kebaldwin
Thu, Jul-12-07, 13:44
Nutritional Support for Healthy Nerves
July 12, 2007 - Your nervous system is responsible for sending, receiving and processing nerve impulses throughout your body. Optimal nerve function is important to many areas of health, including cardiovascular, muscle and joint, respiratory, vision and hearing and more. To keep your nerves healthy, your body requires proper nutrition, including adequate amounts of vitamin B12. Recent studies suggest that benfotiamine, a B vitamin, along with antioxidant alpha lipoic acid, may also help support nerve function.
Last week's newsletter dealt with leg pain from poor circulation. This week I'd like to continue the discussion of pain in the feet and legs, however not on the basis of poor circulation, but rather on the basis of poor nerve function.
As a neurologist, I see multiple patients every week in my office complaining of burning and numbness in their feet and legs. On many occasions, it's related to metabolic factors, such as elevated blood sugar, toxins, etc. Treatment options for poor peripheral nerve function is generally quite limited and usually takes the form of giving medication to mask symptoms rather than treating the underlying process.
In the June 2007 edition of the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, a Dr. Varkonyi from Hungary discusses new strategies for improving nerve function caused by elevated blood sugar1. Dr. Varkonyi indicates that, based on efficacy and safety data, benfotiamine and alpha lipoic acid should be considered the first choices for poor nerve health caused by elevated blood sugar.
Benfotiamine is a special form of vitamin B1 which several clinical trials have indicated shows efficacy for poor peripheral nerve function. Alpha lipoic acid, which I've discussed on many occasions, is an incredible nutrient that has nerve regenerative capability. For my typical patients suffering with poor peripheral nerve function, I usually recommend alpha lipoic acid 300 mg to 600 mg twice a day along with acetyl-L-carnitine 500 mg to 1,000 mg twice a day, and benfotiamine at 150 mg twice daily. I have observed very good results in many patients who follow this advice.
In an article published in the July 2007 Journal of Nutrition, researchers investigated the association of various vitamins and nutrients and risk of developing abnormal cellular growth in the colon and rectal area2. A total of 81,000 middle aged Japanese men and women were studied prospectively from 1995 to the end of 2002. It was found that increased vitamin B6 intake had a statistically significant benefit on males participating in the study, with the highest intake being associated with a 31% reduction in abnormal cellular growth of the colon/rectal area compared to those with the lowest intake of B6.
In the July 2007 Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Dr. Gilbody and his team from Great Britain reviewed 11 studies regarding association of folate levels and poor mood3. The studies involved about 15,000 adults, of whom over 1,700 had poor mood. It was found that those individuals with lowest folate levels had up to a 55% increased risk of developing poor mood. Dr. Gilbody indicated that, although the research does n't prove that low folate causes poor mood, we can now be sure that the two are linked.
I came across a particularly interesting study just published in the July 2007 American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine4. The study involved 192 healthy adults who had contact with a certain bacteria. The participants were randomized to receive a single oral dose of 2.5 mg of vitamin D or placebo and then followed for six weeks. It was found that those who received vitamin D had significantly enhanced immunity for this bacteria compared to placebo.
In another vitamin D study published in the September 2007 Cancer Causes Control, 34,000 post-menopausal women who'd completed a questionnaire regarding diet and supplement use were followed for 18 years5. The study looked at cellular growth within the breast. It was found that women who indicated they consumed more than 800 IU a day of vitamin D appeared to have a small decrease in risk of developing abnormal cellular growth within the breast.
I always close this newsletter by making specific recommendations. As you know, Nutraceutical Sciences Institute® (NSI®) is the flagship brand of Vitacost.com and for good reason. NSI® products are formulated using the most optimal doses and forms of nutrients to increase the likelihood of a positive response. Just go online and read some of the product reviews from our customers and you'll be a believer. All of the products I've discussed have a 4.7 to 5 star review out of 5 possible stars for value, quality, effectiveness and satisfaction.
For those of you suffering with poor peripheral nerve health, I'd strongly recommend benfotiamine along with alpha lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carinitine. CoQ10 is also a great nutrient for promoting healthy nervous system function along with cardiovascular health.
1. Varkonyi T, Kempler P. Diabetic neuropathy: new strategies for treatment. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2007 Jun 26; [Epub ahead of print].
2. Ishihara J, Otani T, Inoue M, Iwasaki M, et al. Low Intake of Vitamin B-6 Is Associated with Increased Risk of Colorectal Cancer in Japanese Men. J Nutr. 2007 Jul;137(7):1808-1814.
3. Gilbody S, Lightfoot T, Sheldon T. Is low folate a risk factor for depression? A meta-analysis and exploration of heterogeneity. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2007 Jul;61(7):631-7.
4. Martineau AR, Wilkinson RJ, Wilkinson KA, Newton SM, Kampmann B, et al. A single dose of vitamin d enhances immunity to mycobacteria. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2007 Jul 15;176(2):208-13.
5. Robien K, Cutler GJ, Lazovich D. Vitamin D intake and breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women: the Iowa Women's Health Study. Cancer Causes Control. 2007 Sep;18(7):775-82.
http://www.vitacost.com/newsletter/newsletter.cfm?nl=337&csrc=EM-FYH20070712:main
July 12, 2007 - Your nervous system is responsible for sending, receiving and processing nerve impulses throughout your body. Optimal nerve function is important to many areas of health, including cardiovascular, muscle and joint, respiratory, vision and hearing and more. To keep your nerves healthy, your body requires proper nutrition, including adequate amounts of vitamin B12. Recent studies suggest that benfotiamine, a B vitamin, along with antioxidant alpha lipoic acid, may also help support nerve function.
Last week's newsletter dealt with leg pain from poor circulation. This week I'd like to continue the discussion of pain in the feet and legs, however not on the basis of poor circulation, but rather on the basis of poor nerve function.
As a neurologist, I see multiple patients every week in my office complaining of burning and numbness in their feet and legs. On many occasions, it's related to metabolic factors, such as elevated blood sugar, toxins, etc. Treatment options for poor peripheral nerve function is generally quite limited and usually takes the form of giving medication to mask symptoms rather than treating the underlying process.
In the June 2007 edition of the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, a Dr. Varkonyi from Hungary discusses new strategies for improving nerve function caused by elevated blood sugar1. Dr. Varkonyi indicates that, based on efficacy and safety data, benfotiamine and alpha lipoic acid should be considered the first choices for poor nerve health caused by elevated blood sugar.
Benfotiamine is a special form of vitamin B1 which several clinical trials have indicated shows efficacy for poor peripheral nerve function. Alpha lipoic acid, which I've discussed on many occasions, is an incredible nutrient that has nerve regenerative capability. For my typical patients suffering with poor peripheral nerve function, I usually recommend alpha lipoic acid 300 mg to 600 mg twice a day along with acetyl-L-carnitine 500 mg to 1,000 mg twice a day, and benfotiamine at 150 mg twice daily. I have observed very good results in many patients who follow this advice.
In an article published in the July 2007 Journal of Nutrition, researchers investigated the association of various vitamins and nutrients and risk of developing abnormal cellular growth in the colon and rectal area2. A total of 81,000 middle aged Japanese men and women were studied prospectively from 1995 to the end of 2002. It was found that increased vitamin B6 intake had a statistically significant benefit on males participating in the study, with the highest intake being associated with a 31% reduction in abnormal cellular growth of the colon/rectal area compared to those with the lowest intake of B6.
In the July 2007 Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Dr. Gilbody and his team from Great Britain reviewed 11 studies regarding association of folate levels and poor mood3. The studies involved about 15,000 adults, of whom over 1,700 had poor mood. It was found that those individuals with lowest folate levels had up to a 55% increased risk of developing poor mood. Dr. Gilbody indicated that, although the research does n't prove that low folate causes poor mood, we can now be sure that the two are linked.
I came across a particularly interesting study just published in the July 2007 American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine4. The study involved 192 healthy adults who had contact with a certain bacteria. The participants were randomized to receive a single oral dose of 2.5 mg of vitamin D or placebo and then followed for six weeks. It was found that those who received vitamin D had significantly enhanced immunity for this bacteria compared to placebo.
In another vitamin D study published in the September 2007 Cancer Causes Control, 34,000 post-menopausal women who'd completed a questionnaire regarding diet and supplement use were followed for 18 years5. The study looked at cellular growth within the breast. It was found that women who indicated they consumed more than 800 IU a day of vitamin D appeared to have a small decrease in risk of developing abnormal cellular growth within the breast.
I always close this newsletter by making specific recommendations. As you know, Nutraceutical Sciences Institute® (NSI®) is the flagship brand of Vitacost.com and for good reason. NSI® products are formulated using the most optimal doses and forms of nutrients to increase the likelihood of a positive response. Just go online and read some of the product reviews from our customers and you'll be a believer. All of the products I've discussed have a 4.7 to 5 star review out of 5 possible stars for value, quality, effectiveness and satisfaction.
For those of you suffering with poor peripheral nerve health, I'd strongly recommend benfotiamine along with alpha lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carinitine. CoQ10 is also a great nutrient for promoting healthy nervous system function along with cardiovascular health.
1. Varkonyi T, Kempler P. Diabetic neuropathy: new strategies for treatment. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2007 Jun 26; [Epub ahead of print].
2. Ishihara J, Otani T, Inoue M, Iwasaki M, et al. Low Intake of Vitamin B-6 Is Associated with Increased Risk of Colorectal Cancer in Japanese Men. J Nutr. 2007 Jul;137(7):1808-1814.
3. Gilbody S, Lightfoot T, Sheldon T. Is low folate a risk factor for depression? A meta-analysis and exploration of heterogeneity. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2007 Jul;61(7):631-7.
4. Martineau AR, Wilkinson RJ, Wilkinson KA, Newton SM, Kampmann B, et al. A single dose of vitamin d enhances immunity to mycobacteria. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2007 Jul 15;176(2):208-13.
5. Robien K, Cutler GJ, Lazovich D. Vitamin D intake and breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women: the Iowa Women's Health Study. Cancer Causes Control. 2007 Sep;18(7):775-82.
http://www.vitacost.com/newsletter/newsletter.cfm?nl=337&csrc=EM-FYH20070712:main