Avitamin B12 deficiencycan cause neurological symptoms thatmimicthose ofmultiple sclerosis(MS).
Symptoms of both conditions include muscle weakness, difficulty walking, cognitive dysfunction, and sensory disturbances.
Researchers are looking into whether there is a definitive link between B12 deficiency and multiple sclerosis.
Illustration by Hilary Allison for Verywell Health
This article discusses how vitamin B12 can affect your nervous system and whether it can help manage MS.
It also covers the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency and what can cause it.
MS is also a disease that affects the myelin sheath of the nerves in the brain and spinal cord.
Myelin Sheath and the Role It Plays in MS
Can B12 Help Manage MS?
This doesn’t mean, however, that there’s a link between B12 deficiency and multiple sclerosis.
The other subjects got a daily placebo tablet and shot.
(When levels of homocysteine are high, it may be a sign of a vitamin deficiency.)
More importantly, the supplement group had an improvement in both physical and mental quality of life.
(The placebo group also had significant improvement in mental quality of life.)
However, it clearly is an indication that more research is needed.
These metabolic substances are both elevated in vitamin B12 deficiency.
Therecommended dietary allowanceof vitamin B12 for teens and adults 14 and up is 2.4 mcg.
Having your levels checked is easy.
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Johns Hopkins Medicine.Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia.
doi:10.1093/advances/nmy023
National Library of Medicine.Malabsorption Syndromes.
2017 Nov 15;8(11):464-474. doi:10.4239/wjd.v8.i11.464
The Trustees of the University of Maryland.Pernicious Anemia.
Multiple Sclerosis Trust.Vitamin B12.
2018;33(5):1393-1399. doi: 10.1007/s11011-018-0224-4
