Vitamins are essential chemicals for various functions in the body. The nervous system requires vitamins for both proper embryonic development as well as maintaining normal function. Either an abundance or deficiency of some vitamins can result in various neurological problems, from birth defects to dysfunction of the adult nervous system.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is present in foods in the chemical forms known as pyridoxine, pyridoxal and pyridoxamine. The National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements (NIH) lists foods that are rich in vitamin B6. These include fish, poultry, meats, vegetables, fruits and beans. Another good source is breakfast cereals supplemented with vitamin B6. This vitamin is important in the manufacture of two neurotransmitters called dopamine and serotonin. A deficiency of B6 can cause nerve problems, but so can an excess of B6, according to the NIH. These problems are manifested primarily as neuropathy -- disrupted or abnormal sensory or motor components of nerve activity. Vitamin B6 was once thought to be helpful for carpal tunnel syndrome, but that idea has failed validation in clinical trials. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for this vitamin is 1.3 mg in ages 19-50, and 1.7 mg (men) and 1.5 mg (women) over age 50.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 can be found in foods such as milk, eggs, meat, fish and poultry. Fortified breakfast cereals also contain high levels, according to the NIH. Vitamin B12 is important to the body because it maintains cell metabolism and plays a part in DNA synthesis. However, dietary deficiency of this vitamin makes it problematic in the nervous system, according to the Internet Journal of Nutrition and Wellness. Deficiency can lead to neurological problems such as spasticity, weakness, and urinary and bowel problems. Dietary insufficiency can also result in male impotence. The adult RDA for this vitamin is 2.4 micrograms.
Folic Acid
In the natural world, folic acid is found as folate. The NIH says it is especially prevalent in foods such as beef liver, beans, asparagus, spinach, peas, broccoli and egg noodles. Fortified breakfast cereals also contain high amounts. Folic acid is required for the normal development of the nervous system of a fetus, so deficiency in a pregnant woman's diet can be problematic. A severe deficiency may cause spina bifida or anencephaly in the fetus -- birth defects of the spinal cord or brain. The NIH recommends that women considering becoming pregnant or who are pregnant take 600 micrograms of folic acid per day.
References
- National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin B6
- Internet Journal of Nutrition and Wellness
- National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin B12
- National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Folate
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