Treating Neuropathy With Some Vitamin B

Peripheral neuropathy, which is damage to nerves in hands and feet, can caused tingling, pain and numbness. Manufactures of a high-dose vitamin B supplement, Metanx, claim that this supplement can alleviate pain and improve sensations. In clinical studies it is found that Metanx has alleviated pain and relieved symptoms. The company states, "Metanx works by helping to boost the production of nitric oxide, which opens blood vessels and improves blood flow to peripheral nerves."

In this article it was reported in a study done for 20 weeks that patients who received Metanx and the others who received acetaminophen. 35% of the patients who took Metanx found a reduction in neuropathic pain and 12% found in those taking acetaminophen. This was not a blind study and it consisted of 97 patients who knew what supplement they were getting. A larger double blind study is underway right now.

If it is found that vitamin B helps in treating or preventing neuropathy it could be a big help for people that suffer from this disease. Diabetics are susceptible because of their poor blood supply to the extremities. I am interested to see what this larger study has to reveal about increased amounts of vitamin B.

The Wall Street Journal October 21, 2008

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122453878192251677.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Vitamin B and Breast Cancer

This study looked at plasma folate, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, homocysteine, and risk of breast cancer. They used 712 breast cancer patients and 712 individually matched control subjects. They used a food questioner to determine dietary intake. In this prospective control study they took blood samples to measure plasma levels. Higher plasma folate levels were associated with lower risk of breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer were strong among women who consumed moderate amounts of alcohol. There was an inverse association between plasma vitamin B6 levels and risk of breast cancer was stronger in postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women. Of those premenopausal women who had high levels of vitamin B12 they were associated with low risk of developing breast cancer. The plasma homocysteine was not associated with risk of breast cancer among premenopausal or postmenopausal.

I found it very interesting that postmenapausal women were not as effected by low levels of vitamin B12 in association with risk for developing breast cancer. As the female body goes through changes as it ages hormone levels fluctuate. I wonder if this has something to do with vitamin B12. I do believe that it has a relationship with developing breast cancer.

Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 95, No. 5, 373-380, March 5, 2003© 2003 Oxford University Press

http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/95/5/373

B vitamins no help in slowing Alzheimer's: study

In a recent study done looking at Alzheimer's patients their was no coloration in slowing the effect of Alzheimer's with a high intake of vitamin B. It was an 18 month study and they found that those that did take the vitamin had lower homocysteine levels, but their cognitive test scores for memory and language didn't improve much, compared with those who took placebos. There were 340 participants who were involved in the trial, 202 took high-dose supplements and the rest took placebos. It was noted that "vitamin supplements are meant to maintain health, not to prevent or treat disease."