Surprising Autoimmune Disease Symptoms Caused by B Vitamin Deficiencies
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
Formal thiamine deficiency disease is known as beriberi, and can manifest in 3 different forms: dry beriberi, wet beriberi, or gastrointestinal beriberi. Dry beriberi predominantly affects the nervous system, wet beriberi affects the cardiovascular system, and gastrointestinal beriberi, of course, affects the gastrointestinal system. Because thiamine deficiency can affect such different areas of the body, it can be difficult to pin down in the more early stages. Vitamin B1 deficiency is often misdiagnosed as another kind of disease; while misdiagnosis isn’t a good thing, the positive part of having too little of a particular nutrient, like vitamin B1, is that the health problems caused by the deficiency can often be reversed to a large extent with nothing more than supplementation with that nutrient.Some people with autoimmune disease may not have a formal thiamine deficiency, but they may have lower-than-normal levels of vitamin B1 that cause certain aspects of their health problem that resemble vitamin B1 deficiency. Or, on the other hand, not having enough vitamin B1 may make it difficult for the person’s body to use certain other key nutrients, thus resulting in a kind of “deficiency cascade”. Again, though, this can be resolved with a carefully planned supplementation protocol.
Let’s look at some of the specific autoimmune diseases that may be caused by a vitamin B1 / thiamine deficiency.
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Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
One of the most important nutritional medicines for autoimmune thyroid disease is Lugol’s iodine. However, vitamin B1 also may play a crucial role in this disease.One study observed that administration of 600mg of thiamine per day was able to reduce or completely eliminate the symptoms of fatigue in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This relief from fatigue happened after only 3 days of supplementation with oral vitamin B1. The same positive results on fatigue relief were also demonstrated in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and other autoimmune diseases. Thiamine may also help regulate blood pressure levels and restore normal amounts of stomach acid in Hashimoto’s patients. While patients with Hashimoto’s may start at a dose of 600mg of thiamine per day, they may increase their dosage to up to 1500mg per day.
Click here to read more about cures for Hashimoto's.
Fibromyalgia
Dry beriberi and fibromyalgia have some things in common. For example, both conditions share symptoms such as chronic pain and/or stiffness throughout the body, fatigue, muscle weakness, tingling and/or numbness in the extremities, and more. People with a minor thiamine deficiency may be misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia, since these two health issues resemble each other so closely. And indeed, scientific research has acknowledged the very likely possibility of thiamine deficiency misdiagnosis in many cases of fibromyalgia. One study in particular observed that high-dose vitamin B1 given to three women diagnosed with fibromyalgia significantly improved their symptoms.Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome Type 3
Autoimmune polyglandular syndromes involve dysfunction in multiple glands or organ systems in the body. One study indicated that a combination of vitamin B1 and vitamin B12 may be able to quickly relieve even severe manifestations of autoimmune polyglandular syndrome. In this case report, the patient had previously diagnosed vitiligo, as well as newly diagnosed Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and pernicious anemia. His symptoms improved within a few days of treatment, which included thiamine, vitamin B12 (as cyanocobalamin), and levothyroxine.Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
Some studies have indicated that the symptoms of autoimmune encephalomyelitis may be worsened by thiamine deficiency. Indeed, thiamine deficiency can directly affect astrocytes, brain cells whose behavior may stimulate swelling in the brain and spinal cord like that seen in autoimmune encephalomyelitis. In addition to this, it’s worth noting that chronic thiamine deficiency can cause a condition called Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, which is characterized primarily by encephalomyelopathy. This further validates the direct connection between thiamine deficiency and problems related to the brain and nerves.
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Multiple Sclerosis
Vitamin B1 supplementation may help relieve the certain symptoms of multiple sclerosis, such as fatigue, as well as related symptoms such as sleep disorders, muscular weakness, mood swings, anxiety/depression, dry skin, low stress tolerance, difficulty concentrating, tachycardia, heat/cold intolerance, and more. One case report on 15 individuals with multiple sclerosis analyzed the effects of high-dose thiamine supplementation on fatigue symptoms. The report observed that at least a partial improvement in fatigue symptoms occurred in 14 out of the 15 patients, and that these improvements began within a few hours to a few days after beginning thiamine supplementation. Many patients reported a near complete recovery from their other fatigue-related symptoms, such as those listed above.In this study, patients were given thiamine according to the following dosing protocol (all amounts are given according to the daily dose that patients received):
- Patients less than 60kg - 10mg/kg
- 60-65kg - 14mg/kg (840-910mg/day)
- 65-70kg - 17mg/kg (1105-1190mg/day)
- 70-75kg - 20mg/kg (1400-1500mg/day)
- 75-80kg - 23mg/kg (1725-1840mg/day)
Click here to learn more about multiple sclerosis cures.
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
Vitamin B2 is an important B-complex vitamin that the body uses to metabolize fats, proteins, and carbohydrates to convert these to glucose and energy, as well as to support healthy immune function and the health of the skin and hair. In addition, riboflavin is absolutely essential for the conversion of tryptophan to niacin (this is, in fact, one of our main sources of dietary niacin); and niacin is then essential for the activation of vitamin B6. So, in effect, vitamin B2 deficiency can lead to niacin deficiency as well as vitamin B6 deficiency over time.Riboflavin plays a crucial role in myelin formation and maintenance, therefore individuals with autoimmune conditions like multiple sclerosis may actually have an underlying vitamin B2 deficiency (or perhaps a deficiency in multiple B-complex vitamins or nutrients). Other demyelinating autoimmune diseases that may benefit from supplementation with riboflavin include transverse myelitis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, Devic’s disease, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, among others.
Riboflavin is commonly taken at a dose of up to 400mg per day as a treatment for chronic or regular migraine headaches. As a water-soluble vitamin, riboflavin is excreted via the urine, particularly when a person takes “too much”. Because of this, though, it’s rather difficult to overdose on riboflavin. Whatever your body doesn’t need, it will simply filter out.
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Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
Niacin is one of the most important supplements for mental illness, and has been proven to be a cure for conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. But, its healing, curative powers don’t stop there; niacin has also been shown to be extremely effective in the treatment of other health problems, including autoimmune diseases like those discussed below.Arthritis
Arthritis comes in various forms, and affects a fairly large percentage of the population. While the vast majority of health problems should be treated with simple niacin, arthritis is best treated using niacinamide, a non-flushing form of niacin. Dr. William Kaufman was among the first physicians to use niacinamide successfully to cure arthritis symptoms in the elderly population; he administered a daily dose of 2000-4000mg (or more) of niacinamide in 4-8 divided doses throughout the day. In 1978 in a radio interview, Dr. Kaufman describes a patient whose arthritis symptoms had worsened to a point where he was unable to bend his elbows even to a 90 degree angle. Dr. Kaufman gave the patient niacinamide at the dose described above, and after one week, the patient was again able to bend his elbows.Patients of Dr. Kaufman with particular severe arthritis symptoms were to receive a total of 4000mg of niacinamide per day in 10 divided doses. Crippled patients (regardless of age) taking this dose were able to get up from bed and move around within 1-3 months after starting treatment; by 3 years after starting treatment, patients were able to move normally without symptoms. Individuals with any type of arthritis are likely to benefit from this treatment.
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Click here to read more about arthritis cures.
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is another condition that specifically benefits from niacin in its niacinamide form, similar to arthritis. Niacinamide has been shown to significantly prevent the degeneration of demyelinated axons, as well as to prevent further demyelination and reduce axonal inflammation. Dr. Abram Hoffer has successfully treated 60+ multiple sclerosis patients using a dose of between 3-6 grams of niacinamide daily, while other physicians, including Dr. H.T. Mount and Dr. Frederick Robert Klenner, have treated their multiple sclerosis patients using a combination of vitamin B1 (thiamine) and vitamin B3. Dr. Klenner also included the other B-complex vitamins, vitamin E, magnesium, and zinc in his supplementation protocol for his multiple sclerosis patients.Many case reports indicate that multiple sclerosis is likely caused not only by niacin deficiency, but by pandeficiency, or deficiencies in multiple nutrients. Once patients began taking niacin and other important nutrients, their symptoms often began to resolve very quickly. Multiple individuals who used nutritional therapies were able to all but cure their multiple sclerosis within about 1-2 years. These patients found relief from their symptoms and also demonstrated healthier brain scans and general health.
Pemphigus
Pemphigus is a chronic, debilitating autoimmune disease characterized by the development of painful blisters on the skin and mucous membranes. There are, of course, various kinds of pemphigus, but all of them have this in common. Niacinamide as well has been found to cure pemphigus completely, especially when combined with a set of other carefully chosen vitamin and mineral supplements.One case report of a man who successfully cured his pemphigus vulgaris involved the use of high-dose niacinamide, combined with high dose vitamin C, vitamins B1 and B6 (and other B-complex vitamins), vitamin E, and zinc. This patient noted that while the vitamin supplements did him a lot of benefit, the real turning point in his health situation occurred when he added 22 mg of zinc to his daily supplementation protocol. Patients who intend to use this treatment protocol should also be sure to take a 2 mg copper supplement daily to prevent the development of copper deficiency (which can sometimes happen when a person supplements with zinc for 1 month or longer).
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UPDATE Regarding Natural Treatments for Pemphigus Vulgaris:
One of our readers who cured her husband of Pemphigus Vulgaris noted that one man that she knew of had cured this disease (or as the man reported, he'd caused it to go into remission for 28 years), had specifically noted the importance of taking zinc with copper in the proper proportions as a turning point in his recovery. This reader also noted that a doctor in South America used high doses of vitamin D3 to cure the disease. She told us that GcMAF yogurt, as described by the Western Price Foundation was one of the key treatments that helped her husband recover from Pemphigus Vulgaris. This treatment also pays homage to the need for vitamin D via both supplementation as well as sunlight exposure along with an array of bioavailable supportive nutrients and natural, food-derived probiotics. Read more about GcMAF yogurt as a cure for Pemphigus Vulgaris here at the Weston Price Foundation.Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is an important vitamin for a long list of functions in the body. This nutrient plays a crucial role in the metabolism of amino acids, fats, and glucose, it supports neurotransmitter production, encourages healthy gene expression, and is required in order for the body to synthesize and use hemoglobin. While a lot of sources claim that deficiency in vitamin B6 is rare, this may not always be the case, especially in situations where a person’s diet is poor or lacks variation.Vitamin B6 deficiency symptoms include conjunctivitis, skin rash, neuropathy/tingling or numbness in the extremities, cracked or sore lips, especially at the corners of the mouth (angular cheilitis), sore and/or glossy tongue (glossitis), irritability or mood swings, and fatigue. People with vitamin B6 deficiency also tend to be more susceptible to infection, and may have higher-than-normal homocysteine levels.
Vitamin B6 should be taken in the form of pyridoxal, a more bioavailable and gentler form of the nutrient, at a dose of 25-100mg per day. It may be taken over the long term at a higher dose, but be sure to also include adequate doses of the other B-complex vitamins.
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Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Lupus patients may benefit from all of the B-complex vitamins, but a special connection has been observed between vitamin B6 supplementation and an improvement in lupus symptoms. One study noted that the administration of vitamin B6, beta-carotene, and linoleic acid may be protective against lupus symptoms. Patients who consumed higher levels of these nutrients were less likely to experience active lupus symptoms than patients who didn’t consume sufficient amounts of these.Other research has supported this, with another Japanese cohort study indicating that higher vitamin B6 intake was indeed associated with a decreased risk of active lupus. Dietary fiber was also observed as being beneficial in this study.
Read about systemic lupus erythematosus cures here.
Neuropathy
There are many autoimmune problems that involve neuropathy, so although this is more of an autoimmune symptom than an autoimmune disease (at least in some cases), it still deserves its own heading.In one study, 6 patients with polyneuropathy showed low vitamin B6 levels and low to normal copper levels on nutrition tests. The patients also had low electrolyte levels. They were treated with thiamine (vitamin B1), vitamin B6, copper supplements, and a multivitamin, along with immunoglobulin, for 4 months. Out of the 4 patients who returned for follow up, all of them saw significant improvement, though they still experienced some disabilities due to the prior severity of their condition.
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Arthritis
High-dose vitamin B6 therapy, when given over the course of at least 12 weeks, has been shown to decrease inflammation in patients with arthritis. In one Taiwanese study, this vitamin was shown to reduce IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels specifically in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The researchers didn’t observe a notable difference in the patients’ immune responses, but since the vitamin B6 was able to reduce inflammation, it also helped reduce pain and improve quality of life. In this study, vitamin B6 was given at a dose of 100mg per day in combination with 5mg of folic acid.A different study observed that patients with rheumatoid arthritis were more likely to have low serum levels of vitamin B6 than healthy individuals. The study administered 50-150mg of vitamin B6 as pyridoxine hydrochloride for 3 months; this increased the patients’ serum vitamin B6 levels, but there wasn’t any clinical change in their condition. This could be because the patients also needed other nutrients (like the other B-complex vitamins) in order for the vitamin B6 supplements to actually work, or perhaps because their condition was associated not only with nutritional deficiency, but perhaps also with an obscured, chronic infection or some other yet undiscovered cause.
POEMS Syndrome
POEMS syndrome is an autoimmune condition that includes symptoms and clinical signs such as polyneuropathy, organ enlargement, edema, swelling and dysfunction in the endocrine organs, and skin changes. Some evidence exists that POEMS syndrome polyneuropathy specifically may be caused by vitamin B6 deficiency. Indeed, vitamin B6 deficiency-related polyneuropathy and POEMS syndrome polyneuropathy closely resemble each other in many ways; both tend to be more intense in the lower limbs, sensorimotor, symmetrical, and to have a “stocking and glove” type distribution.One article documented two case reports of POEMS syndrome patients who rapidly improved after beginning supplementation with vitamin B6. Both patients were able to walk without a cane after taking vitamin B6 (the first patient only required a week of treatment, while the second patient required 2 months of treatment), and scans also revealed that both of these individuals experienced neurological recovery, indicating that vitamin B6 works as a truly curative treatment, and not just as a “bandaid” like some conventional drugs.
Follow this link to read more about POEMS syndrome cures.
Vitamin B9 (Folate)
Vitamin B9 deficiency can be a serious thing, especially when it’s accompanied by deficiencies in other essential nutrients (as it often is). Vitamin B9 works closely with vitamin B6 and vitamin B12, with vitamin B6 being absolutely essential for vitamin B12 absorption (meaning that a vitamin B6 deficiency directly correlates with vitamin B12 deficiency), and vitamin B9 and B12 working together as coenzymes to produce a wide array of metabolic reactions in the body. Though the B-complex vitamins should, ideally, be taken together in all cases, these three vitamins in particular must be supplemented together. If you suspect that you may have a deficiency in any one of these three B vitamins and choose to use supplements, consider also taking higher doses of the other two to ensure that all three can do their jobs properly.Some research indicates that folate deficiency may directly affect immune function as well (in fact, some speculate that folate deficiency increases susceptibility to infection). Since folate is required for the synthesis of DNA and proteins, gene expression and the construction of proteins throughout the body may be altered in cases where a person has insufficient levels of folate. Indeed, some autoimmune diseases and other health issues stem from changes that occur at the genetic level; ensuring that a person has sufficient folate may help also ensure that gene expression is as healthy and normal as possible. In regard to the immune system specifically, these changes may affect the thymus, an important gland for immune cell production and programming.
Consider these symptoms of folate deficiency to see if any of your symptoms match:
- Frequent infections
- Chronic fatigue
- Pale skin
- Shortness of breath
- Anemia
- Gastrointestinal issues
- NOTE: Folate deficiency can be caused by certain autoimmune gastrointestinal diseases, or other GI tract issues, since these can interfere with nutrient absorption. On the other hand, folate deficiency may also cause these health issues in some cases. Consider supplementing with vitamin B9 and B12 by combining a pure powder or liquid of these nutrients with DMSO to apply to the skin, as described in this article. This will help deliver these nutrients directly into your bloodstream, thus bypassing any absorption issues there might be in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Canker sores in the mouth
- Irritability or other mood shifts
- Tender or swollen tongue
Folate may be taken at a dose of up to 5mg per day, according to some studies. If taken in the more accessible, active form, methylfolate, this nutrient can be taken at a dose of at least 1200mcg per day to correct deficiency. Again, make sure you’re taking a B-100 supplement to ensure that your body is also receiving adequate levels of the other B-complex vitamins. If you’d like to incorporate folate rich foods into your diet as well, consider eating more dark leafy green vegetables (like spinach and mustard greens), cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, brussels sprouts, etc.), beans and other legumes, avocado, oranges, asparagus, and peas. If you can find grass-fed beef liver (emphasis on “grass-fed”, don’t eat just any beef liver), this can also be a rich source of not only folate, but also other B-complex vitamins and other important nutrients.
Multiple Sclerosis
All of the B-complex vitamins are important for multiple sclerosis patients, as it turns out, but there are a few, including folate, that may be especially important. Vitamin B12 deficiency is often implicated in the development of multiple sclerosis and related conditions, since this particular nutritional deficiency leads to demyelination of the nerve cells. Vitamin B9 and vitamin B12 likely work together to maintain healthy nerves (let’s not forget the importance of vitamin B9 in fetal neurodevelopment), so without enough vitamin B9, a person’s body still may not be able to do what it needs to maintain the myelin sheaths, even if that person does have enough vitamin B12.Studies have shown that folate supplementation in multiple sclerosis patients can help lower homocysteine levels (which tend to be higher in MS patients), reduce risk of megaloblastic anemia, and improve overall health and well-being. Vitamins B6, B9, and B12 also work together to maintain normal homocysteine levels, which may be relevant to multiple sclerosis patients in that abnormally high homocysteine has been linked to nerve problems, as well as a decline in cardiovascular health.
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Polyneuropathy, Myelopathy, and Related Conditions
Polyneuropathy can occur as a symptom of autoimmune disease, or as its own condition. Autoimmune diseases that are characterized by the presence of polyneuropathy or myelopathy include:- Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS0
- Multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN)
- IgM-Anti-MAG antibody mediated paraproteinemic polyneuropathy
- Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM)
- Transverse myelitis
- Devic’s disease / Neuromyelitis Optica
- Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalomyelitis
One study tested the folate levels of five patients with polyneuropathy, and found that all five had low serum folate levels. Upon further investigations, these patients were also shown to indeed have low folate intake in their diets. Two of the patients showed signs of spinal cord degeneration as well as polyneuropathy, while the other three patients only experienced polyneuropathy symptoms. Nevertheless, after 9-39 months of folate supplementation, all of the patients showed significant improvements in their symptoms, or completely recovered from their condition. This study notes that polyneuropathies that are more likely to be caused by folate deficiency may occur more often in the lower limbs than the upper limbs, and that sensory deficits and mixed sensorimotor neuropathy will be most common.
Other studies have supported this evidence. One study observed that, in a group of 10 patients with neuropathy and spinal cord degeneration, all were found to be folate deficient (though vitamin B12 levels were found to be normal). As with the study described above, the patients in this study also had a significant improvement in their symptoms after starting treatment with supplemental folate.
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In yet another somewhat more recent study, 20 patients with folate deficiency (but not vitamin B12 deficiency) also had improved symptoms after treatment with folate. Of these patients, 10 experienced peripheral neuropathy, 8 were diagnosed with subacute neuropathy and spinal cord degeneration, and 2 with myelopathy. Three of the patients in the group were developmentally delayed as well, and also showed signs of improvement in regard to their mental faculties in addition to their neuropathy symptoms after starting folate supplementation.
Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin)
Vitamin B12 is an extremely important B-complex vitamin for many reasons. While all of the B vitamins play a role in preventing and/or treating autoimmune disease, vitamin B12 deficiency is perhaps one of the first B vitamin deficiencies to consider when it comes to autoimmunity. This is because, with the rising popularity of vegan and vegetarian diets, a growing number of people are becoming deficient in this essential nutrient. While a vegetarian diet that includes daily quantities of free-range eggs, or grass-fed cheeses or milks, can still supply sufficient amounts of vitamin B12 in the diet, strict vegetarianism and veganism never (I repeat, never) will provide enough vitamin B12 to protect from deficiency.Many vegans and vegetarians are taught that you can obtain enough vitamin B12 from supplements (not true, unless you’re getting regular injections of this vitamin) or from sources like nutritional yeast (there isn’t any vitamin B12 in nutritional yeast; this is a myth). This diet trend can create a long list of health problems, including those that resemble autoimmunity. So, before continuing onwards, if you follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, we strongly recommend reincorporating grass-fed, organic meats, dairy products, and eggs back into your diet. If you don’t have access to grass-fed milks or red meats (this is the case for many Americans in particular), stick to free-range chicken and eggs, since these tend to be healthier options.
Note that even people who don’t follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, but who just don’t eat a very balanced or nutritious diet may also develop vitamin B12 deficiency in some cases. Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency here.
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Below is a list of some of the more common symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency:
- Extreme fatigue, lack of energy, or lethargy
- Shortness of breath
- Faintness
- Pale skin
- Weight loss
- Diminished appetite
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Heart palpitations
- Constipation/diarrhea
- Irritability
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Behavioral and/or emotional changes
- Memory loss and/or dementia
- Mouth ulcers
- Jaundice (yellow-colored skin)
- Depression/anxiety
- Vision problems
- Problems or changes in coordination and movement
- Glossitis (a swollen, sore tongue)
- Paresthesia (a sensation of pins and needles in the extremities)
If you suspect that you have a vitamin B12 deficiency, or if you’re not sure but have been vegan/vegetarian at any point in the past, consider combining vitamin B12 with DMSO to apply to the skin, or to drink. This accomplishes a similar goal as a vitamin B12 injection, since the DMSO can carry the vitamin B12 directly into the bloodstream. Read about how to combine vitamin B12 with DMSO at this link.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a relatively common autoimmune condition that may be caused by an initial vitamin B12 deficiency. While this isn’t a commonly accepted association in the conventional medical community, indeed there are some remarkable similarities between MS and vitamin B12 deficiency. For example, both conditions involve chronic fatigue, dizziness, muscle aches and pains, difficulty with walking and/or general coordination, constipation/diarrhea, vision loss, changes in behavior/emotions, depression/anxiety, and even memory loss in some cases. While there are also differences in terms of the symptoms of these two health issues, the list of similarities is longer than the list of differences. Also, it’s worth noting that, because vitamin B12 is a B-complex vitamin, a deficiency in this particular nutrient can lead to deficiencies or malfunctioning of the other B vitamins, which may be part of what causes certain other multiple sclerosis symptoms.Vitamin B12 deficiency has also been associated with the development of transverse myelitis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), especially in cases where these conditions develop after a person receives a vaccine (like the COVID-19 vaccine). Transverse myelitis, ADEM, and multiple sclerosis all involve inflammation or deterioration of the myelin sheaths in the nervous system. Research clearly indicates that vitamin B12 plays a key role in maintaining myelin, and that deficiency in this nutrient can lead to damage to the myelin sheaths in the peripheral, spinal, and cranial nerves. Thus, one can assume that any autoimmune disease or other health problem involving damage to the myelin sheaths could be caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency in some cases, or at the very least aggravated by low levels of this nutrient. In any case, vitamin B12 can support recovery and healing for people with these particular health problems.
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Behçet’s Disease
Hyperhomocysteinemia can be a problem for people with autoimmune disease, including for patients with Behcet’s disease. Homocysteine is an amino acid that can be toxic when it’s present in excessively high quantities; vitamins B6, B9, and B12 work together to regulate homocysteine levels and keep them from getting out of control. Some studies indicate that Behcet’s patients are more likely to have hyperhomocysteinemia than other individuals, and that they’re also more likely to have vitamin B12 deficiency as well as vitamin B9 and iron deficiencies. This seems to be especially true for patients who experience eye involvement or thrombosis.Read more about Behçet's disease cures here.
Autoimmune Addison’s Disease
Some cases of autoimmune Addison’s disease may be caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. One case report of a woman who was initially suspected to have autoimmune Addison’s disease indicated that the symptoms of her condition were actually caused by low vitamin B12 levels. The woman presented with common Addison’s disease symptoms, including hyperpigmentation, generalized weakness, and weight loss. After testing, researchers observed that the woman did not have hypocortisolemia as they’d first thought, but that rather she had megaloblastic anemia, or vitamin B12 deficiency. After the woman was given vitamin B12, she recovered completely, and the hyperpigmentation also disappeared.In this case report, the woman was given 1000mg of vitamin B12 each day via intramuscular injection for 10 days. After these 10 days, she was then given the same dose once a week for one month, and then once a month for the next two months (for a total of 3 months and 10 days of treatment). After this, she continued to take a multivitamin containing 1mg of vitamin B12.
Other Autoimmune Diseases Caused by Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Vitamin B12 deficiency may also be misdiagnosed as the following autoimmune diseases:- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
- Inflammatory bowel disease (including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease)
- Thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura
- Autoimmune gastritis
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)
- Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
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Resources:
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• Arkansas Folic Acid Coalition (n.d). New Study Finds Folic Acid Can Improve Quality of Life for MS Patients. Retrieved December 30, 2022 from: https://www.vitaminforlife.org/news/new-study-finds-folic-acid-can-improve-quality-life-ms-patients/#
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• Levy, Jillian (2017). 9 Signs of Folate Deficiency & How to Reverse It. Retrieved December 30, 2022 from: https://draxe.com/nutrition/folate-deficiency/
• Heather, James (2010). Large doses of vitamin B6 can control arthritis. Retrieved December 30, 2022 from: https://www.medicaldaily.com/large-doses-vitamin-b6-can-control-arthritis-231077
• Schumacher, H.R., et. al. (1975). Vitamin B6 levels in rheumatoid arthritis: effect of treatment. Retrieved December 30, 2022 from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1190099/
• Yasuda, Hajime, et. al. (2022). Vitamin B6 deficiency as a cause of polyneuropathy in POEMS syndrome: rapid recovery with supplementation in two cases. Retrieved December 30, 2022 from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35413228/
• Credence Research (n.d). Beta Carotene and Vitamin B6 Intake Make Lupus Less Active. Retrieved December 30, 2022 from: https://www.credenceresearch.com/news/beta-carotene-and-vitamin-b6-intake-make-lupus-less-active
• Minami, Yuko (2011). Intakes of Vitamin B6 and Dietary Fiber and Clinical Course of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Prospective Study of Japanese Female Patients. Retrieved December 30, 2022 from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51072970_Intakes_of_Vitamin_B6_and_Dietary_Fiber_and_Clinical_Course_of_Systemic_Lupus_Erythematosus_A_Prospective_Study_of_Japanese_Female_Patients
• Hammel, Johanna and Logigian, Eric (2016). Severe Acute Axonal Polyneuropathy in the Setting of Nutritional Deficiency. Retrieved December 30, 2022 from: https://n.neurology.org/content/86/16_Supplement/P3.152.short
• West, Zack (n.d). Pyridoxine Paradox: The Type of Vitamin B6 That Causes Vitamin B6 Deficiency. Retrieved December 30, 2022 from: https://www.optimusmedica.com/pyridoxine-vitamin-b6-causes-deficiency/
• Osmond, Candace (2019). Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Multiple Sclerosis: Differences and Similarities. Retrieved January 3, 2023 from: https://www.steadyhealth.com/articles/vitamin-b12-deficiency-and-multiple-sclerosis-differences-and-similarities
• Higdon, Jane (2000). Vitamin B12. Retrieved January 3, 2023 from: https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vitamins/vitamin-B12
• Agrawala, Ritesh Kumar, et. al. (2013). Pigmentation in vitamin B12 deficiency masquerading Addison’s pigmentation: A rare presentation. Retrieved January 3, 2023 from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3830324/
• Yesilova, Zeki, et. al. (2004). Hyperhomocysteinemia in patients with Behçet’s disease: is it due to inflammation or therapy? Retrieved January 3, 2023 from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00296-004-0466-9
• Wu, Yu-Hsueh, et. al. (2018). Hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies and hyperhomocysteinemia in Behçet’s disease patients with atrophic glossitis. Retrieved January 3, 2023 from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29572125/
• Costantini, Antonio, et. al. (2013). High dose thiamine improves fatigue in multiple sclerosis. Retrieved January 3, 2023 from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3736110/
• N.A. (2011). 6 Degrees of Vitamin B12 - B12 Deficiency and Autoimmune Disease. Retrieved January 3, 2023 from: https://www.b12patch.com/blog/6-degrees-of-vitamin-b12-b12-deficiency-and-autoimmune-disease/
BEFORE YOU READ THIS ARTICLE...
Be sure to take a look at a few of our e-Books titles below that might pertain to your health search:
Be sure to take a look at a few of our e-Books titles below that might pertain to your health search:
Surprising Autoimmune Disease Symptoms Caused by B Vitamin Deficiencies
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
Formal thiamine deficiency disease is known as beriberi, and can manifest in 3 different forms: dry beriberi, wet beriberi, or gastrointestinal beriberi. Dry beriberi predominantly affects the nervous system, wet beriberi affects the cardiovascular system, and gastrointestinal beriberi, of course, affects the gastrointestinal system. Because thiamine deficiency can affect such different areas of the body, it can be difficult to pin down in the more early stages. Vitamin B1 deficiency is often misdiagnosed as another kind of disease; while misdiagnosis isn’t a good thing, the positive part of having too little of a particular nutrient, like vitamin B1, is that the health problems caused by the deficiency can often be reversed to a large extent with nothing more than supplementation with that nutrient.Some people with autoimmune disease may not have a formal thiamine deficiency, but they may have lower-than-normal levels of vitamin B1 that cause certain aspects of their health problem that resemble vitamin B1 deficiency. Or, on the other hand, not having enough vitamin B1 may make it difficult for the person’s body to use certain other key nutrients, thus resulting in a kind of “deficiency cascade”. Again, though, this can be resolved with a carefully planned supplementation protocol.
Let’s look at some of the specific autoimmune diseases that may be caused by a vitamin B1 / thiamine deficiency.
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Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
One of the most important nutritional medicines for autoimmune thyroid disease is Lugol’s iodine. However, vitamin B1 also may play a crucial role in this disease.One study observed that administration of 600mg of thiamine per day was able to reduce or completely eliminate the symptoms of fatigue in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This relief from fatigue happened after only 3 days of supplementation with oral vitamin B1. The same positive results on fatigue relief were also demonstrated in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and other autoimmune diseases. Thiamine may also help regulate blood pressure levels and restore normal amounts of stomach acid in Hashimoto’s patients. While patients with Hashimoto’s may start at a dose of 600mg of thiamine per day, they may increase their dosage to up to 1500mg per day.
Click here to read more about cures for Hashimoto's.
Fibromyalgia
Dry beriberi and fibromyalgia have some things in common. For example, both conditions share symptoms such as chronic pain and/or stiffness throughout the body, fatigue, muscle weakness, tingling and/or numbness in the extremities, and more. People with a minor thiamine deficiency may be misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia, since these two health issues resemble each other so closely. And indeed, scientific research has acknowledged the very likely possibility of thiamine deficiency misdiagnosis in many cases of fibromyalgia. One study in particular observed that high-dose vitamin B1 given to three women diagnosed with fibromyalgia significantly improved their symptoms.Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome Type 3
Autoimmune polyglandular syndromes involve dysfunction in multiple glands or organ systems in the body. One study indicated that a combination of vitamin B1 and vitamin B12 may be able to quickly relieve even severe manifestations of autoimmune polyglandular syndrome. In this case report, the patient had previously diagnosed vitiligo, as well as newly diagnosed Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and pernicious anemia. His symptoms improved within a few days of treatment, which included thiamine, vitamin B12 (as cyanocobalamin), and levothyroxine.Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
Some studies have indicated that the symptoms of autoimmune encephalomyelitis may be worsened by thiamine deficiency. Indeed, thiamine deficiency can directly affect astrocytes, brain cells whose behavior may stimulate swelling in the brain and spinal cord like that seen in autoimmune encephalomyelitis. In addition to this, it’s worth noting that chronic thiamine deficiency can cause a condition called Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, which is characterized primarily by encephalomyelopathy. This further validates the direct connection between thiamine deficiency and problems related to the brain and nerves.
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Multiple Sclerosis
Vitamin B1 supplementation may help relieve the certain symptoms of multiple sclerosis, such as fatigue, as well as related symptoms such as sleep disorders, muscular weakness, mood swings, anxiety/depression, dry skin, low stress tolerance, difficulty concentrating, tachycardia, heat/cold intolerance, and more. One case report on 15 individuals with multiple sclerosis analyzed the effects of high-dose thiamine supplementation on fatigue symptoms. The report observed that at least a partial improvement in fatigue symptoms occurred in 14 out of the 15 patients, and that these improvements began within a few hours to a few days after beginning thiamine supplementation. Many patients reported a near complete recovery from their other fatigue-related symptoms, such as those listed above.In this study, patients were given thiamine according to the following dosing protocol (all amounts are given according to the daily dose that patients received):
- Patients less than 60kg - 10mg/kg
- 60-65kg - 14mg/kg (840-910mg/day)
- 65-70kg - 17mg/kg (1105-1190mg/day)
- 70-75kg - 20mg/kg (1400-1500mg/day)
- 75-80kg - 23mg/kg (1725-1840mg/day)
Click here to learn more about multiple sclerosis cures.
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
Vitamin B2 is an important B-complex vitamin that the body uses to metabolize fats, proteins, and carbohydrates to convert these to glucose and energy, as well as to support healthy immune function and the health of the skin and hair. In addition, riboflavin is absolutely essential for the conversion of tryptophan to niacin (this is, in fact, one of our main sources of dietary niacin); and niacin is then essential for the activation of vitamin B6. So, in effect, vitamin B2 deficiency can lead to niacin deficiency as well as vitamin B6 deficiency over time.Riboflavin plays a crucial role in myelin formation and maintenance, therefore individuals with autoimmune conditions like multiple sclerosis may actually have an underlying vitamin B2 deficiency (or perhaps a deficiency in multiple B-complex vitamins or nutrients). Other demyelinating autoimmune diseases that may benefit from supplementation with riboflavin include transverse myelitis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, Devic’s disease, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, among others.
Riboflavin is commonly taken at a dose of up to 400mg per day as a treatment for chronic or regular migraine headaches. As a water-soluble vitamin, riboflavin is excreted via the urine, particularly when a person takes “too much”. Because of this, though, it’s rather difficult to overdose on riboflavin. Whatever your body doesn’t need, it will simply filter out.
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
Niacin is one of the most important supplements for mental illness, and has been proven to be a cure for conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. But, its healing, curative powers don’t stop there; niacin has also been shown to be extremely effective in the treatment of other health problems, including autoimmune diseases like those discussed below.Arthritis
Arthritis comes in various forms, and affects a fairly large percentage of the population. While the vast majority of health problems should be treated with simple niacin, arthritis is best treated using niacinamide, a non-flushing form of niacin. Dr. William Kaufman was among the first physicians to use niacinamide successfully to cure arthritis symptoms in the elderly population; he administered a daily dose of 2000-4000mg (or more) of niacinamide in 4-8 divided doses throughout the day. In 1978 in a radio interview, Dr. Kaufman describes a patient whose arthritis symptoms had worsened to a point where he was unable to bend his elbows even to a 90 degree angle. Dr. Kaufman gave the patient niacinamide at the dose described above, and after one week, the patient was again able to bend his elbows.Patients of Dr. Kaufman with particular severe arthritis symptoms were to receive a total of 4000mg of niacinamide per day in 10 divided doses. Crippled patients (regardless of age) taking this dose were able to get up from bed and move around within 1-3 months after starting treatment; by 3 years after starting treatment, patients were able to move normally without symptoms. Individuals with any type of arthritis are likely to benefit from this treatment.
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Click here to read more about arthritis cures.
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is another condition that specifically benefits from niacin in its niacinamide form, similar to arthritis. Niacinamide has been shown to significantly prevent the degeneration of demyelinated axons, as well as to prevent further demyelination and reduce axonal inflammation. Dr. Abram Hoffer has successfully treated 60+ multiple sclerosis patients using a dose of between 3-6 grams of niacinamide daily, while other physicians, including Dr. H.T. Mount and Dr. Frederick Robert Klenner, have treated their multiple sclerosis patients using a combination of vitamin B1 (thiamine) and vitamin B3. Dr. Klenner also included the other B-complex vitamins, vitamin E, magnesium, and zinc in his supplementation protocol for his multiple sclerosis patients.Many case reports indicate that multiple sclerosis is likely caused not only by niacin deficiency, but by pandeficiency, or deficiencies in multiple nutrients. Once patients began taking niacin and other important nutrients, their symptoms often began to resolve very quickly. Multiple individuals who used nutritional therapies were able to all but cure their multiple sclerosis within about 1-2 years. These patients found relief from their symptoms and also demonstrated healthier brain scans and general health.
Pemphigus
Pemphigus is a chronic, debilitating autoimmune disease characterized by the development of painful blisters on the skin and mucous membranes. There are, of course, various kinds of pemphigus, but all of them have this in common. Niacinamide as well has been found to cure pemphigus completely, especially when combined with a set of other carefully chosen vitamin and mineral supplements.One case report of a man who successfully cured his pemphigus vulgaris involved the use of high-dose niacinamide, combined with high dose vitamin C, vitamins B1 and B6 (and other B-complex vitamins), vitamin E, and zinc. This patient noted that while the vitamin supplements did him a lot of benefit, the real turning point in his health situation occurred when he added 22 mg of zinc to his daily supplementation protocol. Patients who intend to use this treatment protocol should also be sure to take a 2 mg copper supplement daily to prevent the development of copper deficiency (which can sometimes happen when a person supplements with zinc for 1 month or longer).
UPDATE Regarding Natural Treatments for Pemphigus Vulgaris:
One of our readers who cured her husband of Pemphigus Vulgaris noted that one man that she knew of had cured this disease (or as the man reported, he'd caused it to go into remission for 28 years), had specifically noted the importance of taking zinc with copper in the proper proportions as a turning point in his recovery. This reader also noted that a doctor in South America used high doses of vitamin D3 to cure the disease. She told us that GcMAF yogurt, as described by the Western Price Foundation was one of the key treatments that helped her husband recover from Pemphigus Vulgaris. This treatment also pays homage to the need for vitamin D via both supplementation as well as sunlight exposure along with an array of bioavailable supportive nutrients and natural, food-derived probiotics. Read more about GcMAF yogurt as a cure for Pemphigus Vulgaris here at the Weston Price Foundation.Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is an important vitamin for a long list of functions in the body. This nutrient plays a crucial role in the metabolism of amino acids, fats, and glucose, it supports neurotransmitter production, encourages healthy gene expression, and is required in order for the body to synthesize and use hemoglobin. While a lot of sources claim that deficiency in vitamin B6 is rare, this may not always be the case, especially in situations where a person’s diet is poor or lacks variation.Vitamin B6 deficiency symptoms include conjunctivitis, skin rash, neuropathy/tingling or numbness in the extremities, cracked or sore lips, especially at the corners of the mouth (angular cheilitis), sore and/or glossy tongue (glossitis), irritability or mood swings, and fatigue. People with vitamin B6 deficiency also tend to be more susceptible to infection, and may have higher-than-normal homocysteine levels.
Vitamin B6 should be taken in the form of pyridoxal, a more bioavailable and gentler form of the nutrient, at a dose of 25-100mg per day. It may be taken over the long term at a higher dose, but be sure to also include adequate doses of the other B-complex vitamins.
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Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Lupus patients may benefit from all of the B-complex vitamins, but a special connection has been observed between vitamin B6 supplementation and an improvement in lupus symptoms. One study noted that the administration of vitamin B6, beta-carotene, and linoleic acid may be protective against lupus symptoms. Patients who consumed higher levels of these nutrients were less likely to experience active lupus symptoms than patients who didn’t consume sufficient amounts of these.Other research has supported this, with another Japanese cohort study indicating that higher vitamin B6 intake was indeed associated with a decreased risk of active lupus. Dietary fiber was also observed as being beneficial in this study.
Read about systemic lupus erythematosus cures here.
Neuropathy
There are many autoimmune problems that involve neuropathy, so although this is more of an autoimmune symptom than an autoimmune disease (at least in some cases), it still deserves its own heading.In one study, 6 patients with polyneuropathy showed low vitamin B6 levels and low to normal copper levels on nutrition tests. The patients also had low electrolyte levels. They were treated with thiamine (vitamin B1), vitamin B6, copper supplements, and a multivitamin, along with immunoglobulin, for 4 months. Out of the 4 patients who returned for follow up, all of them saw significant improvement, though they still experienced some disabilities due to the prior severity of their condition.
Arthritis
High-dose vitamin B6 therapy, when given over the course of at least 12 weeks, has been shown to decrease inflammation in patients with arthritis. In one Taiwanese study, this vitamin was shown to reduce IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels specifically in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The researchers didn’t observe a notable difference in the patients’ immune responses, but since the vitamin B6 was able to reduce inflammation, it also helped reduce pain and improve quality of life. In this study, vitamin B6 was given at a dose of 100mg per day in combination with 5mg of folic acid.A different study observed that patients with rheumatoid arthritis were more likely to have low serum levels of vitamin B6 than healthy individuals. The study administered 50-150mg of vitamin B6 as pyridoxine hydrochloride for 3 months; this increased the patients’ serum vitamin B6 levels, but there wasn’t any clinical change in their condition. This could be because the patients also needed other nutrients (like the other B-complex vitamins) in order for the vitamin B6 supplements to actually work, or perhaps because their condition was associated not only with nutritional deficiency, but perhaps also with an obscured, chronic infection or some other yet undiscovered cause.
POEMS Syndrome
POEMS syndrome is an autoimmune condition that includes symptoms and clinical signs such as polyneuropathy, organ enlargement, edema, swelling and dysfunction in the endocrine organs, and skin changes. Some evidence exists that POEMS syndrome polyneuropathy specifically may be caused by vitamin B6 deficiency. Indeed, vitamin B6 deficiency-related polyneuropathy and POEMS syndrome polyneuropathy closely resemble each other in many ways; both tend to be more intense in the lower limbs, sensorimotor, symmetrical, and to have a “stocking and glove” type distribution.One article documented two case reports of POEMS syndrome patients who rapidly improved after beginning supplementation with vitamin B6. Both patients were able to walk without a cane after taking vitamin B6 (the first patient only required a week of treatment, while the second patient required 2 months of treatment), and scans also revealed that both of these individuals experienced neurological recovery, indicating that vitamin B6 works as a truly curative treatment, and not just as a “bandaid” like some conventional drugs.
Follow this link to read more about POEMS syndrome cures.
Vitamin B9 (Folate)
Vitamin B9 deficiency can be a serious thing, especially when it’s accompanied by deficiencies in other essential nutrients (as it often is). Vitamin B9 works closely with vitamin B6 and vitamin B12, with vitamin B6 being absolutely essential for vitamin B12 absorption (meaning that a vitamin B6 deficiency directly correlates with vitamin B12 deficiency), and vitamin B9 and B12 working together as coenzymes to produce a wide array of metabolic reactions in the body. Though the B-complex vitamins should, ideally, be taken together in all cases, these three vitamins in particular must be supplemented together. If you suspect that you may have a deficiency in any one of these three B vitamins and choose to use supplements, consider also taking higher doses of the other two to ensure that all three can do their jobs properly.Some research indicates that folate deficiency may directly affect immune function as well (in fact, some speculate that folate deficiency increases susceptibility to infection). Since folate is required for the synthesis of DNA and proteins, gene expression and the construction of proteins throughout the body may be altered in cases where a person has insufficient levels of folate. Indeed, some autoimmune diseases and other health issues stem from changes that occur at the genetic level; ensuring that a person has sufficient folate may help also ensure that gene expression is as healthy and normal as possible. In regard to the immune system specifically, these changes may affect the thymus, an important gland for immune cell production and programming.
Consider these symptoms of folate deficiency to see if any of your symptoms match:
- Frequent infections
- Chronic fatigue
- Pale skin
- Shortness of breath
- Anemia
- Gastrointestinal issues
- NOTE: Folate deficiency can be caused by certain autoimmune gastrointestinal diseases, or other GI tract issues, since these can interfere with nutrient absorption. On the other hand, folate deficiency may also cause these health issues in some cases. Consider supplementing with vitamin B9 and B12 by combining a pure powder or liquid of these nutrients with DMSO to apply to the skin, as described in this article. This will help deliver these nutrients directly into your bloodstream, thus bypassing any absorption issues there might be in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Canker sores in the mouth
- Irritability or other mood shifts
- Tender or swollen tongue
Folate may be taken at a dose of up to 5mg per day, according to some studies. If taken in the more accessible, active form, methylfolate, this nutrient can be taken at a dose of at least 1200mcg per day to correct deficiency. Again, make sure you’re taking a B-100 supplement to ensure that your body is also receiving adequate levels of the other B-complex vitamins. If you’d like to incorporate folate rich foods into your diet as well, consider eating more dark leafy green vegetables (like spinach and mustard greens), cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, brussels sprouts, etc.), beans and other legumes, avocado, oranges, asparagus, and peas. If you can find grass-fed beef liver (emphasis on “grass-fed”, don’t eat just any beef liver), this can also be a rich source of not only folate, but also other B-complex vitamins and other important nutrients.
Multiple Sclerosis
All of the B-complex vitamins are important for multiple sclerosis patients, as it turns out, but there are a few, including folate, that may be especially important. Vitamin B12 deficiency is often implicated in the development of multiple sclerosis and related conditions, since this particular nutritional deficiency leads to demyelination of the nerve cells. Vitamin B9 and vitamin B12 likely work together to maintain healthy nerves (let’s not forget the importance of vitamin B9 in fetal neurodevelopment), so without enough vitamin B9, a person’s body still may not be able to do what it needs to maintain the myelin sheaths, even if that person does have enough vitamin B12.Studies have shown that folate supplementation in multiple sclerosis patients can help lower homocysteine levels (which tend to be higher in MS patients), reduce risk of megaloblastic anemia, and improve overall health and well-being. Vitamins B6, B9, and B12 also work together to maintain normal homocysteine levels, which may be relevant to multiple sclerosis patients in that abnormally high homocysteine has been linked to nerve problems, as well as a decline in cardiovascular health.
Polyneuropathy, Myelopathy, and Related Conditions
Polyneuropathy can occur as a symptom of autoimmune disease, or as its own condition. Autoimmune diseases that are characterized by the presence of polyneuropathy or myelopathy include:- Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS0
- Multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN)
- IgM-Anti-MAG antibody mediated paraproteinemic polyneuropathy
- Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM)
- Transverse myelitis
- Devic’s disease / Neuromyelitis Optica
- Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalomyelitis
One study tested the folate levels of five patients with polyneuropathy, and found that all five had low serum folate levels. Upon further investigations, these patients were also shown to indeed have low folate intake in their diets. Two of the patients showed signs of spinal cord degeneration as well as polyneuropathy, while the other three patients only experienced polyneuropathy symptoms. Nevertheless, after 9-39 months of folate supplementation, all of the patients showed significant improvements in their symptoms, or completely recovered from their condition. This study notes that polyneuropathies that are more likely to be caused by folate deficiency may occur more often in the lower limbs than the upper limbs, and that sensory deficits and mixed sensorimotor neuropathy will be most common.
Other studies have supported this evidence. One study observed that, in a group of 10 patients with neuropathy and spinal cord degeneration, all were found to be folate deficient (though vitamin B12 levels were found to be normal). As with the study described above, the patients in this study also had a significant improvement in their symptoms after starting treatment with supplemental folate.
In yet another somewhat more recent study, 20 patients with folate deficiency (but not vitamin B12 deficiency) also had improved symptoms after treatment with folate. Of these patients, 10 experienced peripheral neuropathy, 8 were diagnosed with subacute neuropathy and spinal cord degeneration, and 2 with myelopathy. Three of the patients in the group were developmentally delayed as well, and also showed signs of improvement in regard to their mental faculties in addition to their neuropathy symptoms after starting folate supplementation.
Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin)
Vitamin B12 is an extremely important B-complex vitamin for many reasons. While all of the B vitamins play a role in preventing and/or treating autoimmune disease, vitamin B12 deficiency is perhaps one of the first B vitamin deficiencies to consider when it comes to autoimmunity. This is because, with the rising popularity of vegan and vegetarian diets, a growing number of people are becoming deficient in this essential nutrient. While a vegetarian diet that includes daily quantities of free-range eggs, or grass-fed cheeses or milks, can still supply sufficient amounts of vitamin B12 in the diet, strict vegetarianism and veganism never (I repeat, never) will provide enough vitamin B12 to protect from deficiency.Many vegans and vegetarians are taught that you can obtain enough vitamin B12 from supplements (not true, unless you’re getting regular injections of this vitamin) or from sources like nutritional yeast (there isn’t any vitamin B12 in nutritional yeast; this is a myth). This diet trend can create a long list of health problems, including those that resemble autoimmunity. So, before continuing onwards, if you follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, we strongly recommend reincorporating grass-fed, organic meats, dairy products, and eggs back into your diet. If you don’t have access to grass-fed milks or red meats (this is the case for many Americans in particular), stick to free-range chicken and eggs, since these tend to be healthier options.
Note that even people who don’t follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, but who just don’t eat a very balanced or nutritious diet may also develop vitamin B12 deficiency in some cases. Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency here.
Below is a list of some of the more common symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency:
- Extreme fatigue, lack of energy, or lethargy
- Shortness of breath
- Faintness
- Pale skin
- Weight loss
- Diminished appetite
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Heart palpitations
- Constipation/diarrhea
- Irritability
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Behavioral and/or emotional changes
- Memory loss and/or dementia
- Mouth ulcers
- Jaundice (yellow-colored skin)
- Depression/anxiety
- Vision problems
- Problems or changes in coordination and movement
- Glossitis (a swollen, sore tongue)
- Paresthesia (a sensation of pins and needles in the extremities)
If you suspect that you have a vitamin B12 deficiency, or if you’re not sure but have been vegan/vegetarian at any point in the past, consider combining vitamin B12 with DMSO to apply to the skin, or to drink. This accomplishes a similar goal as a vitamin B12 injection, since the DMSO can carry the vitamin B12 directly into the bloodstream. Read about how to combine vitamin B12 with DMSO at this link.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a relatively common autoimmune condition that may be caused by an initial vitamin B12 deficiency. While this isn’t a commonly accepted association in the conventional medical community, indeed there are some remarkable similarities between MS and vitamin B12 deficiency. For example, both conditions involve chronic fatigue, dizziness, muscle aches and pains, difficulty with walking and/or general coordination, constipation/diarrhea, vision loss, changes in behavior/emotions, depression/anxiety, and even memory loss in some cases. While there are also differences in terms of the symptoms of these two health issues, the list of similarities is longer than the list of differences. Also, it’s worth noting that, because vitamin B12 is a B-complex vitamin, a deficiency in this particular nutrient can lead to deficiencies or malfunctioning of the other B vitamins, which may be part of what causes certain other multiple sclerosis symptoms.Vitamin B12 deficiency has also been associated with the development of transverse myelitis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), especially in cases where these conditions develop after a person receives a vaccine (like the COVID-19 vaccine). Transverse myelitis, ADEM, and multiple sclerosis all involve inflammation or deterioration of the myelin sheaths in the nervous system. Research clearly indicates that vitamin B12 plays a key role in maintaining myelin, and that deficiency in this nutrient can lead to damage to the myelin sheaths in the peripheral, spinal, and cranial nerves. Thus, one can assume that any autoimmune disease or other health problem involving damage to the myelin sheaths could be caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency in some cases, or at the very least aggravated by low levels of this nutrient. In any case, vitamin B12 can support recovery and healing for people with these particular health problems.
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Behçet’s Disease
Hyperhomocysteinemia can be a problem for people with autoimmune disease, including for patients with Behcet’s disease. Homocysteine is an amino acid that can be toxic when it’s present in excessively high quantities; vitamins B6, B9, and B12 work together to regulate homocysteine levels and keep them from getting out of control. Some studies indicate that Behcet’s patients are more likely to have hyperhomocysteinemia than other individuals, and that they’re also more likely to have vitamin B12 deficiency as well as vitamin B9 and iron deficiencies. This seems to be especially true for patients who experience eye involvement or thrombosis.Read more about Behçet's disease cures here.
Autoimmune Addison’s Disease
Some cases of autoimmune Addison’s disease may be caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. One case report of a woman who was initially suspected to have autoimmune Addison’s disease indicated that the symptoms of her condition were actually caused by low vitamin B12 levels. The woman presented with common Addison’s disease symptoms, including hyperpigmentation, generalized weakness, and weight loss. After testing, researchers observed that the woman did not have hypocortisolemia as they’d first thought, but that rather she had megaloblastic anemia, or vitamin B12 deficiency. After the woman was given vitamin B12, she recovered completely, and the hyperpigmentation also disappeared.In this case report, the woman was given 1000mg of vitamin B12 each day via intramuscular injection for 10 days. After these 10 days, she was then given the same dose once a week for one month, and then once a month for the next two months (for a total of 3 months and 10 days of treatment). After this, she continued to take a multivitamin containing 1mg of vitamin B12.
Other Autoimmune Diseases Caused by Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Vitamin B12 deficiency may also be misdiagnosed as the following autoimmune diseases:- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
- Inflammatory bowel disease (including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease)
- Thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura
- Autoimmune gastritis
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)
- Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
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Resources:
• Costantini, Antonio, et. al. (2014). Thiamine and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: A Report of Three Cases. Retrieved December 28, 2022 from: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2012.0612
• Wentz, Isabella (2022). 7 Most Common Nutrient Deficiencies in Hashimoto’s. Retrieved December 28, 2022 from: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/most-common-nutrient-deficiencies-hashimotos/
• Costantini, Antonio, et. al. (2013). High-dose thiamine improves the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Retrieved December 28, 2022 from: https://casereports.bmj.com/content/2013/bcr-2013-009019.short
• Apolinario, Michael, et. al. (2022). Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 3: A case report of an unusual presentation and literature review. Retrieved December 28, 2022 from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ccr3.5391
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