Your spine contains a series of bones, called vertebrae, which form a series of joints that allow for movement at your torso. The vertebrae also encase and protect the spinal cord, a collection of nerves that helps transmit signals from the brain into your body. In addition, these cells and tissues contain blood vessels that nourish the spine, as well as connective tissue that provides additional support. Nutrients from your diet -- including vitamins found in a range of foods -- help support the function of tissues within your spine.
Vitamin D
One vitamin that supports your spine is vitamin D. This vitamin plays a role in regulating the health of your bones, including your vertebrae. The Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University explains that vitamin D within your body affects calcium levels, and maintains a calcium balance that allows for healthy bones. Deficiencies in vitamin D can throw off the calcium balance in your body, leading to bone disorders that can affect the health of your spine.
Vitamin A
Another vitamin that contributes to the health of your spine is vitamin A, or retinol. Vitamin A influences the genes your cells turn on or off as they grow, and vitamin A signalling helps to guide proper cellular maturation. Specifically, vitamin A aids in the formation of bone tissue, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. As a result, deficiencies in vitamin A may disrupt bone formation, and eventually lead to problems with the vertebrae within your spine.
Vitamin B-12
Vitamin B-12, or cobalmin, can also contribute to a healthy spine. Your spinal cord contains millions of nerves, each with nerve endings that communicate with and relay signals from both the body and the brain. These nerve endings rely on a substance called myelin -- a layer of specialized proteins and lipids that insulate each nerve ending, allowing for fast nerve transmission. Vitamin B-12 contributes to this myelin insulation, and deficiencies in vitamin B-12 lead to myelin defects and damage that can affect your spinal cord, according to the Linus Pauling Institute.
Vitamin C
Each of the tissues within your spine relies on blood vessels to provide the oxygen required for tissue functioning. Without an adequate blood supply, the tissues within your spine and spinal cord would become damaged and eventually die. Vitamin C contributes to a healthy spine by supporting healthy blood vessels. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, vitamin C deficiencies can weaken your blood vessels. As a result, long-term vitamin C deficiency may hinder proper blood vessel functioning and decrease blood vessel support for the tissues within your spine.
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