While most treatments for peripheral neuropathy aim to relieve pain, they don’t necessarily help heal the nerves.
However, a new study published in the Journal of Clinical & Experimental Pharmacology reveals how three common vitamins can improve this condition up to 92.3%
Best of all, they’re dirt cheap and found in all supermarkets.
The study constituted an observation of 411 patients with mild to moderate neuropathy.
They were given a 100 mg daily dose each of vitamins B1 and B6, and 5 mg of vitamin B12, in the form of a tablet for a period of 90 days.
The goal was to see if this combination could not only ease symptoms but also improve the health and function of the nerves.
They were assessed at the beginning of the study and then again after 14, 30, 60, and 90 days. The assessments were thorough, covering 51 different neurological examinations to track any changes in nerve health and function.
Their findings were promising.
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1. For those with no reflexes at the start, significant improvements were seen: 67.6% for the left ankle, 54.3% for the right ankle, 92.3% for the left knee, and 75% for the right knee.
2. The strength of ankle dorsiflexion, which refers to the ability to pull the foot upwards, improved in nearly all patients, rising from 86% at the start to 97% by the end of the study.
3. Sensory functions in the fingers and toes showed significant improvement, with participants reporting more feeling and less numbness in these digits.
4. Those who had the most severe sensory issues at the beginning of the study saw the greatest improvements.
The improvement in reflexes and strength especially is a strong indicator of nerve recovery, rather than of just treating the symptoms.
So, what makes this combination of vitamins B1, B6, and B12 so effective? Each of these vitamins plays a crucial role in nerve health, according to the studies reviewed by the authors.
Vitamin B1, or thiamine, helps in energy production for nerve cells.
Vitamin B6 is essential for creating neurotransmitters and protecting cells from oxidative damage.
Vitamin B12 aids in nerve regeneration, maintenance of the protective myelin sheaths around nerves, and overall nerve survival.
These results are exciting because they suggest that a simple vitamin regimen could not only ease the discomfort of neuropathy but actually help heal the nerves.
Since you don’t have access to the tablets they tested, you will have to buy the three supplements separately and try to take 100 mg each of vitamins B1 and B6 and 5 mg of vitamin B12 every day for at least 90 days.