Abstract |
The human aging process is often accompanied by significant increases in degenerative spine disease. The pathophysiology of intervertebral disc degeneration has been extensively studied, but the etiology of this aging-related problem remains poorly understood. The elderly often have lower daily vitamin C intakes and circulating ascorbic acid values than younger people because of problems with poor dentition or mobility, and also are more likely to have underlying sub-clinical diseases that can reduce plasma ascorbate concentrations. Ascorbate is essential for collagen production, and vitamin C deficiency will result in defective connective tissue, including reductions in collagen synthesis and structural stability. It is hypothesised that vitamin C deficiencies may be a key contributing factor in the development of degenerative disk disease ( DDD) in the elderly. Once degenerative disc disease has begun, the tissue inflammation that accompanies DDD may further increase vitamin C requirements in the affected patient, thereby creating a cascade of positive feedbacks that potentially accelerates and contributes to further disc degeneration and low-back pain. Aggressive monitoring of patient ascorbate status, as well as more finely-calibrated RDAs for vitamin C that explicitly take into account the patient's age, may be required if aging-related degenerative disk disease is to be minimised.
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Authors | Val H Smith |
Journal | Medical hypotheses
(Med Hypotheses)
Vol. 74
Issue 4
Pg. 695-7
(Apr 2010)
ISSN: 1532-2777 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 19932568
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)
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Copyright | (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Aged
- Aging
- Ascorbic Acid
(metabolism)
- Ascorbic Acid Deficiency
(metabolism)
- Collagen
(metabolism)
- Extracellular Matrix
(metabolism)
- Humans
- Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
(complications, metabolism)
- Low Back Pain
(complications, etiology)
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