Friday 15 January 2010

Vitamin B12

I have just read in a personal web page that vitamin B12 is important in the formation and maintenence of myelin. This is the thing that is depleted in patients with leukodystrophy, multiple sclerosis, Charcot Marie Tooth and other diseases like these. It helps metabolise fatty acids from food to form the building blocks of myelin. It is also important for maintaining the nerves that the myelin insulates, so even if myelin is depleted, vitamin B12 is needed to make the most of what little function remains. It would certainly be worth looking for a vitamin B12 supplement to include in the person with leukodystrophy's diet (with doctor's approval preferably, of course). And don't forget to include it in your own either(!)

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