Vitamin B12 supplements can help you to combat the pain caused by neuropathy. However, there is a specific form of B12 that is more effective than the rest.
I found myself in the supplements section of the drugstore the other day.
Now, I’m not exactly sure why I was there. I wasn’t looking to buy any supplements and I wasn’t doing any research relating to my own products. Still, I ended up browsing the shelves to see what was on display.
That’s when I saw them…
Several rows of Vitamin B12 supplements.
Most people would see those supplements and think nothing of them. They’d assume the Vitamin B12 came from natural sources and buy the supplement without looking at the ingredients.
But this is often a mistake.
Why?
You see, many Vitamin B12 supplements are made using a synthetic form of the vitamin. As a result, so many B12 solutions on the market are less effective than they should be.
Sure enough, checking the supplements I came across revealed that most of them used this synthetic form of Vitamin B12.
So, I’ve decided to write this article. We’re going to explore the two key types of Vitamin B12 that you might find in modern supplements and explain why only one of them is a good choice for those who have neuropathy.
Methylcobalamin vs. Cyanocobalamin
Check the ingredients list of any B12 supplement, or any supplement that contains Vitamin B12, and you will likely see one of these two ingredients listed.
So, what are they?
Both methylcobalamin and cyanocobalamin are forms of Vitamin B12. The key difference between them is that cyanocobalamin is the synthetic form of the vitamin, whereas methylcobalamin is the natural form.
In other words, methylcobalamin comes from sources such as fish, eggs, milk, and meats. It’s the form of Vitamin B12 that we naturally consume as part of our everyday diet. As such, many consider it to be the form that is most suited for use as a type of treatment for neuropathy.
On the other hand, Cyanocobalamin is a man-made version of Vitamin B12 that mimics many of the same properties as the natural sort. It’s also the version that you’re more likely to find in supplements as it is more cost-effective to obtain that methylcobalamin.
The key difference between the two lies at the molecular level.
Both of these variations of the B12 vitamin contain a cobalt ion that is surrounded by a corrin ring. However, each has a different molecule that attaches itself to the ion. In the case of cyanocobalamin, this is a cyanide molecule. Methylcobalamin has a molecule from the methyl group attached to the ion.
Regardless, the main point here is that one is a natural form of Vitamin B12, whereas the other is constructed in a lab.
That brings us to an important question…
Does it really matter which one is used in a supplement?
Why You Need to Look for Methylcobalamin
Some argue that it doesn’t matter which version of Vitamin B12 is used in the supplements you consume.
They’ll point out that your body naturally converts cyanocobalamin into methylcobalamin, creating the active form of Vitamin B12 that your body can use.
However, it’s not as simple as that.
When choosing between the two, you also need to consider how effectively your body retains and absorbs the vitamin. And in this case, it appears that cyanocobalamin falls far behind methylcobalamin.
Science backs this up.
One study, published in The Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine, used a rat-based model to test how the body reacts to each version of the vitamin. The researchers discovered that the body excretes up to three times as much cyanocobalamin as it does methylcobalamin when each is provided in equal doses.
Our conclusion is that our bodies do a much better job at retaining methylcobalamin, which means they’re able to make better use of the restorative properties of the natural version of Vitamin B12.
This is why you must look for methylcobalamin when searching for Vitamin B12 supplements. If you buy a supplement that uses the synthetic form of B12, your body may not retain as much of it per dosage as you would expect it to.
Why Look for Vitamin B12 in the First Place?
Having established that methylcobalamin is the preferred form of Vitamin B12 to look for in your supplements, we need to answer another question:
Why does any of this matter?
The simple answer is that it matters because you have neuropathy. And the evidence shows us that Vitamin B12 is effective in helping you combat your condition.
In fact, a 2015 study published in The Journal of the Neurological Sciences examined the effects of methylcobalamin in more detail. Scientists examined the effects of high doses of methylcobalamin on wobbler mice over the course of 4 weeks.
Their discovery?
Regular doses of this natural form of Vitamin B12 led to increased bicep muscle weight and inhibited muscle weakness. In other words, methylcobalamin made the mice stronger when compared to mice that weren’t taking the supplement.
As somebody who struggles with neuropathy, this is important news for you.
Vitamin B12, particularly methylcobalamin, can help strengthen your muscles. This, in turn, means you won’t have to compensate as heavily when dealing with nerve pain in any particular area.
The studies also show us that methylcobalamin has neuroprotective effects, which means it’s useful in any treatments related to the nervous system. And this includes all forms of neuropathy.
Look for the Natural Solution
Ultimately, it’s the natural form of Vitamin B12 that proves to be the most effective in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy. While cyanocobalamin may have its uses, the fact that it’s a synthetic variant means that your body can’t use it as effectively as methylcobalamin.
Unfortunately, it’s also the synthetic version of Vitamin B12 that finds its way into most supplements. As such, you must check the ingredients of any supplements you consider buying to ensure you’re getting the best version of Vitamin B12 for your body.
And Nervitalize, containing Vitamin B12 and other essential vitamins and ingredients, is an all-natural supplement that’s designed to combat nerve pain over the long term.
To find out more, check our Nervitalize today.
Resources:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/methylcobalamin-vs-cyanocobalamin#benefits
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25982504/
https://www.drugs.com/mtm/methylcobalamin-vitamin-b12.html