Q: I live in the Netherlands and was recently diagnosed with polyneuropathy in my legs and arm. Is there anything I can do to keep my body in shape and my muscles from getting weaker?
Dr. Micozzi: Yes, there are several things you can do in terms of diet and dietary supplementation.
As I reported in the September 2014 issue of Insiders’ Cures, a simple but typically overlooked cause of polyneuropathy (also known as peripheral neuropathy) is vitamin B deficiency. Despite all the attention given to recommended daily allowances for nutrients in Europe and the U.S., there can still be frank deficiencies of this and other vitamins hiding in plain sight.
Consequently, I recommend taking a vitamin B complex every day—look for one that has at least 50 mg each of thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), and pyridoxine (B6); along with 400 mcg of folic acid or folate (B9), 100 mcg of cyanocobalamin (B12), and 1,500 mcg of biotin (B7). It should also contain nutrients that work with B vitamins, including choline, inositol, and para-amino-benzoic acid (PABA).