Vitamins for Tendons

Tendons are soft, connective tissues that attach muscles to bones. Ensuring you keep optimal tendon health is important to prevent tendinitis, a condition characterized by swelling, tenderness and restricted limb movements. The wrists, elbows, ankles, knees and shoulders are particularly susceptible to tendinitis. Certain vitamins can reduce the risk and may even alleviate the symptoms of tendinitis. Make sure you are consuming enough of these vitamins by eating a variety of foods or supplementing your diet with vitamins.

Vitamin E

• Vitamin E plays a function in building new tissue cells in the body and helps maintain and repair damaged connective tissue such as tendons. Vitamin E is a natural anti-inflammatory, helping to reduce swelling around a joint caused by tendon injuries. In addition, vitamin E's antioxidant properties could prevent harm occurring to connective tissue caused by free radical damage.

Vitamin C

• Vitamin C is a key player in strengthening the body's immune system, protecting tendons from viruses or bacterial infection. In addition, vitamin C features anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and helps maintain healthy connective tissue and repairs it following injury.

Vitamin A

• Vitamin A also plays a role in boosting immune function and is a strong antioxidant, helping to maintain and repair connective tissue. The University of Maryland recognizes that vitamin A assists the healing of tendinitis.

Sources of Vitamins E, C and A

• Cooking oils are a rich source of vitamin E. Sunflower oil, cottonseed oil and rapeseed oil contain 49 mg, 43 mg and 22 mg of vitamin E respectively per 100 grams. Other food sources are nuts and seeds, sweet potatoes and eggs.

  Rose hip extract contains over 1,000 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams. Citrus fruits and leafy green vegetables contain vitamin C.

  Liver is the richest food-source of vitamin A, containing 28,000 mcg per 100 grams. Carrots, sweet potatoes and leafy greens are also a good source of vitamin A.