How can vitamin C help with joint pain?
- Aids with collagen formation
- Contains anti-oxidant properties
- Provides relief of inflammation and pain
Types of Joint Pain
Arthritis is an informal way to refer to joint pain. Common symptoms of arthritis include swelling, pain, stiffness, and a significant decrease in range of motion. These symptoms can occur in many age groups but may worsen as the body grows older. There are two most common types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage to break down. While rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that targets the lining of joints.-
Osteoarthritis
The risk you can get from untreated osteoarthritis is significant wear-and-tear to the joint cartilage. Receiving enough damage to the cartilage can make bones grind together. This causes significant pain and restricted mobility. Wear-and-tear can occur from aging or joint injury.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by the body attacking its own joint capsule. The synovial membrane becomes inflamed and swollen, which can eventually destroy the bones and joints.
Aids with Collagen Formation
Collagen is a hard, fibrous protein that is highly abundant in the body. Without collagen, the body will slowly form a weak structure. The natural strength of the body will begin to degrade slowly. Collagen gives the skin its elasticity and strength. This is why aging and exposure to UV rays can make collagen weaker. The structural integrity of the cells is directly affected by collagen production.
Collagen is mainly produced by connective tissue cells. This protein is found in the extracellular matrix. This matrix is a network of macromolecules that can determine the physical properties of the body's tissues. Macromolecules are made up of a molecule that contains a significant number of atoms.
The middle layer of the skin is also called the dermis. This middle layer contains collagen that helps form fibroblasts, a fibrous network of cells where new cells can grow. Dead cells can be replaced and grown in this layer as well. Collagens may also act as protective layers for organs in the body. The kidney is one of the organs that heavily benefit from collagen’s protective layer.
The role of vitamin C in the production of collagen is in its interaction with the amino acids found in collagen. Hydrogen and oxygen are incorporated into the amino acids. This plays an important part in its production. Taking the appropriate amount of vitamin C through both food and supplement prevents collagen from dissipating within your body.
Anti-Oxidant Properties
Vitamin C is essential for the survival of the human body. Without vitamin C, oxidative stress can occur if the body doesn’t process enough anti-oxidants. Oxidative stress has been linked to many illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, arthritis, and immune deficiency. Anti-oxidants can fight off reactive oxygen species. Vitamin C can work inside and outside of the cells to effectively neutralize free-radicals. Free radicals are defined as metabolic waste products that form when the conversion of food to energy occurs. This metabolic waste product can also be formed when the body reacts to an infection or responds to external pollutants such as radiation, air pollution, and cigarette smoke. Having a sufficient amount of anti-oxidants present within the body can prevent various types of free-radical damage. Having a balanced diet of anti-oxidant rich food, mainly fruits, taken with vitamin C daily will prevent most free-radical related damage from occurring.Relief of Inflammation and Pain
Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with potential or actual tissue damage. There are different types of pain: Nociceptive pain is a response to injuries. Neuropathic pain is a response from nerve damage or simply nerve pain. Lack of vitamin C can also contribute to the pain experienced by the body. Vitamin C deficient individuals can experience pain within the knees, wrists, and ankles. Because of vitamin C's powerful antioxidant properties, it is highly capable of protecting the cells and tissues from oxidative stress.
Vitamin C is a cofactor for the conversion of dopamine to norepinephrine. It can facilitate the synthesis of dopamine through the recycling of the cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin. This means that vitamin C can be a great alternative to opioid analgesics. For arthritis patients that are taking aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamin C is a great companion supplement that can improve the analgesic effects of these drugs.