This is a completely personal opinion but I would look at either of these if it was for myself.

With so many joint complex's out there on the market it is always going to be a difficult choice. However I suppose I am in the fortunate position of having had over 25 years hands on front line professional experience with natural health supplements.

There are some great choices out there but if you want my professional opinion I would have to go down to two that I don't think can be beaten and are absolutely brilliant.

SOLGAR® 7 When supporting joint health we tend to think of chronic conditions such as arthritis. However people with active lifestyles can also experience stiffness and joint discomfort.

Solgar® 7 is the next generation innovation after glucosamine that brings together 7 bio-active nutrients that effectively support mobility, flexibility and range of motion in overstressed joints. The ingredients work together to balance the release of joint enzymes and support against twinges and joint stressors brought on by exercise, sport or physical activity.

Research/Ingredients 5-Loxin® Advanced is a boswellia serrata extract standardised to 20% Acetyl-11-Keto-Beta-Boswellic Acid (AKBA). Research suggests that 5-Loxin® Advanced helps to inhibit a specific enzyme known as 5-Lipoxygenase which can otherwise contribute to the production of specific pro-inflammatory leukotrienes which can lead to pain and discomfort in the joints. UC-II® Undenatured Type II Collagen works differently to denatured collagen which is a popular joint health ingredient used as a source of nutrients for cartilage synthesis. Instead, UC-II® provides benefit by modulating the body’s immune system.

Wear and tear from exercising can cause joint collagen to break down and enter the blood stream. The immune system may treat this collagen as foreign and consequently mount a response against it which also targets the collagen on the outer layer of the joint, leading to inflammation and pain. Studies suggest ingesting very small quantities of UC-II® undenatured collagen on a daily basis may help to prime and train the immune system to view collagen as native to the body rather than as a foreign body. This in-turn down-regulates the immune response, helping to reduce inflammation which allows the joint to repair.

Solgar® 7 also contains Ester-C® which helps support collagen formation and is required for the normal function of cartilage and bones. It also helps to protect cells from oxidative damage (stress). Turmeric, ginger and cayenne all have anti-inflammatory properties and research suggests that white willow may exhibit a mild analgesic effect. Bioperine® is a standardized black pepper extract that contains 95% piperine. Research suggests that the uptake on turmeric may be considerably enhanced when taken in the presence of Bioperine®.

Bioperine® may also enhance the absorption of vitamin C 

Terranova Glucosamine, Boswellia and MSM complex - is a formidable contender for the best all round joint complex.

The key ingredients also have Turmeric, nettle, vitamin C, molybdenum, selenium, ginger, celery and manganese all powerful ingredients in their own right. This mix is truly brilliant in my opinion and the feedback I have recieved from people trying this incredible complex has been out of this world.

If we look at a quick breakdown of the ingredients -

Boswellia

In studies, compared with a placebo, treatment with Boswellia resulted in a significant reduction in pain, time duration of morning stiffness and ‘joint and disability score’ among patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Other research has shown treatment with an extract of the gum resin of Boswellia, reduced joint swelling, pain, stiffness and the need to use NSAIDs in 260 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Similar beneficial results have been found in osteoarthritic cases.

The anti-inflammatory activity of boswellia has been studied quite extensively.  Boswellia has also demonstrated the ability to suppress the proliferation of new tissue and prevent the degradation of connective tissue that occurs in the inflammatory process. In addition, these anti-inflammatory activities do not seem to be associated with the generalized immune suppression so often seen with long-term use of steroid drugs. Boswellias function as potent anti-inflammatory agents in rheumatic conditions, being especially effective in shrinking inflamed tissues. Boswellic acids improve blood supply to the joints and restore the integrity of blood vessels obliterated by spasm. They may also open up collateral blood circulation to provide adequate blood supply to the joints.

Glucosamine HCL as a vegan Source offers the following properties.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease affecting mainly the weight-bearing joints and joints of the hands. Many studies have shown that glucosamine sulphate produces much better results than NSAIDs and placebos in relieving the pain and inflammation of OA. The advantage of glucosamine is that it gets to the root of the problem by reducing pain and helping the body heal and repair damaged joints. 

Knee Pain– recent research reviewing the effects of glucosamine and knee pain, due to cartilage damage, showed that glucosamine supplementation can provide some degree of pain relief and improved function in those taking 2000mg daily for 12 weeks.

Inflammation – recent research has demonstrated that glucosamine sulphate inhibits a number of inflammatory markers known to be involved in OA, these include cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2), PGE2, and NFkappaB. Thus glucosamine is being noted for its role as a symptom- and structure-modifying supplement in the treatment of OA.

 MSM

 MSM is a naturally occurring nutrient, an organic sulphur compound that is found in the normal human diet. MSM is found in foods, including fruit, alfalfa, corn, tomatoes, tea, and coffee. Sulphur is present in all living organisms and without sulphur life as we know it would not exist. It is an important element in more than 150 compounds in the body--tissues, enzymes, hormones, antibodies and antioxidants. Sulphur is stored in every cell of the body, particularly in the hair, nails and connective tissue of joints and skin, where it is an important structural protein component. Connective tissue supports and connects the internal organs, forms the walls of blood vessels, and joins muscles to bones. 

Because sulphur is needed for the formation of connective tissue, MSM has been studied for its use in treating arthritis. The concentration of sulphur in arthritic cartilage has been shown to be about one-third the level of normal cartilage. A preliminary study was performed on 16 patients suffering from degenerative arthritis. Ten patients, randomly chosen, were treated with 2,250 mg MSM per day while six patients received placebo capsules. The patients who took MSM daily for six weeks reported an 80 percent reduction in pain. Only two of those taking the placebo reported decreased pain--about 20 percent.

Other ingredients have brilliant protective antioxidant abilities and create an incredibly powerful synergistic environment in the body, maximising both repair and protection.