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Multiple Sclerosis Blog

By Julie Stachowiak, Ph.D., About.com Guide to Multiple Sclerosis

Vitamin B12 and Multiple Sclerosis

Wednesday May 14, 2008
I get a lot of questions concerning diet and supplements and their effects on multiple sclerosis (MS). Some "experts" claim the cure to MS lies within the the things we put in our bodies, while others say this is nonsense. It is not as black and white as either side makes it seem. I decided to start one supplement at a time to answer these questions...

As it turns out, people with MS are at higher risk of vitamin B12 deficiency. Low levels of vitamin B12 can mimic and exacerbate many MS symptoms, including fatigue, depression and memory loss. While there really isn't much evidence that B12 has a direct impact on the MS disease process itself, the fact is that many of us with MS don't seem to process B12 efficiently and simply need more - otherwise, the effects are very similar to MS progression (if that makes sense).

Treatment for vitamin B12 deficiency is simple, involving oral supplements or intramuscular injections.

Read the full article: Vitamin B12 and Multiple Sclerosis

Comments

May 15, 2008 at 6:13 pm
(1) Czes Kulvis says:

Is it possible? The more B-12 you get the less MS (symptoms) you have.

That way all MS patients will heal their MS - or get B-12 overdose.

Probably vitamin B-12 is involved in immune system activity, so it is good to have some extra supplementation.

But:

- is it B-12 crucial?
- isn’t it part of more wide (deep) malnutrition?

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