Vitamins Supplementation for Nerve Regeneration: A Systematic Review of Clinical Evidence
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48048/tis.2025.9421Keywords:
Vitamins, Supplementation, Neuroregeneration, Neuroprotection, Myelin regenerationAbstract
This systematic review investigates the role of vitamin supplementation on nerve regeneration, a vital process to restore nerve structure and function after injury, focusing on the clinical potential of vitamins B, D and E in supporting repair in central and peripheral nervous systems. Traumatic injuries, chronic diseases, and degenerative conditions are common conditions that can disturb the natural repair capacity of neurons. This review follows PRISMA guidelines, which included a thorough search of the literature using electronic databases such as PubMed, Elsevier and Cochrane databases that focused on human subjects with neuropathic disorders. Nine studies were subsequently included in this review. The risk of bias was identified using a variety of tools chosen based on the study design. A total of 313 participants were involved, with 63 reporting sensory changes following post-operative inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) damage, 33 participants were diagnosed with neuropathy, 40 post-surgery nuclear cataract patients, 27 had vitamin B deficiency, 60 experienced rheumatoid arthritis and neuropathic pain and 30 had Friedreich’s ataxia. The results indicated that vitamins B, D and E have different mechanisms to support the recovery process of neurons after injury. B vitamins (B1, B6 and B12) enhance nerve cell metabolism and myelin formation, while vitamin D supports neuroprotection and repair by regulating the transcription process of growth factors and several neurotropic proteins, and also has anti-inflammatory effects, and vitamin E mitigates oxidative stress, protecting nerve cells and promoting structural integrity during repair. Despite the promising results, this review highlights the current clinical guidelines predominantly recommend only vitamin B12 for neuropathy management, indicating a need for further research into the therapeutic potential of other vitamins and diseases before its application on the clinical setting.
HIGHLIGHTS
- While research has shown that certain nutrients are important for nerve health, limited evidence supports the idea that taking a multivitamin can significantly accelerate nerve regeneration. This review provided a clinical aspect of vitamin supplementation in nerve regeneration, both in the central and peripheral nervous systems.
- Vitamins B, D and E have been proven to have benefits in nerve regeneration, through their ability to enhance nerve cell metabolism and myelination, support neuroprotection and repair by activating growth factor pathways and anti-inflammatory effects, also mitigate oxidative stress, protect nerve cells and promote structural integrity during repair.
- Although no side effects were observed in individual studies, excessive vitamin intake can potentially be harmful. Therefore, optimal dosages to support nerve regeneration need to be established through consensus.
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
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