What Nutrients Help with Neuropathy? 6 Must Have Dietary Supplements for Nerve Pain Relief

Your diet plays a major role in your health. What you put in your body has a sometimes-immediate effect on your health and wellbeing. Poor diet has been linked to numerous health conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Poor diet can also lead to nutrient deficiencies that contribute to certain health conditions, such as neuropathy. 

Neuropathy is the result of damaged nerve cells that no longer function properly. Your peripheral nerve cells send messages back and forth between the brain and body. They are in charge of performing conscious and subconscious muscle movements (like breathing) and regulating your senses. 

When your nerve cells become damaged, you may feel pain, weakness, and a burning or tingling sensation in the affected body parts. Neuropathy can be caused by a number of factors, including diabetes, traumatic injury, and even nutrient deficiency.

6 Must Have Dietary Supplements for Nerve Pain Relief 

Neuropathy can’t be cured, but certain nutrients have been shown to be beneficial in reducing symptoms. Consuming more of these nutrients in your diet or supplement form can be an effective method for managing neuropathy. Below are 6 dietary supplements that can help reduce nerve pain.

Acetyl-L-Carnitine

Acetyle-L-Carnitine (ALC) is produced naturally in your body. It’s an amino acid and antioxidant that supports nerve cell growth, protects nerve fibers, and can help reduce nerve pain. ALC has been found useful for reducing pain in subjects with diabetic neuropathy as well as chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.

Alpha Lipoic Acid

Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) has been shown to reduce neuropathy symptoms by 50% in daily dosages of 600 mg after just 3 weeks. ALA is a powerful antioxidant that helps to reduce oxidative nerve damage, lower blood sugar levels, and improve nerve function. It can be found in certain foods or taken in supplement form. However, it’s most effective in dosages of at least 600 mg daily.

B Vitamins

B vitamins are essential vitamins necessary for performing numerous bodily functions. Certain B vitamins, such as B-1, B-6, and B-12 are crucial for supporting a healthy nervous system. Vitamin B-1 has anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce pain and inflammation associated with neuropathy. Vitamin B-6 helps to preserve the protective covering over your nerve endings, known as the myelin sheath. 

If the myelin sheath becomes damaged, it causes irreversible damage to your nerve fibers. Preserving your nerve cells myelin sheath is critical for preventing neuropathy. Finally, vitamin B-12 is needed to produce red blood cells that carry oxygen and nutrients to your nerve cells. A deficiency in vitamin B-12 can actually cause neuropathy, making it one of the more essential vitamins for nerve health. 

Benfotiamine

Benfotiamine is a synthetic, more bioavailable form of vitamin B1. Research shows that Benfotiamine can greatly improve neuropathy scores and nerve conduction velocity as well as reduce pain. Benfotiamine also protects your brain and nerve cells against oxidative stress, which can cause neuropathy.

Curcumin

Curcumin is a compound found in the popular yellow spice, turmeric. It’s a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory with analgesic (pain relief) properties. Curcumin may be helpful for reducing pain and inflammation that occurs with chemotherapy-induced neuropathy. Animal studies showed that curcumin had a positive effect on neuropathy related pain, functional loss, and inflammation after just two weeks.

Fish Oil

Fish oil is an omega-3 fatty acid found in fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, sardines, and herring. Omega-3s are beneficial for improving heart and brain health and possibly neuropathy. The omega-3s in fish oil have anti-inflammatory properties that may help with neuropathy symptoms and repair nerve damage. Fish oil can be used to help slow down the progression of neuropathy. In some cases, it can even reverse it.

The Takeaway

Nutrition plays a major role in your health, especially when it comes to nerve health. Although dietary supplements cannot fully reverse or cure neuropathy, they may help to reduce your symptoms of pain and discomfort. Consider adding dietary supplements such as Neurazenx to your daily nerve pain treatment plan.