NEW YORK — Osteo Bi-Flex has expanded its lineup of joint health supplements with Osteo Bi-Flex EASE mini-tabs.

The Rexall Sundown Inc. brand said Wednesday that Osteo Bi-Flex EASE is a daily mini-tab with a breakthrough collagen-based formula that promotes joint comfort. One mini-tab daily supplies vitamin D3, Osteo Bi-Flex’s Joint Shield, an herbal ingredient that helps with occasional joint flare-ups, and a natural source of collagen called UC-II that has been shown to improve joint comfort, according to the company.

“Osteo Bi-Flex EASE mini-tabs are 80% smaller than standard joint health supplements and are free of gluten and shellfish,” stated Albert So, senior brand manager for Osteo Bi-Flex. “With Osteo Bi-Flex EASE, we have designed a joint health supplement that is easy to take and provides the benefits of collagen UC-II with our proprietary Joint Shield to support mobility and comfort.”

Recent research shows that a daily 40mg dose of UC-II collagen, as represented in Osteo Bi-Flex EASE mini-tabs, can be effective in improving joint comfort, Osteo Bi-Flex noted.

“As we age, our bodies lose collagen, and supplementation with this compound may become more important, as collagen is the main component of our connective tissue and plays an intricate role in joint health,” according to author and joint health expert Dr. James Rippe, editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. “The particular standardized form of type II collagen contained in Osteo Bi-Flex EASE has been shown to promote joint comfort.”

A survey commissioned last year by Osteo Bi-Flex found that nearly seven in 10 Americans over age 34 experience occasional joint stiffness or other concerns. The poll also found that 62% of Generation Xers, now in their late 30s and 40s, are concerned about their joints.

“Supplementation can serve as an essential part of proper nutrition for your joints,” Rippe added. “Blood supply to our joints is poor, and it is often difficult to get joint health ingredients like glucosamine, chondroitin and collagen in our diets.”

Osteo Bi-Flex EASE is slated to hit shelves at food, drug and mass retailers nationwide this month.