A discharge lamp provided with a U-shaped discharge tube and an outer envelope surrounding this tube. The bend of the discharge tube is supported with respect to the outer envelope by means of a metal member of sheet material. A few strips of this member engage the bend of the discharge tube. The metal member is composed of two parts twisted together which provide together a substantially light-tight transverse separation between the outer envelope and the discharge tube. The metal member maintains the bend of the operating lamp being kept at a relatively high temperature to improve luminous efficacy.