According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 50 million Americans suffer from some form of arthritis and joint pain. Joint pain and arthritis risk can be caused by things like age, gender and your genetic makeup. Other risks like obesity, joint injuries and infection can also increase your chances of developing joint pain. While there are many different forms of treatment for joint pain, such as prescription pain medications, corticosteroids to reduce joint inflammation, topical creams to reduce pain and over-the-counter pain medications, there are also some vitamin supplements that have shown to help with joint pain.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin and part of what is called the B complex of vitamins. It can be found naturally in oatmeal, chicken, pork, tuna, avocados and many other dietary sources. The recommended daily allowance of vitamin B6 is 1.3 mg for men ages 19 to 50 and 1.7 mg for men over 51. For women, the recommended amount is 1.3 mg for ages 19 to 50 and 1.5 mg for women over 51. A 2003 study published in the "American Journal of Medicine" showed a connection between a vitamin B6 deficiency and the severity of joint pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble nutrient that can be found in citrus fruits, peppers, kiwi, broccoli, strawberries and cantaloupe. Vitamin C works as an antioxidant and prevents damage to the cells by free radicals. It is also essential for the body to make collagen, which can be found in your joints. The recommended daily allowance for vitamin C is 90 mg for adult men and 75 mg for adult women. A 2007 study published in the "The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery" linked vitamin C to the reduction of complex regional pain syndrome in patients after wrist surgery. Researchers recommended a daily dose of at least 500 mg.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble nutrient that is essential to bone health as well as being connected to the prevention of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. It can be made naturally by exposing your skin to the ultraviolet B rays from the sun and is also found in fortified milk and salmon. The recommended daily allowance is 600 to 800 international units a day for adults. A January 2011 study published in "Maturitas" connects vitamin D and joint pain in postmenopausal woman and showed that the lower the levels of vitamin D were, the higher the patients rated their joint pain.
Considerations
Before making any changes to your diet or adding vitamin supplements, consult with your physician and have your blood levels tested to check for any deficiencies. Ask your doctor about what vitamins he thinks could best help your joint pain. If you are taking any medication, make sure you physician is aware of these as some medications can affect the body's ability to absorb vitamins and nutrients, so you may need extra supplementation.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Arthritis; October 2010
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin B6
- "American Journal of Medicine"; Abnormal Vitamin B6 Status Is Associated With Severity of Symptoms in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis; E.P. Chiang, et al.; March 2003
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin C
- "The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery"; Can Vitamin C Prevent Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in Patients With Wrist Fractures?; P.E. Zollinger, et al.; July 2007
- "Maturitas"; 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentration, Vitamin D Intake and Joint Symptoms in Postmenopausal Women; R.T. Chlebowski, et al.; January 2011
