Multiple sclerosis is a degenerative disease that targets nerve cells. It is classified as an autoimmune disease, wherein the immune system attacks the central nervous system and causes damage in the brain, spinal cord and optic nerve. Research demonstrates an association between vitamin B-12 and iron deficiencies with the onset of multiple sclerosis. Speak to your doctor or health care provider about vitamin B-12 and iron supplementation if you have multiple sclerosis or if you have a family history of the condition.
Myelin
Nerve cells contain a coating known as myelin, composed of protein and fats, which functions as an insulator, much like the plastic sheath around a copper wire. Myelin facilitates the swift transmission of impulses along the nerve cells. The inflammation from multiple sclerosis damages myelin and interferes with nerve conduction, which results in numerous symptoms such as numbness, balance problems, difficulty swallowing and vision loss. Both vitamin B-12 and iron play a role in neurological function and the development of myelin.
Oligodendrocytes
Researchers at Penn State's Life Sciences Consortium discovered a connection between iron deficiency and multiple sclerosis in 2000. Oligodendrocytes are cells specifically designed to manufacture myelin. The researchers learned that an iron deficiency affects the production of oligodendrocytes, which limits the amount of myelin produced. In addition, a shortfall of iron during crucial stages of development results in a shortage of neural connections, according to neuroscientist James Connor, Ph.D. This research appeared in the May 2000 issue of "Research Penn State."
Age of Onset
A vitamin B-12 deficiency plays a role in the onset of multiple sclerosis, according to a 1993 study. Researchers from the Neuro Communication Research Laboratories in Connecticut examined the levels of vitamin B-12 in 45 patients with multiple sclerosis. The patients whose multiple sclerosis symptoms began before the age of 18 recorded significantly lower levels of vitamin B-12 compared to those who developed symptoms later in life. Coupled with the role vitamin B-12 plays in myelin production, the researchers concluded that a deficiency in vitamin B-12 accelerates the onset of multiple sclerosis. This research appeared in the July 1993 issue of "The International Journal of Neuroscience."
Remyelination
Remyelination refers to the process of myelin repair. This is the body's normal response to loss of myelin, wherein the body restores the nerve's protective sheath; however in multiple sclerosis patients the disease inhibits this action, for unknown reasons, according to Dartmouth University. Though further research and more human trials are necessary, iron and vitamin B-12 supplementation may support the process of remyelination in multiple sclerosis patients.
References
- Pub Med Health; Multiple Sclerosis; David Zieve, M.D., M.H.A., et al.; August 2010
- National Institutes of Health; Office of Dietary Supplements; Vitamin B-12; June 2011
- National Institutes of Health; Office of Dietary Supplements; Iron; August 2007
- Pub Med Health; Myelin; David C. Dugdale, III, M.D., et al.; May 2011
- "The International Journal of Neuroscience"; Vitamin B12 and its Relationship to Age of Onset of Multiple Sclerosis; R. Sandyk, et al.; July 1993
- "Research Penn State"; The Effects of Iron; Heather L. Fletcher; May 2000
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