Vitamin D Highly Effective for Addressing Diabetic Nerve Pain
In this study of 51 people with diabetic neuropathy (nerve pain), all of them were found to have suboptimal Vitamin D levels. Therapy with Vitamin D at ~ 2,000 units a day decreased pain by 47% after 3 months. The average 25 Vitamin D level was only 18 ng/ml at the start (want it to be over 30) and just got to 30 at 3 months. I suspect pain relief will continue to improve as it goes higher.
As nerve pain is also a key part of Fibromyalgia pain, and Vitamin D is often low in CFS/Fibromyalgia, this suggests that optimizing Vitamin D intake may also help pain in this condition as well. To balance the Vitamin D, I recommend the other nutrients found in a supplement that supports healthy bones (strontium, magnesium, calcium, etc.).
Inositol, Vitamin B6, and B12 (all found in a good multivitamin powder) as well as Lipoic Acid (300 mg 2x day) and Acetyl L-Carnitine (use 500 mg 3x day) have also been shown to be helpful for nerve pain. It takes months to heal nerves though, so give these 3-12 months to see the effects.
References:
Vitamin D as an Analgesic for Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Neuropathic Pain. Arch Intern Med/Vol 168 (No. 7), Apr 14, 2008 P. 772
Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. is one of the world's leading integrative medical authorities on fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. He is the lead author of eight research studies on their effective treatments, and has published numerous health & wellness books, including the bestseller on fibromyalgia From Fatigued to Fantastic! and The Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Solution. His newest book (June 10, 2024) is You Can Heal From Long COVID. Dr. Teitelbaum is one of the most frequently quoted fibromyalgia experts in the world and appears often as a guest on news and talk shows nationwide including Good Morning America, The Dr. Oz Show, Oprah & Friends, CNN, and Fox News Health.
