Know Your Nutrients for Treating Neuropathy

Knowing the most beneficial nutrients for a particular condition can be confusing. After all there are literally thousands of claims ranging from growing hair to improving your sex life. How do you know which claims are our based in scientific fact? Fortunately there are great resources on the internet that help guide you through the nutritional maze. WebMD, Wikipedia and Mayoclinic.com are just a few excellent websites.  As a neuropathy specialist, practicing in Orange County, Ca, for the past 35 years, I take nutritional supplements very seriously as a viable means of treating peripheral neuropathy. In almost all cases, neuropathy cannot be cured; however a sensible approach using certain vitamins and supplements has been shown to be effective, in some instances in helping to reduce neuropathy symptoms.  The following are some of the most beneficial nutrients used in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy:

 

Alpha Lipoic Acid:
Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is a potent antioxidant. In at least 15 independent clinical trials, including a study at the Mayo Clinic, ALA has been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms associated with diabetic neuropathy. I also recommended it for non-diabetic neuropathy as an antioxidant it has been shown to have reparative qualities.


Methylcobalamin and Vitamin B12:
Mehthylcobalamin is the active form of B12. In experimental models, Vitamin B12 has been shown to increase nerve regeneration Vitamin B12 has excellent tolerability and no known toxicity.


Multi-B-vitamins:
Considering that the vitamin group affects many aspects of cell metabolism and therefore healthy nerve functioning, it may be more effective to supplement the entire group of B vitamins. Studies have shown that a combination of B1, B6  and B12 has been shown to be effective in reducing the severity and duration of neuropathic pain.


Acetyl- L-Carnitine:
Acetly-l-carnitine, also known as L-carnitine or Carnitine is an amino acid-like compound. Carnitine helps in the metabolism of fat in the body. Carnitine levels have been shown to be lower in people with diabetic neuropathy. Cartnitine given as a nutritional supplement has been to be beneficial for a number of neuropathies

 

Ways to obtain nutrients for neuropathy:
Nutritional products that contain the essential vitamins and supplements for peripheral neuropathy.

Nerve Health Essential Nutrients:
is an over-the-counter nerve formulation that contains 30 individually packets with the above listed nutrients in each packet.

Metanx:
is a prescription medical food approved by the FDA for diabetic neuropathy. Metanx contains vitamins B6 and B12 and an active form of folic acid called L-methyl- folate.

Purchasing individual bottles of each nutrient listed above.You May purchase the Nerve Health Essential Nutrients and the Alpha Lipoic Acid Here on our website, the other  vitamins are readily available in pharmacies and health food stores.