Methylcobalamin (Vitamin B12): Magical Drug for Back Pain and Fatigue

Vitamin B12 is regarded as a painkilling vitamin in some countries. Vitamin B12’s important roles include helping the brain or the nervous system to work as well as blood formation. For various methods, such as DNA synthesis and regulations, fatty acid synthesis, and energy generation, vitamin B12 is also essential.

Vitamin B12, like cyanocobalamine (CNCbl), methylate (meclbl), oxylate (OHCbl) and adenosylcobalamine, have some analogs Vitamin B12 contains (AdoCbl). Vitamin B12 cannot be specifically used inside the human body and must be converted into active shapes such as MeCbl or AdoCbl.

Dietary lack in cobalamin triggers many severe health issues such as blood failure, depression, irritability and a psychosis. Long-term vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to hyperhomocysteinemia and heart disease.

Methylcobalamine is considered efficient in comparison with other analogs since it is absorbed by neurons subcellular organelles. Hence, MeCbl may be a better option to treat nervous disorders. And vitamin B12 is regarded as an analgesic drug.  Vitamin B12 has neuroprotective actions and is also used for the treatment of pain.

Vitamin B12 Supplements

A vitamin B12- Food sources, Credits: canva

The average adult should get 2.4 micrograms a day. B12 cannot be produced by the body, like other vitamins. Instead, food or supplements is being used. Some of the food sources of vitamin B12 include fish and shellfish, poultry, dairy products, eggs, and fortified cereals. Vitamin B12 supplements are available as Nurokind, Nurokind Plus, Nurokind LC, Nurokind OD, Nurokind Gold, Methylcobalamin, and Mecobalamin.

Vitamin B12 for Back Pain

A woman suffering from back pain, Credits: canva

Back pain is one of the common issues. Low back pain significantly affects the mobility, functioning of daily activities, resulting in considerable economic and societal consequences.

The causes of the back pain can be enormous like cancer, infection, inflammatory disorders, disorders of the spine, and disk herniation. Acetaminophen and NSAIDs are used to treat back pain.

Methylcoablamin is used to treat chronic low back pain. Recent studies show that vitamin B complex can be an effective option in treating back pain. 1mg of vitamin B12, 50-100mg of vitamin B6 can be used as an adjunct to NSAID therapy. In a double-blind, randomized study it was found that patients receiving a combination of diclofenac and B complex vitamins achieved better treatment responses in terms of pain reduction, and improvement in mobility and functionality. Some studies suggested that MeCbl may not be an effective option to treat lumbar spinal stenosis.

Vitamin B12 for Fatigue

A tired woman, Credits: canva

The main symptoms of B12 deficiency are fatigue and weakness. Vitamin B12 deficiency results in poor production of red blood cells. Insufficient RBCs results in deprivation of oxygen. When cells don’t receive enough oxygen, you feel tired and weak.

In the elderly, this type of anemia is termed pernicious anemia. When it comes to treating patients with fatigue using vitamin B12 injections, the results are inconsistent and the dosage regimens are unclear. Large scale clinical trials are required to validate the findings.