There is a group of nutrients that are essential for our bodies, perform a wide variety of functions, and play a crucial role in the nervous system; these substances are the B vitamins.
There are eight types of vitamin B: Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B7, Vitamin B9, and Vitamin B12, Each one is different, but they all play equally important roles in our bodies.
We mammals cannot synthesize B vitamins on our own; therefore, they must be obtained in sufficient amounts through our diet.
Most B vitamins, with the exception of B12, can be obtained by eating plant-based foods, although they can also be obtained from other food sources such as meat, dairy products, and eggs.
In general, B vitamins play a role in carrying out enzymatic reactions, However, some of these vitamins not only play that role but also have neurospecific functions; they are commonly known as “neurotrophic” B vitamins.
In particular, vitamins B1 (thiamine), B6 (pyridoxine), and B12 (cobalamin) play an essential role in maintaining a healthy nervous system.
Its importance is is a hallmark of many neurological diseases related to deficiencies in one or more of these vitamins, but they may improve certain neurological conditions.
A significant association has been found between cognitive decline and low levels of vitamins B6 and B12.
The problem is that a significant proportion of the population suffers from deficiencies or insufficiencies of one or more of these neurotrophic B vitamins.
Applying this to the context of neurological disorders implies an increase in such conditions as Wernicke’s encephalopathy, depression, beriberi, seizures, subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord, or peripheral neuropathy (PN), which are associated with a deficiency in one or more of these neurotrophic B vitamins.
On the contrary, taking these vitamins can improve certain neurological conditions even in the absence of a deficiency; therefore, several reports view specific supplementation with a combination of vitamins B1, B6, and B12 favorably, as it may help improve neuropathy, motor control, generalized tissue pain, etc.
For these reasons, it’s important to know how your body is doing; a genetic predisposition to a deficiency in any of these vitamins increases your chances of developing one of these neurological disorders. In such cases, a simple test could provide you with a lot of information and help you prevent these conditions and improve your health.
Are you interested in any of our services?