Folic acid is an important B vitamin that has a variety of different roles in the body. Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that is a complication of poorly controlled diabetes. Although some suggest that folic acid and other B vitamins may help with diabetic neuropathy, there are no research studies that have found any benefit for taking folic acid as a treatment for diabetic neuropathy.
What Is Folic Acid?
Folic acid, also known as folate, is a member of the B vitamins, causing it to be important for converting food into energy. Folic acid is also needed to help the body make new proteins and to manufacture DNA, which is an essential part of making new cells, including red blood cells. Although a deficiency in folic acid can cause a variety of different symptoms, none of them involves the nervous system. The only exception is for unborn fetuses, as a deficiency in folic acid can lead to severe problems with the developing nervous system.
Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy is a complication of diabetes that is the result of extremely high blood glucose levels. Chronically high blood glucose levels damage the nerves, causing tingling, pain or numbness in parts of the body, particularly the extremities. Diabetic neuropathy can also cause lead to indigestion, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, dizziness, problems with urination, erectile dysfunction and weakness. Because it is difficult for nerve cells to heal and repair themselves, diabetic neuropathy can be very difficult to treat.
Folic Acid as Treatment for Diabetic Neuropathy
Because folic acid is needed for many different functions in the body, it may be useful as a treatment for treating diabetic neuropathy. Dr. Robert Kornfeld recommends that patients suffering from diabetic neuropathy take B-complex vitamin supplements, because taking folic acid on its own is unlikely to be effective for treating neuropathy, but supplementation of all of the different B vitamins may be able to help relieve the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.
Considerations
Although there is the possibility that folic acid supplementation can relieve the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, its effectiveness in this regard has not been comprehensively studied, and it is generally not recommended as a treatment for diabetic neuropathy. Folic acid is generally safe to take because your body can eliminate excess folic acid through the urine, but talk to your doctor before taking any sort of vitamin supplement.
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