MS is a condition that affects nerve cells in the brain.
In multiple sclerosis, cells in the immune system attack the nerves, causing a breakdown in the myelin sheath that surrounds and insulates a nerve cell in the brain and spinal cord. Many of the B vitamins are essential to nerve function and formation, and MS patients should be sure to get the minimum recommended amounts each day to prevent deficiency.
Vitamin B12
B12 is essential for proper nerve function, and some studies have shown that MS patients have a higher rate of being deficient in the vitamin. B12 deficiency can lead to destruction of the myelin sheath of the nerve cell, and a B-12 deficiency can mimic some of the symptoms of MS, aggravating the condition.
Folate
Folate and B12 work together, and some neurological symptoms may in fact be a folate deficiency. One small study in the Journal of Neurology found that folate levels can be reduced by corticosteroid treatments used in MS.
Niacine (B3)
A 2006 study at the Children's Hospital in Boston niacinamide, also called vitamin B3, prevented myelin damage in mice and improved the function of those nerve cells that were already demyelineated.
Pyridoxine (B6)
Vitamin B6 is required for myelin formation, and the vitamin is also necessary in the production of neurotransmitters. Along with the other B vitamins, B6 is important for the conversion of carbohydrates into energy, fighting the fatigue associated with MS symptoms.
Riboflavin (B2)
Riboflavin works to convert other B vitamins into their active form, such as niacin and B6. Riboflavin deficiency has been associated with multiple sclerosis, and nerve related symptoms include numbness and tingling of hands and feet.
Thiamine (B1)
Thiamine aids the nervous system and is essential for the transmission of some nerve signals between the brain and the spinal cord. Severe deficiency can lead to serious complications in the brain and central nervous system, causing nerve tingling, burning sensation and numbness, and fatigue.
Tags: associated with, brain spinal, brain spinal cord, deficiency lead, found that, multiple sclerosis, myelin sheath