Each year thousands of Americans receive spinal cord injuries primarily as a result of motor vehicle accidents and falls. The effects of such injuries can range from mild to profound. Research is being conducted to determine how to treat the damaged spinal cord since the effects of spinal cord injury often last a lifetime. Some supplements known to help the nerves and nerve cells are being investigated.
Spinal Cord Injury
The spinal cord is responsible for transmitting information between the periphery and the brain. Sensory signals are carried to the brain while motor signals are carried from the brain. These signals are conveyed on nerve fibers up and down the spinal cord. When a person experiences a spinal cord injury, these nerve fibers are interrupted. Signals therefore cannot pass beyond the point of interruption, which means that patients with a spinal cord injury have some degree of motor and sensory impairment below the injury site.
Nerve Regeneration
Much research is focused on trying to regenerate the damaged nerve fibers inside the spinal cord following a spinal cord injury. If this can be achieved then the damaged nerve fibers can reestablish the function that was lost after the injury. Research on nerve regeneration follows essentially two main pathways; keeping nerve cells alive after injury and regrowing damaged or dying nerve fibers. Various techniques are being investigated to achieve these ends including new surgical techniques, various chemicals or device therapies such as electrical stimulation.
B Vitamins
Certain B vitamins, namely B-6, B-9 and B-12 have significant effects on neurons and nervous system physiology. Vitamin B-6, which comprises the chemicals pyridoxamine, pyridoxal and pyridoxine, is crucial in making serotonin and dopamine, two important neurotransmitters. Vitamin B-6 also is concerned with neuropathy, chronic pain and Parkinson's disease, although the mechanism is not well understood. Vitamin B-9 or folic acid is important to the development of the fetal spinal cord. Inadequate levels of maternal folic acid can cause the baby to be born with the birth defect known as spina bifida, in which the spinal cord develops outside of the spine. The function of vitamin B-12, or cobalamin, is most evident when it is lacking in the diet. This leads to difficulty walking and spasticity and weakness in the legs. More severe deficiency can lead to genital and urinary dysfunction.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids occur as the chemicals DHA and EPA. According to the Journal to Neuroscience, DHA and EPA are known to affect brain function and can help to treat Alzheimer's disease, ADHD and psychosis. Studies by A.T. Michael-Titus, reported in 2007 in the journal "Prostaglandins, Leukotrines and Essential Fatty Acids," used omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA, on animals with experimental spinal cord injury and showed that this supplement can retard nerve damage if administered immediately after the spinal injury. This was supported by another animal study by V.R. King, et al., reported a year earlier in the "Journal of Neuroscience," that demonstrated that omega-3 fatty acid administration can protect spinal neurons after severe damage. Researchers are now determining if this same effect can be achieved in humans with a SCI.
References
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin B-6
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin B-12
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Folate
- "Prostaglandins, Leukotrines and Essential Fatty Acids"; Omega-3; A.T. Michael-Titus; November 2007
- Apparelyzed: Omega-3 Fatty Acids Protect The Spinal Cord; March 28. 2008
- "Journal of Neuroscience"; Omega-3 Fatty Acids Improve Recover; V.R. King, et. al.; April 2006
