What supplements or vitamins are recommended for patellar tendinopathy?

Supplements and Vitamins for Patellar Tendinopathy

Vitamin C-enriched gelatin and collagen peptides are the most effective supplements for patellar tendinopathy, with turmeric/curcumin and ginger extract providing additional anti-inflammatory benefits as adjuncts to eccentric exercise therapy. 1

First-Line Supplement Recommendations

Vitamin C-Enriched Gelatin

• This is the single most effective supplement for tendon repair, identified as a novel strategy specifically for tendinosis management by the British Journal of Sports Medicine 1
• Should be taken consistently throughout the entire rehabilitation period 1

Collagen Peptides

• Directly support tendon healing and augment tendon hypertrophy during training, as demonstrated in British Journal of Sports Medicine research 1
• Work synergistically with exercise therapy to enhance collagen fiber alignment and strength 1

Turmeric/Curcumin

• Provides significant anti-inflammatory, pain-reducing (antialgic), and antioxidant effects specifically for tendinopathies 1
• The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons supports its use for tendon conditions 1

Ginger Extract

• May help reduce pain and improve function in mild-to-moderate tendinopathies 1
• Recommended by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons as an adjunctive treatment 1

Critical Nutritional Support During Rehabilitation

Protein Intake

• Maintain at least 1.6 g/kg body mass daily during rehabilitation to prevent muscle loss and support tendon healing 1
• This is essential because tissue recovery processes have high metabolic demands 1

Energy Intake

• Avoid drastic caloric reductions during rehabilitation despite the temptation to reduce activity-related energy needs 1
• The metabolic cost of tissue repair is substantial and requires adequate fuel 1

Integration with Primary Treatment

Supplements work best as an adjunct to eccentric strengthening exercises, not as standalone therapy 1. The evidence hierarchy for patellar tendinopathy treatment shows:

• Eccentric exercise is the cornerstone of treatment with strong evidence supporting its use 2, 3
• Multiple PRP injections show the best long-term results (≥6 months) when conservative measures fail 4
• Supplements enhance but do not replace the mechanical loading stimulus needed for tendon remodeling 1

What NOT to Use

Glucosamine and Chondroitin

• The AAOS guidelines for knee osteoarthritis found inconsistent evidence for dietary supplements including glucosamine and chondroitin 5
• While this guideline addresses osteoarthritis rather than tendinopathy specifically, the lack of reproducibility and FDA oversight limits their recommendation 5

Vitamin D

• Despite evaluation in the AAOS osteoarthritis guidelines, vitamin D showed either minimal improvement or no change in outcomes 5
• No specific evidence supports vitamin D supplementation for patellar tendinopathy

Expected Timeline and Prognosis

• Approximately 80% of patients with patellar tendinopathy recover completely within 3-6 months with appropriate conservative treatment including supplements and exercise 1
• Supplements should be continued throughout this entire rehabilitation period for optimal benefit 1

Critical Pitfalls to Avoid

• Never rely on supplements alone without eccentric exercise therapy - they are adjunctive treatments only 1
• Do not expect immediate results; tendon healing requires consistent supplementation over months 1
• Avoid corticosteroid injections as they provide only short-term pain relief while increasing tendon rupture risk 6