This study linked back pain with a vitamin C deficiency. Vitamin C is essential for strong ligaments, tendons and bones. So, a vitamin C deficiency is a possible mechanism for people with back pain. ~ Dr. Broussard
Serum vitamin C and spinal pain: A nationwide study
Pain — Dionne C, et al. | November 01, 2016
In this study, suboptimal serum vitamin C concentrations appeared to be associated with the prevalence of neck pain, low back pain, and low back pain with pain below knee, self–reported diagnosis of arthritis/rheumatism, and related functional limitations’ score. Authors recommend further investigation to determine the possible importance of vitamin C in the treatment of back pain patients.
- As per observations back pain brings about one of the heaviest burden of disease.
- This condition remains poorly understood, and effective treatments are frustratingly elusive inspite of much research.
- Researchers in the field need to consider new hypotheses.
- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is observed to be an essential cofactor for collagen crosslinks, a key determinant of ligament, tendon, and bone quality.
- As per recent studies high frequency of hypovitaminosis C is evident in the general population.
- In this study, the researchers hypothesized that lack of vitamin C contributes to poor collagen properties and back pain.
- This study was conducted to examine the associations between serum concentration of vitamin C and the prevalence of spinal pain and related functional limitations in the adult general population.
- Nationwide cross-sectional data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003–2004 was utilized for this study.
- In this study, data were available for 4742 individuals aged ≥ 20 years.
- As per observations, suboptimal serum vitamin C concentrations appeared to be associated with the prevalence of neck pain (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2-2.0), low back pain (aOR: 1.3; 95% CI: 1.0-1.6), and low back pain with pain below knee (aOR: 1.3; 95% CI: 1.0-1.9) in the past 3 months, self-reported diagnosis of arthritis/rheumatism (aOR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.2-1.7), and related functional limitations’ score (adjusted difference of means [aB]: 0.03; 95% CI: 0.00-0.05).
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