Ultra-High Dose of Vitamin B-12 Offers Optimism For Early Onset Lou Gehrig’s Disease

An article last month in the JAMA Neurology gives hope to those who have Lou Gehrig’s disease – amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This nervous system disease impacts muscle strength and function. https://www.als.org/understanding-als/what-is-als

Patients with ALS have nerve cells that break down and limit muscle functionality. There is no cure, and some medicines and therapies can relieve pain and discomfort and slow the progress of the disease.

The Clinical Test

https://jamanetwork.com/searchresults?q=Vitamin%20B12%20and%20ALS&allSites=1&SearchSourceType=1&exPrm_qqq={DEFAULT_BOOST_FUNCTION}%22Vitamin%20B12%20and%20ALS%22&exPrm_hl.q=Vitamin%20B12%20and%20ALS. Improvement was observed after clinical trials testing high-dose vitamin B-12 (methylcobalamin). After sixteen weeks of randomized testing of 130 patients with early-stage ALS, the group given 50 mg of methylcobalamin semiweekly tested higher on the ALSFRS-R (Revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale). https://www.mdcalc.com/revised-amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis-functional-rating-scale-alsfrs-r

The group not given the methylcobalamin had lower test results indicating increased severity of ALS. It was also noted that those taking the drug riluzole and methylcobalamin showed significantly less decline in their ALS symptoms. After the clinical tests were concluded, those taking the high-dose vitamin B-12 elected to keep on taking the exact dosage as the test.

The Future

https://www.lifeextension.com/whatshot/2022/5/may-whats-hot-articles#vitb. Four months is a short time to predict future results. However, the results were clinically meaningful for those with early-onset ALS. The test revealed that the disease could be addressed safely and reproducible.

ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease)

https://www.als.org/understanding-als/who-gets-als. ALS is a rare disease affecting just over 50 people per million in the United States. Worldwide, the disease has been detected in around 20 people per million. Roughly nine out of ten cases occur without any family history.

ALS can strike any time during a person’s life, but it is generally seen in older adults between 55 and 75. The disease usually begins with twitching muscles and weakness in the limbs. Sometimes, speech is also slurred.

Genetically, ALS is caused by over a dozen genes. The most significant percentage of familial cases involve a defect in the C90RF72 gene found in the brain. Around half of those diagnosed with ALS live three years. One in four have lived five years, and almost ten percent have lived up to ten years with the disease.

Conclusion

All neurological diseases take a toll on the patients and their families. Vitamin B-12 is sold as cyanocobalamin and methylcobalamin. The cyanocobalamin must be converted in the body to methylcobalamin.

It is best to take the methyl version. Additionally, it should be taken under the tongue since cobalamins cannot survive stomach acid. Talk to your physician first before engaging in any self-medication regimen.

Live Longer & Enjoy Life! – Red O’Laughlin – RedOLaughlin.com