Neuropathy and Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Neuropathy is a general term used for any of the nerve disorder.



Most of the nerve disorders are associated with paralysis and severe weakness. Nerve disorders are broadly classified as peripheral neuropathy and autonomic neuropathy.



Peripheral neuropathy is a nerve disorder that involves damage to the peripheral nerve whereas autonomic neuropathy involves damage to nerves belonging to the central nervous system, a system that controls the basic functions of the human body.

Nerve damage occurs as a result of degeneration of outer sheathing or myelin of nerve. The principal causes of neuropathy are vitamin deficiency, heredity, diabetes, nerve compression, physical trauma, vascular disorder, use of medications, exposure to toxic substances, radiation therapy and chemo therapy.



All these factors tend to reduce the oxygen transportation to the nerves, and this deprivation of oxygen leads to nerve damage or disorder.

Vitamin B12 is the most essential nutrient for the nervous system.



A deficiency of this vitamin can lead to peripheral neuropathy, nerve disorder that results in faulty communication between brain and spinal cord. Deficiency of Vitamin B12 is a result of inadequate diet, strict vegetarian diet, inability of stomach acids to help in absorption, use of drugs and certain other health ailments like pancreatic disease, autoimmune disease and pernicious anemia.

This deficiency results in damage of myelin sheath covering the nerves and hampers the normal functioning of the nerves that work as a vital communication gateway between brain and the spinal cord. Individuals suffering from Vitamin B12 neuropathy show signs of weakness, twitching, pain, numbness, muscle cramps, burning and tingling.



These symptoms greatly depend on whether the nerves damaged are motor, sensory or autonomic. If motor nerves are damaged, the symptoms include muscle weakness, painful cramps and bone degeneration whereas damage to sensory nerves show signs of numbness and over sensitized skin. Symptoms of autonomic nerve damage depend on the organs affected. The most common symptoms include inability to sweat, loss of bladder control, loss of muscle control and gastrointestinal symptoms including diarrhea, constipation and incontinence.

Vitamin E and Vitamin B6 also play a vital role in regulating the normal functions of the nervous system. Deficiency of Vitamin E often leads to neuron degeneration, mainly peripheral axons and posterior column neurons whereas Vitamin B6 deficiency results in faulty nerve cell communication, eventually leading to various neurological conditions.

To prevent neuropathy, vitamin deficiency has to be curbed or treated using various vitamin supplements.