A novel turn in neuropathy research inspired by long Covid findings.Gut health, phytochemicals & nerve wellness.
Peripheral neuropathy research is about to take a novel turn thanks to clues from a long Covid study where participants reported improvements in neurological symptoms including pins and needles, hyperaesthesia and peripheral neuropathy.
Peripheral neuropathy affects nerves in the hands and feet.
Peripheral neuropathy is a syndrome caused by damage to the nerves in the hands and feet in a “stocking and glove” distribution.
Symptoms include numbness, pins and needles, often with a troublesome burning feeling known as hyperaesthesia. As it progresses, muscle weakness, impaired balance and coordination can occur, causing difficulty with walking and other movements.
In many cases, no underlying cause is found.
No underlying cause is found in the majority of cases, but several contributory conditions can be involved.
Oxidative stress and inflammation are key areas of scientific attention.
The underlying mechanisms of nerve damage are multifactorial. Recently, scientific attention has focused on oxidative stress and excess inflammation in the nerves.
Oxidative stress has been shown to accelerate spinal glial nerve cell degeneration and may interfere with nerve recovery.
Excess inflammation may block repair of damaged nerves and contribute to ongoing neurological discomfort.
Phytochemical-rich foods have been shown to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, with laboratory findings correlating with improved peripheral nervous system functional recovery.
The long Covid intervention included YourGutPlus+ to support gut health and vitamin D levels as part of a broader nutritional strategy.
The long Covid study used two nutritional supplements.
The intervention consisted of YourGutPlus+ to support gut health and vitamin D levels, plus Phyto-V to boost the intake of phytochemicals known for anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties.
YourGutPlus+
A capsule used in the long Covid study to help support gut health and vitamin D levels as part of the intervention.
Phyto-V
A phytochemical-rich supplement used to boost intake of natural nutrients in plants known for anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties.
Following media reports of the study I decided to buy and take Phyto-V. I was nicely surprised that after 4 weeks my long standing neuropathy started to improve. When I stopped it, my pins and needles returned. Happily, when I restarted it again they disappeared – I won’t stop now.
— Rachael, email shared with the trials unit
Neurological symptoms improved in response to the long Covid intervention.
The long Covid study involved 147 people with multiple distressing symptoms, including 6% with peripheral neuropathy, pins and needles or hyperaesthesia. These neurological symptoms improved in response to the intervention.
In the final publication in the journal COVID, these symptoms were noted, although the main emphasis was on substantial improvements in fatigue, sleep, muscle aches, gut symptoms and overall wellbeing.
Long Covid trial participants received YourGutPlus+ and Phyto-V as part of a nutritional intervention.
Neurological symptoms including pins and needles and hyperaesthesia improved in a subset of participants.
The scientific committee reconvened and designed a new trial to investigate peripheral neuropathy in more detail.
A new trial is being designed to examine peripheral neuropathy directly.
Following the comments and results seen in the long Covid trial, the trials team decided to examine the causes and treatments for peripheral neuropathy in more detail.
The scientific committee, led by a team from Bedford and Addenbrooke’s Cambridge University Hospitals, was reconvened and a new trial was designed.
After 150 patients have finished the six-month intervention, the blinding codes will be opened to determine whether the early signals are confirmed.
The future trial aims to determine:
- Whether the intervention helps peripheral neuropathy symptoms
- Whether Phyto-V works on its own
- Whether Phyto-V must be combined with YourGutPlus+ as in the Covid trial
- Whether a safe, practical, low-cost self-help strategy could be possible
A practical nutritional strategy may offer new hope.
If positive, this could become one of the largest and most robust nutritional interventions addressing peripheral neuropathy discomfort and could provide a practical, safe and low-cost self-help strategy for millions.