Neuropathy caused by a vitamin deficiency

There are a lot of things that can trigger neuropathy, including diabetes and cancer treatments.

According to a new study published in the journal Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, one of the most common triggers and the easiest to reverse may be a specific vitamin deficiency.

Best of all, this vitamin is cheap and available in all supermarkets.

The research team, led by the Department of Endocrinology at Beijing Hospital, analyzed the data of 257 type 2 diabetes patients with an average age of 67.

They ensured that all their subjects were similar on age, sex, and diabetes duration. This helps ensure any differences seen are more likely due to vitamin D levels, not other variables.

They then compared patients with and without vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as having 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels below 20 ng/ml in the blood.

They also checked the damage to both large and small nerve fibers to see whether a lack of vitamin D caused harm.

The study yielded several key discoveries:

1. On average, patients with neuropathy had lower 25(OH)D levels compared to those without this condition (15.05 vs. 18.4 ng/ml.)

2. Vitamin D deficiency was more common in those with neuropathy than in those without (80.4 vs. 63.9% of them).

3. People with low vitamin D levels had longer nerve conduction and latency time, which suggests the signals were traveling slower through damaged nerves.

4. Vitamin D deficiency was more likely to affect large nerve fibers, with small fibers seemingly remaining unaffected.

Therefore, vitamin D deficiency is linked with a higher risk of developing diabetic peripheral neuropathy, mainly by damaging large nerve fibers.

In fact, since the study didn’t use the “gold standard” test for small nerve damage (a skin biopsy), it is still possible that small nerve fibers are also damaged.

These findings suggest that the maintenance of healthy vitamin D levels is beneficial for people with diabetes. And probably even if you don’t suffer from diabetes.

So, how can you do that?

Sunlight is the best source of vitamin D. When your skin is exposed to the sun, it produces vitamin D naturally. Spending about 30 minutes in the sun several times a week can help maintain adequate levels.

You must remember that obesity, smoking, and excessive alcohol intake can reduce your body’s ability to make vitamin D.

If you live in a cloudy region, it is possible to eat enough foods rich in vitamin D to maintain adequate levels. These include fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, and sardines), fish liver oils, egg yolks, and foods that are fortified like some milk, orange juice, and cereals.

Supplements of 15 mcg (or 600 IU) are also appropriate, but you should avoid excessive intake.

Most importantly, neuropathy can be healed naturally. Thousands of readers have done just that using the simple lifestyle changes explained here…

And to reverse type 2 diabetes, take the three simple steps explained here…