The nervous system plays a central role in your body's day-to-day functions. Billions of nerve cells receive information through the five senses, process the data and transmit the proper reaction from your brain. Thus, you are able to feel pain when you touch something hot, because your brain receives pain signals from the hard-working nerves in your body.
To achieve a fully functional nervous system, one group of vitamins does a lot of heavy lifting. Vitamin B complex—particularly Vitamins B1, B6 and B12—all perform key functions in ensuring that your brain and nervous system remain in tip-top shape.
But vitamin B complex is rather fragile. Because they’re water-soluble vitamins—they dissolve in water—these vitamins aren’t completely absorbed by the body, and tends to be excreted through the urine.
Most people get the recommended amounts of these vitamins through diet alone since they are found in a wide variety of foods. However, factors like age, pregnancy, dietary choices, medical conditions, genetics, medication and alcohol use increase the body’s demand for B vitamins.
In these circumstances, supplementing with B vitamins may be necessary.
B complex vitamins for nerve health
Did you know that the “pins and needles” sensation, or tusok-tusok, is one of the symptoms of nerve damage that is linked to the lack of vitamin B6 in the body? Pyridoxine, or vitamin B6, is necessary for the metabolism or synthesis of neurotransmitters, the chemicals that send signals in the central nervous system.
Then there's vitamin B12, which ensures the formation of myelin. A fatty substance surrounding nerve fibers, myelin increases the speed of transmission of signals between neurons. When the myelin sheath breaks down, cobalamins or vitamin B12 can help rebuild the coating.
Vitamin E for the brain
The B complex vitamins are not the only vitamins your brain needs. You may not be aware of it, but Vitamin E serves an important role in the entire nervous system.
Neurons are composed mainly of polyunsaturated fats and cholesterol, which are quite susceptible to oxidation. Vitamin E, being a powerful antioxidant, helps protect them from damage, preserving the membrane integrity of the nerve tissues.
B complex Vitamins - Recommended Daily Allowance
While most of the foods you consume daily are rich in vitamin B complex, you may benefit from taking a supplement. Being water-soluble vitamins, excess amounts of all B vitamins are eliminated from the body through your urine - no B vitamins are stored in the body, thus lessening the occurrence of intoxication.
It is important, however, to remember the recommended daily allowance of each B vitamin.
In general, healthy adult men and women should take about 1.3 micrograms of vitamin B6 and 2.4 micrograms of vitamin B12. As for vitamin B1, 1.1 milligrams are recommended for women and 1.2 milligrams for men.
Vitamin E can be taken daily at the suggested amount of 15 milligrams or 22.4 IU. The highest amount of vitamin E you can take is 1,000 milligrams a day or 1,500 IU. You should consult a physician to find out what’s the best dosage of B complex vitamins for your specific needs.
You don’t have to look far to find a supplement that contains B complex vitamins to aid in your nerve health. Vitamin B-Complex + Vitamin E (Neurogen-E) contains a dosage of 300mg Vitamin B1,100mg Vitamin B6, 1000mcg Vitamin B12, and 100IU Vitamin E, the right amount to help relieve the symptoms nerve damage and help keep the nervous system healthy especially when you are already feeling the symptoms of pricking (tusok-tusok), weakness (ngalay), and numbness (manhid). Each caplet contains 5X more Vitamin B12 and 3X more Vitamin B1, plus added Vitamin E versus major players among OTC brands! It is recommended to be taken once daily.
If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
ASC Reference No. U129P030520N