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The Willner Window Product Reference Catalog, Summer 2014
since 1911
• Willner Chemists •
the nutritional supplement professionals
Source Naturals
Nutrients ease carpal tunnel
syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome, where swollen tis-
sue compresses the main forearm nerve as it
passes through the wrist, is the most common
nerve problem of the extremities.
Various nutritional measures should be
considered by those suffering from this con-
dition. Any food or nutritional supplement
that reduces inflammation, for example,
would be a logical choice. This would
include substances ranging from omega-3 oils
to glucosamine to herbs such as curcumin,
boswellia, devil’s claw, etc.
Vitamin B6, or pyridoxine, may be one of
the more promising supplements in this
regard. There were a number of studies pub-
lished many years ago (Ellis JM. Treatment of
carpal tunnel syndrome with vitamin B6.
South Med J 1987;80:882–884.) that
demonstrated a strong beneficial action of
vitamin B6 supplementation on carpal tunnel
syndrome.
I have seen patients who were able to can-
cel scheduled surgery after taking high dose
vitamin B6 supplements for several weeks or
more. The appropriate dose is 200 mg per
day or less.
This is a low risk, low cost option that may
work, and certainly should be considered
before more expensive, invasive measures
are attempted. Have your doctor look up the
reference provided above if he questions this
approach.
More recently, new research further sup-
ports nutritional intervention:
The citation provided is a guideline. Please
check each citation for accuracy before use.
Alpha-lipoic acid, curcumin and B
vitamins
In this study, 180 adults undergoing nerve
decompression surgery took alpha-lipoic
acid, curcumin, and B-group vitamins three
months before and after surgery; took the
supplements only during the three months
before, or took no treatment. The twice-daily
dose was 300 mg alpha-lipoic acid, 500 mg
curcumin phytosome, and for the B-vitamins,
1.05 mg B1, 1.2 mg B2, 4.5 mg B5, and 1.5
mg B6.
While there were no differences between
those that took no treatment and those that
took supplements only before surgery, those
that took supplements both before and after
surgery, for a total of six months, had much
less pain from wrist curling while asleep, and
in a standard 60-second test for carpal tunnel
syndrome, no tingling, numbness, or pain, 40
days after surgery.
This is impressive, but I think the results
would have been much more impressive if
the dose of vitamin B6 was higher. I would
suggest 100 to 200 mg B6 along with the
alpha-lipoic acid and curcumin.
Don Goldberg
Reference: Evidence-Based
Complementary and Alternative Medicine;
2014, Article ID 891310
Additional References:
Gaby, Alan R., MD. Nutritional Medicine.
Alan R. Gaby, M.D., 01/2011. VitalBook file.
Glucosamine and chondroitin
Glucosamine and Chondroitin
In related research, the role of glucosamine
and chondroitin supplements in alleviating
joint pain and deterioration was examined:
Glucosamine and chondroitin occur natu-
rally in cartilage, the flexible, fibrous connec-
tive tissue in joints and between bones. In
this study, 605 adults with chronic knee pain
and osteoarthritic joint-space narrowing took
1,500 mg of glucosamine, 800 mg of chon-
droitin, these two together, or a placebo.
After two years, while there were no differ-
ences between the placebo group and those
taking either one of the supplements by itself,
those taking glucosamine and chondroitin
together saw 0.1 mm less joint-space narrow-
ing.
Discussing their findings, doctors said both
glucosamine and chondroitin contain sulfate,
which the body needs to synthesize proteins
in cartilage, and that prior studies have found
reduced protein synthesis when sulfate is
low. The superior results for glucosamine and
chondroitin together in this study suggest a
biological mechanism that helps restore carti-
lage.
Hope for Fibromyalgia?
Another role for Vitamn D.
Doctors don’t know what causes fibromyal-
gia, but women are most affected by the
symptoms which include intense shooting
pains throughout the body, sleep and cogni-
tive problems, and painful menses. Those
with fibromyalgia usually have low levels of
calcifediol, the hormone that becomes vita-
min D in the body. In this study, 30 women
with fibromyalgia and low calcifediol took
vitamin D3 or a placebo for 20 weeks.
Twenty-four weeks after stopping vitamin D3,
women still reported much less pain. During
the vitamin D phase, the women had greater
physical function and less morning fatigue
compared to placebo. Vitamin D can be a
safe, affordable alternative or complement to
drug treatments, doctors concluded.
Reference: Pain Journal; 2014, Vol. 155
No. 2, 261-8
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