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Does Vitamin C Deficiency Cause Back Pain?

Jul 14, 2011 | By Tracey Roizman, D.C.
Does Vitamin C Deficiency Cause Back Pain?
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Vitamin C is an essential nutrient and a necessary component in the manufacture of collagen, the protein that forms many of the connective tissues in your body, including those that comprise your joint structures. As an antioxidant, vitamin C also protects against oxidative damage to cells and tissues throughout your body. Deficiency of vitamin C may, in some cases, lead to degeneration of the joints in your back, resulting in back pain.

Elderly Issues

Researchers at the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, found an association between vitamin C deficiency and degenerative disc disease in elderly people. Findings of their study were reported in the April 2010 issue of the journal "Medical Hypotheses."

Due to problems with eating or obtaining fresh foods, elderly people often show lower intakes and blood levels of vitamin C than younger people. Defective connective tissue formation results and leads to degenerative disc disease. The process of degeneration causes inflammation, further compounding the problem by placing higher vitamin C demands on the body to counteract the inflammation. The researchers concluded that vitamin C deficiency is an underdiagnosed cause of degenerative spine disease and recommended close monitoring of vitamin C status in elderly people.

Healing Time

If you have a tendency to heal more slowly than other people, you may need more vitamin C in your diet to prevent and recover from injuries, according to Leonard Faye, author of "Goodbye Back Pain: A Sufferer's Guide to Full Back Recovery and Future Prevention." Don't rely on store-bought orange juice for your vitamin C, says Faye. Processing in the factory and time spent in the carton have depleted most of the vitamin C in commercial orange juice by the time you buy it. Expect a time frame of several months before your cells' vitamin C levels are replenished and for damaged joint tissue to be replaced with new, healthy tissue.

Proteoglycans

Vitamin C's contribution to the formation of collagen gives it a potential role in treatment of back pain and arthritis, says Stephen Reed, M.D., in his book "The Complete Doctor's Healthy Back Bible: A Practical Manual for Understanding, Preventing and Treating Back Pain." Anti-inflammatory effects of this vitamin help alleviate sciatica symptoms, Reed says. Vitamin C also stimulates production of molecules called proteoglycans, which are used to manufacture cartilage. Rheumatoid arthritis patients are often found to have low levels of vitamin C.

Surgery Prevention

Supplementing with 1.5 to 2.0 g of vitamin C per day may alleviate back pain and reduce your chances of having to have back surgery, according to Dr. David Peters, author of the book "New Medicine: Complete Family Health Guide." Consider long-term supplementation with 1.0 g twice per day if you have back pain.

References

Article reviewed by Sandy Nelson Last updated on: Jul 14, 2011

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