Diet To Support Nerve Health

A diet rich in vitamins is important to the health of the nervous system. This is because vitamins are used in a variety of chemical processes inside nerve cells to maintain their normal functions. Also, the maternal diet is crucial to the healthy development of the fetus's nervous system. In either the fetus or the adult, deficiency of certain vitamins can range from minimal neurological effects to profound and debilitating problems.

Brain Function

Folic acid is a vitamin crucial to the development of the fetal nervous system. Just after conception, the nervous system begins to form and requires folic acid to mature normally. Deficiency can result in a birth defect known as anencephaly, where the brain is exposed outside of the skull. To prevent this birth defect, women should have folic acid in their diet around the time of conception, says the Office of Dietary Supplements of the National Institutes of Health, or NIH. Vitamin B6 also plays an important role in the brain because it is responsible for making enzymes for protein metabolism. The NIH says it plays a role in making the brain neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin. Deficiency of vitamin B6 may have a role in Parkinson's disease, headaches, chronic pain, depression and seizures. Vitamin B12 is required for maintaining normal cell function as well as making DNA. A 2005 article in the "Internet Journal of Nutrition and Wellness" reports that insufficiency of vitamin B12 may lead to brain problems such as psychosis and dementia.

Spinal Cord Function

Folic acid is important for fetal development of the spinal cord. When the mother's diet is insufficient in this vitamin, the NIH says it may lead to another birth defect known as spina bifida. This is a malformation of the nervous system where the spinal cord is exposed to the body's exterior. It can result in permanent damage to the spinal cord and may impede peripheral nerve function. Vitamin B12 also can cause spinal cord problems when deficient in the adult diet. The NIH reports that neurological function of the spinal cord may be impaired, resulting in nerve cell degeneration. This can lead to problems such as loss of coordination in the limbs, spasticity and walking difficulty.

Peripheral Nerve Function

Vitamin B6 deficiency in the adult diet can result in peripheral neuropathy, a condition in which a nerve cannot carry normal motor or sensory signals between the spinal cord and periphery. Excessive doses of vitamin B6 also can be the cause of peripheral neuropathy; according to the NIH, it is now being investigated for its role in nerve damage. Similarly, vitamin B12 deficiency may also result in peripheral nerve damage, resulting in feelings of weakness or numbness in the limbs. Severe vitamin B12 deficiency can produce genitourinary and bowel dysfunctions and can lead to impotence in males.

Recommended Dietary Allowance

The Office of Dietary Supplements of the National Institutes of Health publishes a Recommended Dietary Allowance, or RDA, for folic acid of 600 mcg in women who are pregnant or soon to be pregnant. The RDA for vitamin B12 in adults is 2.4 mcg. The RDA for vitamin B6 is 1.3 mg for those between 19 and 50 years old. For adults over 50 years old, the RDA for vitamin B6 is 1.7 mg for males and 1.5 mg for females.

Food Sources

Folic acid is found naturally as folate in fortified breakfast cereals, beef liver, asparagus, cowpeas, green peas, spinach, egg noodles, broccoli and white rice. Vitamin B6 is abundant in foods such as fortified breakfast cereals, fish, poultry, meat, beans, vegetables and fruits. Vitamin B12 is abundant meat, poultry, fish, eggs and milk.