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Posted: Tue May 30, 2006 8:32 pm Post subject: Iron and B12 research
Interesting bit of research on the role of iron and B12 in myelination.
Iron and the folate-vitamin B12-methylation pathway in multiple sclerosis.
Metab Brain Dis. 2006 May 26
van Rensburg SJ, Kotze MJ, Hon D, Haug P, Kuyler J, Hendricks M, Botha J, Potocnik FC, Matsha T, Erasmus RT.
Chemical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service and the University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg Hospital, PO Box 19113, 7505, Tygerberg, South Africa, sjvr@sun.ac.za.
Some subjects with multiple sclerosis (MS) present with low blood iron parameters. Anecdotal reports and a single patient study suggest that iron supplementation may be beneficial in these subjects. Myelin is regenerated continually, but prerequisites for this process are iron and a functional folate-vitamin B12-methylation pathway.
The aim of this study was to determine iron status, folate and homocysteine in MS subjects, and to evaluate the effect on MS symptoms if deficiencies were addressed.
Results: In relapsing-remitting MS subjects, serum iron concentration correlated significantly with age at diagnosis (r=0.49; p=0.008). In Caucasian female MS subjects, serum iron and ferritin concentrations were significantly lower than in matched controls. In a 6-month pilot study, 12 subjects taking a regimen of nutritional supplements designed to promote myelin regeneration, improved significantly neurologically as measured by the Kurzke EDSS (Total Score means 3.50 to 2.45, 29.9%; p=0.021). These were significantly improved (p=0.002) compared to 6 control group patients taking multivitamins (Kurzke Score increased by 13.9% from 4.83 to 5.50).
Both groups had significantly reduced homocysteine concentrations at 6 months, suggesting that methylation is necessary but not sufficient for myelin regeneration.
Posted: Wed May 31, 2006 7:16 am Post subject: i agree
low iron and b12 have been one of my ongoing problems prior to diagnosis. i have been tested as deficient in each at least once over the past few years, and low the rest of the time.
i was stubborn about taking supplements back when the impacts were not having much effect. this attack certainly changed my outlook on taking pills!
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