Neuropathy, or damage to the peripheral or autonomic nerves, is a common complication of diabetes. This not only causes losses in sensory and motor function, but can also lead to debilitating pain and even foot ulcers which may in turn lead to amputation. While conventional treatment is limited to good foot and nail hygiene, early detection of potential ulcers and strong painkillers such as antiepileptics and opioids, research has found that nutritional supplements are capable of even reversing nerve damage.

1. Treatment with Acetyl-l-Carnitine

One of those nutritional supplements that can bring true relief to diabetic neuropathy is acetyl-l-carnitine. In a study involving 333 patients diagnosed with neuropathy, participants were injected with either 1000mg of carnitine or placebo for 10 days, and then given either 2000mg of the supplement or a placebo for the remaining 355 days.

After 12 months, the treated patients showed a significant improvement in nerve conduction velocity, amplitude, and pain. The greatest changes in NCV were in the sensory sural nerve at +7 metres per second, the sensory ulnar nerve at +2.9m/second, and in the motor peroneal nerve at +2.7m/second on average. The greatest improvement in amplitude was also in the motor peroneal nerve at +2.2mV.

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Additionally, mean pain scores were reduced from baseline by 39%. As this study was published in 2002, it’s surprising that the results aren’t common knowledge. Another study, this time comparing vitamin B12 injections to the drug nortriptyline in 50 patients, found that the vitamin injections were more effective than the drug.

Pain scores dropped 3.66 points on the visual analogue scale as opposed to 0.84 points; parasthesia decreased by 2.98 units instead of 1.06; and tingling scores dropped 3.48 units instead of 1.02. However, nerve conduction did not improve in either group, unlike in the patients of the previously mentioned acetyl-l-carnitine study.

3. Biotin to the Rescue

In addition, biotin in high doses may improve the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, even within 4-8 weeks. This may be due to the correction of the biotin-dependent enzyme pyruvate carboxylase, which prevents the accumulation of pyruvate and/or the depletion of aspartate. Both of these play an important role in nervous system function.

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