Dear Alice,
Great site which I wasn't aware of when I graduated from SIPA back in '95.
I have had spinal cord surgery for removal of a tumor. Now, a year later in continuing rehab, are there any vitamins, supplements, specific foods I should be eating to rebuild my CNS?
—Columbia Alumnus
Dear Columbia Alumnus,
Several nutrients are important in supporting a healthy central nervous system (CNS). Obtaining them through foods is recommended because there's no evidence that large doses by means of nutritional supplements will speed your recovery. The key nutrients include:
| Nutrient |
Action(s) |
Good Sources |
| vitamin A |
helps maintain nerve cell sheaths |
fortified dairy products |
| beta-carotene (which
is converted to vitamin A) |
helps maintain nerve cell
sheaths |
spinach, dark leafy green vegetables,
broccoli, deep orange fruits and veggies (apricots, cantaloupe, squash,
carrots, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin) |
| thiamin |
supports nervous system function |
pork, ham, liver, whole grains, legumes (beans and peas), nuts |
| niacin |
also supports a healthy nervous system |
milk, eggs, meat, poultry, fish, nuts, whole grain and enriched breads and cereals |
| vitamin B12 |
maintains the sheath that surrounds and protects nerve fibers and promotes their normal growth |
all animal based foods; for vegans, fortified soy milk or yeast grown in a vitamin B12 rich environment are recommended |
| copper |
helps form the protective covering of nerves |
grains, nuts, meats, seeds, some drinking water |
Had you asked your question prior to your surgery, Alice would have offered some additional suggestions. It's shown that good nutrition before a procedure improves the outcome of the trauma the body undergoes. After surgery, eating properly helps in the recovery process. Obtaining adequate calories and protein is vital. Protein is extremely important for recuperation because it's:
- required to form antibodies to fight infections
- vital for synthesizing collagen, which is necessary for scar formation
- utilized to rebuild damaged tissue
- the backbone for repair and maintenance of many crucial tissues in the body
In addition, plasma proteins, formed from dietary proteins, maintain fluid and electrolyte balance.
Other important nutrients specific to wound healing include:
| Nutrient |
Good Sources |
| vitamin C |
citrus fruits, cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, dark green vegetables, cantaloupe, strawberries, peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes, papayas, mangoes |
| zinc |
meat, fish, poultry, beans |
Anyone with post-surgery complications or depleted nutrition stores needs
more calories and protein than s/he did before the procedure, regardless
of his or her weight. A higher caloric intake also increases the need for
B-vitamins. Supplements usually are not necessary since these nutrients
are found in a wide array of foods.
As there are no supplements that can be recommended to enhance recovery,
at this time, get your nutrients from a well-balanced eating plan, rich in
a variety of fruits, veggies, legumes, whole grains, and lean proteins,
such as lean meats and low-fat dairy products.
- Alice
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Nutrition suggestions to promote recovery from surgery
