Ligaments help to hold your tendons in place -- the connective tissues that hold your bones and muscles together. According to Duke Orthopaedics, ligament injuries are one of the most common orthopedic injuries. A joint is a place where two bones meet, such as your knee. Joint pain can be caused by injury or normal wear and tear -- arthritis. While ligament and joint issues should be examined by a doctor, vitamins can help support the health of both.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D plays a vital role in the health of your bones and joints. This vitamin helps your body to properly absorb and use calcium. Calcium is a mineral that helps to produce strong, healthy bones and joints. Without vitamin D, your body will begin to take calcium from your bones and joints to use in other portions of your body. This can leave your bones and joints weak and more susceptible to injury -- such as fractures. Vitamin D can be absorbed through sun exposure -- keep in mind that sunscreen is still necessary to prevent skin cancer -- or through the foods you eat. Foods sources of vitamin D include fortified products -- such as milk and cereal -- fish, liver and egg yolks.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A plays an integral role in helping to support the health of your joints and ligaments. Also known as retinol, vitamin A can be found in kale, spinach, liver, carrots and sweet potatoes. Vitamin A helps to support your soft tissues and skeletal system. The antioxidant properties of vitamin A can help to protect your skeletal system from damage. This vitamin can also help to increase the lifespan of your tissues. This can help prevent issues with your joints -- such as degenerative joint disease or arthritis.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin -- meaning your body stores this vitamin as fat throughout your body. Found in seeds, spinach, wheat germ, leafy vegetables and nuts, vitamin E can help support the health of your ligaments and joints. This vitamin can also help to heal your joints and ligaments should you become injured. Vitamin E also helps to reduce inflammation and pain that may be caused by injury or disease to your ligaments and joints. This vitamin also helps your body to secrete cytokines -- which help cells to rebuild damaged ligaments and joints in your body. Cytokines can also help promote a speedy recovery following joint or ligament surgery.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C may be commonly known as a vitamin that helps to boost your immune system and fight off infections. However, vitamin C also plays a large role in the health of your ligaments and other connective tissues -- such as tendons. Vitamin C plays a vital role in the production of collagen. Collagen is a tissue that helps to support the structures of your muscular system -- including your muscles, tendons, ligaments and other soft tissues throughout your body. Vitamin C can be found in a number of foods you consume on a daily basis. Food sources of vitamin C can include oranges -- along with other citrus fruits -- strawberries, cantaloupe, kiwi, cabbage, tomatoes and broccoli.
References
- "The Vitamin Book": Harold M. Silverman, Joseph Romano and Gary Elmer; 2003
- KidsHealth.org: Vitamins; Mary L. Gavin, MD; Jan. 2011
- Duke Orthopedics: Ligament and Tendon Injury
- National Institutes of Health: Joint Pain; May 4, 2010
