Is there a Vitamin supplement that repairs torn cartilage?

Answer 1

Torn cartilage repairs itself with time, usually not too long. If you've damaged a ligament while exercising this will be fine. However, repetitive tearing can possibly lead to Arthritis in later years. From the age of about 50 the ability for the body to repair itself is reduced, and this is when the cartilage, as with many other things, will not be repaired properly and arthritis can happen.

There are a couple of treatments which can be beneficial. The main one is DMSO, a natural substance derived from wood bark. DMSO can ease muscle pain, and help in the healing process.

Its cousin, MSM, also helps in much the same way. It can readily be rubbed on the skin, and will sink through, or you can take it in pill form. It provides fast healing from a natural substance. While DMSO is fairly difficult to get (except through the internet), MSM can be found at a health food store.

The most important mineral for cartilage repair is copper. This is because copper is required for lysil oxidase, the enzyme that cross-links connective tissue. It is not so crucial for tendons since they are not likely to rupture because of lack of cross-links. They can stretch though, and this is rather disadvantageous. However for elastin connective tissue it can be disastrous because elastin depends on its strength from the cross links themselves. A deficiency can be lethal because the blood vessels are formed of elastin. It can also be embarrassing because of hemorrhoids. It can be crippling because the spinal discs above the sacroiliac are formed from elastin.