Do Dietary Factors Influence Tendon Metabolism?

There is very little direct research to conclusively prove the relevance of diet in primary tendinopathies, however it seems prudent to ask whether our current knowledge about the impact of nutrition on collagen metabolism could be useful in assessing, preventing, or treating tendinopathy. The objective of this chapter is to discuss the potential impact (negative or positive) that nutrition may have on the metabolism of tendons by summarizing the related research. The chapter briefly discusses the roles that specific vitamins, amino acids, lipids, and antioxidants have in various processes of the body that may be directly or indirectly related to tenocyte metabolism.