Vitamins for Joint Pain
Vitamins for joint pain are commonly used by athletes and people who are interested in replacing prescription medications with natural pain remedies. Health food stores stock a variety of nutritional supplements and vitamins, while vitamin-rich foods also can serve as a source of vitamins for joint pain. Combining vitamins with changes in routine---such as eliminating sports and other activities that cause acute pain in the joints---can maximize the effectiveness of natural pain remedies.
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Significance
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Vitamins can be used to treat joint pain that results from minor athletic injuries and training stress as well as different types of arthritis. Patients may be interested in natural pain remedies because they have not experienced relief from medical treatments or they may want to avoid prescription medications for the cost, side effects or restrictions.
Types
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Vitamin A and C and various B vitamins--including thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, B6, B12 and pantothenic acid--are used for joint pain. A number of minerals also can contribute to relief of joint pain, including copper and calcium. Fatty acids and essential oils are another type of natural remedy for joint pain.
Function
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Different vitamins address different causes of pain to assist your body in healing itself. Vitamin A is an antioxidant and is used to neutralize free radicals causing pain in the tissue, while B vitamins are thought to stimulate collagen production and connective tissue repair. Calcium and vitamin C build bone strength, and stronger bones can also help reduce the pain in the joints, particularly osteoarthritis pain. Fatty acids in fish oil and flax oil help reduce inflammation, which often is the cause of joint pain.
Potential
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Natural pain remedies provide opportunities for a variety of alternative treatment styles, such as a change in diet or the use of therapeutic massage, which may be more appealing than prescription pain medication. Vitamins used to relieve joint pain can be found in broccoli, spinach, carrots, cabbage, apples, pineapples and cherries, among other nutrient-rich foods. Essential oil of ginger is a vitamin-rich oil that can be massaged onto affected areas for immediate joint pain relief.
Warning
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Patients who are using vitamins for joint pain relief should avoid eating citrus fruits or drinking citrus juices, as citric acid has been found to increase inflammation in some cases. Although rich in vitamins, citrus fruits may aggravate rather than relieve joint pain.
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