Weak or compromised valves in your veins can result in the back-flow and build up of blood, causing veins to bulge and become varicosed. This is often seen in veins in the thighs and legs. Factors that increase your risk of developing varicose veins include age, family history, hormonal changes, pregnancy and sitting or standing for extended periods. A number of vitamins and minerals have been identified as being helpful in managing and preventing varicose veins, according to The National Women's Health Information Center.
Vitamin K
Reduced activity of the matrix GLA protein, or MGP, is linked to the development of varicose veins. Researchers, on comparing varicose and healthy veins of male subjects, noted that varicosity resulted from inactive MGP. The study, published in the "Journal of Vascular Research" in 2007, showed that this protein is vitamin K dependent. Vitamin K supplementation in cultures showed that MGP activity could be induced by vitamin K, indicating a role for this vitamin in the prevention and management of varicose veins.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C has a role in the production of collagen and elastin, and veins depend on collagen and elastin to maintain vascular health. These two connective tissues confer flexibility and strength to your veins, and are also used in repairing damaged veins. Healthy veins are less likely to succumb to varicosity, hence adequate vitamin C is necessary to keep the walls of your veins strong and in optimal health, notes MotherNature.com.
Vitamins E, B6, B12 and Folate
Keeping your blood flowing freely will decrease your chance of getting varicose veins, and vitamin E helps prevent clotting. According to MotherNature.com, there is no scientific evidence that vitamin E helps varicose vein sufferers, but people use it with the hope that the anti-clotting property will prove beneficial. Another factor that can inhibit blood flow is damage to the cells that line the veins, the endothelial cells. These cells are susceptible to damage by high concentrations of the amino acid homocysteine. Vitamins B6, B12 and folate work in concert to remove excess homocysteine from your blood, reducing your risk of developing or aggravating varicose veins.
Minerals
Copper, a trace mineral, has two functions that make it noteworthy for varicose vein sufferers. It is involved in the structural formation of collagen and elastin, and it is used in the production and maintenance of endothelial cells. It is therefore important to both your vein walls and the lining of your veins, and could play a significant role in keeping varicose veins at bay. The journal "Medical Hypotheses" published a proposal in 2005, suggesting that supplementation with a mix of nutritional elements, including both magnesium and calcium, could help in managing the symptoms of a rare disease, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, one of which is varicose veins.
References
- The National Women's Health Information Center: Varicose Veins and Spider Veins
- "Journal of Vascular Research": GLA Protein and Varicose Veins; C. Cario-Toumaniantz; 2007
- MotherNature.com: Winning an Uphill Battle
- "Medical Hypotheses": A Novel Therapeutic Strategy for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome; D. Mantle; 2005
