine, MSM and bromelain. That is about 0.5% of the MSM knee trial dose and about 3% of the quercetin and bromelain amounts studied. Joint evidence for all four is thin. Bromelain and quercetin matter with blood thinners, and pineapple allergy is a bromelain caution.
Four ingredients, 16.7 mg each, about 67 mg in total.
JointBrex lists four minor ingredients at 16.7 mg each per serving of 2 capsules: quercetin, methionine, MSM and bromelain. Together they add up to about 67 mg.
That is small next to the 1,000 mg of glucosamine. You can see all four on the Supplement Facts panel. Tap each card below for the research.
16.7 mg, from Sophora japonica bud (label). A yellow plant pigment found in many fruits and vegetables.
Tap to see the research ↻Joint evidence is from lab and animal studies (MSKCC About Herbs: Quercetin, 2023). Safety was assessed at 500 mg a day (VKM (Norway) quercetin & rutin risk assessment).
Tap to flip back ↺16.7 mg. An amino acid, one of the building blocks of protein.
Tap to see the research ↻We found no reliable joint research on methionine as a supplement. We make no benefit claim for it.
Tap to flip back ↺
16.7 mg of methylsulfonylmethane, an organic sulfur compound.
Tap to see the research ↻One small knee trial at 3,375 mg a day: pain not significant, small gains in function (Debbi et al., 2011 (MSM RCT)).
Tap to flip back ↺
16.7 mg, from pineapple stem (Ananas comosus, label). A group of enzymes that break down protein.
Tap to see the research ↻Efficacy and best dose for joints are not established (Brien et al., 2004 (bromelain review)).
Tap to flip back ↺Small fractions of the studied amounts.
Each add-in is a small fraction of the amounts used in studies. The table compares the label with the doses researchers used or assessed.
Add-in doses on the label versus research (shares are our arithmetic)
| Ingredient | JointBrex | Research amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quercetin | 16.7 mg | 500 mg a day, safety review (VKM (Norway) quercetin & rutin risk assessment) | about 3% |
| MSM | 16.7 mg | 3,375 mg a day, knee trial (Debbi et al., 2011 (MSM RCT)) | about 0.5% |
| Bromelain | 16.7 mg | 540–1,890 mg a day, osteoarthritis trials (Brien et al., 2004 (bromelain review)) | about 3% of 540 mg |
| Bromelain | 16.7 mg | 160 mg a day, lowest dose linked to any effect | about 10% |
| Methionine | 16.7 mg | No joint research found | Not applicable |
Each add-in as a share of the research amount
Small amounts are not harmful in themselves. But they make it unlikely that these four ingredients do much on their own at this dose.
Lab promise, no human proof on its own.
The honest answer is that no one knows yet. MSK says the quercetin evidence for osteoarthritis comes from animal and lab studies (MSKCC About Herbs: Quercetin, 2023).
One Japanese trial in 40 adults used 45 mg of quercetin glycosides with 1,200 mg of glucosamine and a little chondroitin (Kanzaki et al., 2012). The mix improved some knee scores more than placebo. Quercetin was never tested alone, so its own part cannot be known.
On safety, Norway's VKM judged 500 mg a day safe for adults, with few and mild side effects (VKM (Norway) quercetin & rutin risk assessment). It also noted that quercetin can affect how the body absorbs and breaks down some medicines. Data are lacking for pregnancy, breastfeeding and children.
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One small trial, small gains, at a far higher dose.
MSM stands for methylsulfonylmethane, a sulfur compound. It often appears next to glucosamine and chondroitin in joint products.
The main trial gave about 50 adults with knee osteoarthritis 3,375 mg of MSM a day for 12 weeks (Debbi et al., 2011 (MSM RCT)). Pain on the WOMAC scale did not differ significantly from placebo. Physical function and the total score did improve.
The authors called the gains small and of unknown clinical value. They fell below standard responder criteria. It was a small trial at one site, and the groups were not well matched at the start.
JointBrex has 16.7 mg of MSM, roughly 1/200 of the trial dose.
Popular, but little studied for joints.
Not much. NCCIH says bromelain is promoted for osteoarthritis, but outside wisdom-tooth surgery and sinusitis very little research has been done (NCCIH, Bromelain, 2024). The effects of bromelain alone are unclear.
Bromelain research at a glance
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| Brien et al., 2004 (bromelain review) | Earlier arthritis trials were uncontrolled or comparative; efficacy and the best dose are not established |
| NCCIH, Bromelain, 2024 | Seems well tolerated; stomach upset and diarrhea are most common; little is known about pregnancy |
| MSK About Herbs, Bromelain, 2023 | Arthritis trial results are mixed; allergic reactions have been reported |
Bromelain is a mix of enzymes from the pineapple plant. The label says the stem is the source. Eating fresh pineapple is not the same as taking a bromelain supplement.
An amino acid on the label, with no claim attached.
Methionine is an amino acid. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and methionine is found in many protein foods. JointBrex lists 16.7 mg per serving.
We looked for reliable research on methionine as a joint supplement and did not find a clean source. So we describe it and stop there. We make no claim that it helps joints.
The brand has not said why it added methionine. If you want to know, ask the seller before you order. Our JointBrex ingredients page lists everything on the label.
Small amounts, but the same cautions apply.
Two of these add-ins can matter if you take a blood thinner. MSK says not to take bromelain with warfarin or other blood thinners (MSK About Herbs, Bromelain, 2023). A case report describes a rise in INR in a patient on warfarin that went back to normal after quercetin was stopped (MSKCC About Herbs: Quercetin, 2023).
Cautions for the four add-ins
| Caution | Ingredient | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Blood thinners | Bromelain, quercetin | Ask your prescriber first and expect INR checks |
| Pineapple allergy | Bromelain | Talk to an allergist; allergic reactions are reported |
| Tetracycline antibiotics | Bromelain | Tell your doctor or pharmacist |
| Pregnancy and nursing | All four | Little is known; the JointBrex label says not for these groups |
Read the full list on the JointBrex side effects page, or our post on joint supplements and blood thinners.
Extras, not the main event.
The four add-ins round out a formula built mainly on glucosamine sulfate, boswellia and turmeric. Think of them as extras, not the reason to buy.
The label claim reads: "For Pain Relief from Muscle & Joint Injuries*" *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The add-ins at these amounts do not change that picture. Exercise and weight loss remain the steps with the strongest evidence.
The evidence is thin. In the main knee trial, 3,375 mg of MSM a day did not lower pain significantly more than placebo, though function scores improved a little (Debbi et al., 2011 (MSM RCT)). The authors said the gains were small and of unknown value.
The best-known knee trial used 1,125 mg three times a day, or 3,375 mg in total, for 12 weeks (Debbi et al., 2011 (MSM RCT)). JointBrex has 16.7 mg of MSM per serving, about 0.5% of that amount.
In the knee trial, MSM was compared with placebo over 12 weeks in about 50 adults. That is too small and short to say much about rare side effects. At 16.7 mg, the amount in JointBrex is very low.
It is promoted for that, but proof is limited. NCCIH says little research has been done outside wisdom-tooth surgery and sinusitis, and the effects of bromelain alone are unclear (NCCIH, Bromelain, 2024).
It may act like one. MSK says not to take bromelain with warfarin or other blood thinners, because lab and animal data suggest more bruising and bleeding (MSK About Herbs, Bromelain, 2023). Ask your prescriber before any bromelain supplement.
The main ones are blood thinners and tetracycline antibiotics, according to MSK (MSK About Herbs, Bromelain, 2023). If you take either, check with your doctor or pharmacist first.
It is safest not to. Bromelain comes from the pineapple plant, and allergic reactions have been reported (MSK About Herbs, Bromelain, 2023). Talk to an allergist before trying JointBrex.
No one knows yet. MSK says the joint evidence for quercetin is from animal and lab studies (MSKCC About Herbs: Quercetin, 2023). The one human trial mixed it with glucosamine and chondroitin, so its own effect is unknown.
At moderate amounts it appears to be. Norway's food safety body judged 500 mg a day safe for adults, with few mild side effects (VKM (Norway) quercetin & rutin risk assessment). Quercetin can affect how some drugs are processed, so tell your doctor.
Methionine is an amino acid, one of the building blocks of protein. JointBrex lists 16.7 mg per serving. We found no reliable joint research on methionine as a supplement, so we make no claim about it.
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All eight label ingredients with amounts, the shellfish line and how each dose compares with research.
Read more →Frankincense resin extract at 133.3 mg, inside the studied range. Modest, mixed trial results.
Read more →Every JointBrex caution in one place: stomach, shellfish, blood thinners, blood sugar, liver, stop signs.
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