Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin B12
For the health condition: Nerve Damage

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 4

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is scientifically validated for the support and treatment of certain types of nerve damage, particularly those associated with B12 deficiency. B12 is essential for the normal functioning of the nervous system, as it is involved in the synthesis of myelin, the protective sheath surrounding nerves. Deficiency in vitamin B12 can lead to demyelination, resulting in neuropathy with symptoms such as numbness, tingling, and weakness, especially in the hands and feet.

Numerous clinical studies and case reports have demonstrated that B12 supplementation can reverse or halt the progression of neurological symptoms in individuals with B12 deficiency. For example, a 2012 review in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry emphasizes that prompt B12 replacement can lead to significant improvement in neuropathic symptoms, particularly when treatment is started early. B12 is also used as part of the management of peripheral neuropathy in individuals with diabetes, though evidence for benefit in non-deficient populations is less robust.

While B12 supplementation is clearly effective in cases of deficiency-induced nerve damage, evidence for its benefit in nerve damage unrelated to deficiency is less consistent. Nonetheless, its use is standard medical practice when B12 deficiency is identified, making it a scientifically justified intervention for nerve damage arising from this specific cause.

More about vitamin B12
More about Nerve Damage