Treat Peripheral Neuropathy With Thiamine

Neuropathy or peripheral neuropathy is a medical term signifying damage to the peripheral nervous system. Patients with this type of disease experience pain, numbness, or weakness of the hands and feet. Pain is usually referred to as a tingling or burning sensation, while numbness is described as wearing of a glove.

There are several causes that can damage the peripheral nerves like an infection, direct physical injury to the nerve or trauma, toxins and metabolic problems, but the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy is diabetes.

The nervous system is composed of two parts. The central nervous system, which is composed of the brain and spinal cord, and the rest of the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord are the peripheral nerves. Peripheral nerve damage affects the nerves that receive feelings like pain, heat or touch. It also affects the nerves that are responsible for muscle movement causing muscle weakness.

Typically, the first nerves affected by peripheral neuropathy are the long nerves, a good example are the nerves going to the tip of the toes. Symptoms differ depending on which type of nerves are affected. The signs and symptoms are: Slow onset of tingling and numbness of the feet or hands, burning pain, sharp jabbing pain, sensitivity to touch, lack of coordination and weakness or paralysis of the foot or arm. 

With the right neuropathy supplement, peripheral neuropathy can be treated and the symptoms can improve with time, especially if the underlying condition is treatable. Usually, a patient can improve his or her neurologic function with thiamine intake.

Thiamine or vitamin B1 is part of the B-complex water soluble vitamins. Thiamine has numerous roles in the body. It helps carry electrolytes to travel in and out of the muscle and nervous cells, ensuring proper functioning of the muscles and nervous system. So it is important to take thiamine daily to counter the effects of peripheral neuropathy.

 

Thiamine Deficiency and Treatments

Thiamine Deficiency, also called Beriberi, is a condition where the body does not meet the minimum requirement thiamine. This occurs due to insufficient consumption of thiamine or due to lack of absorption of thiamine especially for patients who underwent gastrectomy.

There are two types of thiamine deficiency. One that affects the cardiovascular system is called wet beriberi. While the type that affects the nervous system is called dry beriberi.

In the United States, thiamine deficiency is rare since foods are now vitamin enriched. Only those who are heavy drinkers may develop symptoms of beriberi. Increased alcohol intake makes it difficult for the body to properly absorb thiamine. In worst cases, permanent brain damage can occur called Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.

Patients who take diuretics or had undergone dialysis can develop beriberi. Infants with asymptomatic mothers who have beriberi can develop infantile beriberi since the milk produced by the mother does not contain or lack thiamine.

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of dry beriberi are: loss of sensation on feet and hands, paralysis of the lower leg, difficulty walking, confusion, back and forth eye movement (nystagmus), lack of concentration and confusion, difficulty talking, pain, vomiting and tingling sensations.

Dry beriberi symptoms affect mostly the heart: shortness of breath at night that cause the patient to awaken suddenly, shortness of breath after mild activity, palpitations, edema of the lower extremities.

Treatment

Treating this type of deficiency isn’t difficult. By simply correcting the levels of thiamine and maintain it will relieve all symptoms. This could be done by oral supplements or injection of thiamine. After administration, a blood test is usually done to test how a patient responds to the medication.

Prevention

Eating foods rich in thiamine like oat meal, eggs, liver, potatoes, oranges, flax and sunflower seeds. Daily vitamin supplements are also an excellent source of thiamine.  Stop drinking alcohol. Raw meat from fresh water fish and shellfish contain thiaminase. Thiaminase is a enzyme that breakdown thiamine. It is advised to cook fish and shellfish thoroughly.