<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Vitamin deficiencies can cause many different neurological problems. One of the most striking is a myeloneuropathy, meaning problems with the spinal cord and the &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/the-peripheral-nervous-system-2488804&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;peripheral nervous system&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Neurological problems associated with vitamin deficiencies were first noticed in about 2004. People begin to develop an\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-ataxia-2488858&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;ataxia&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;\u00A0with clumsiness due to lack of ability to tell where their body parts were in space (&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/proprioception-2696141&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot;&amp;gt;proprioception&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;). Numbness and weakness also developed. On a neurological examination,\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-a-reflex-2488718&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot;&amp;gt;reflexes&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;\u00A0were found to be abnormally brisk.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;One of the best known of myeloneuropathy is the one caused by low\u00A0vitamin B12. But other vitamin deficiencies like copper, folate, or vitamin E can also cause problems with the spinal cord.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Vitamin B12 Deficiency&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;B12 deficiency can cause a wide number of different neurological problems, but the best known is the myeloneuropathy called &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/subacute-combined-degeneration-2488570&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot;&amp;gt;subacute combined degeneration&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.\u00A0B12 deficiency causes disease of the posterior columns of the spinal cord, which carry information about light touch, vibration and the position of the body in space (proprioception) from the body to the brain. As a result of this myeloneuropathy, numbness and weakness result. The numbness develops in a &amp;amp;#34;stocking-glove pattern&amp;amp;#34; which means that it moves gradually and evenly up the arms and legs (after starting in the feet and hands).&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Copper Deficiency&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Copper deficiency resembles that of B12 deficiency. The most common cause is malabsorption, such as after &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/mistakes-we-make-after-exercise-3495198&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;6&amp;quot;&amp;gt;bariatric surgery&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, or malabsorption syndromes like &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-celiac-disease-563183&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;7&amp;quot;&amp;gt;celiac disease&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. Excess zinc intake can also lead to copper deficiency. In addition to zinc supplements, some denture creams also contain excessive levels of zinc.\u00A0The diagnosis of copper deficiency can be made by testing for copper levels in the blood -- and usually a doctor will check zinc levels too.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The treatment of copper deficiency is by supplementing with oral copper and, if necessary, reducing zinc consumption.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Folate Deficiency&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Folate (tetrahydroflic acid) is found in citrus fruits and green leafy vegetables. It may be low in alcoholics or malabsortive syndromes. In pregnancy, low folate levels may lead to fetal spinal malformations, which has led to general recommendations that women supplement with this vitamin if they are considering pregnancy.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Folate deficiency is usually accompanied by other vitamin deficiencies that can cause neurological patterns. That said, patterns similar to subacute combined degeneration have been described with folate deficiency, with cognitive changes, as well as numbness and weakness, and most doctors still check a folate level in the blood if these symptoms are present and suggest a myeloneuropathy.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Folic acid is easily taken by mouth but can also mask an underlying vitamin B12 deficiency and actually worsen a person&amp;amp;#39;s myeloneuropathy. This is why doctors will rule out a vitamin B12 deficiency before starting folic acid supplementation.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Vitamin E Deficiency&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;While the primary neurologic deficit in vitamin E deficiency is a spinocerebellar syndrome, there is often a concomitant large fiber sensory-predominant axonal peripheral neuropathy. Vitamin E deficiency occurs in the setting of severe fat malabsorption (eg, biliary dysfunction, cystic fibrosis) or genetic disorders (eg, ataxia with vitamin E deficiency or abetalipoproteinemia). Strategies to treat vitamin E deficiency include improving fat absorption and oral vitamin E supplementation.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin found in seeds, grains, and wheat germ. It&amp;amp;#39;s rare that vitamin E deficiency is due to dietary deficiencies, but it may result from conditions that cause significant fat malabsorption. Appropriate digestion of vitamin E requires pancreatic enzymes and bile salts from the liver. Sometimes there are inherited disorders of vitamin E metabolism which can cause problems, especially in children.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The symptoms of vitamin E deficiency include eye movement abnormalities, vision changes, &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-ataxia-2488858&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;8&amp;quot;&amp;gt;cerebellar ataxia&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; and a peripheral neuropathy, in addition to signs of posterior column sensory loss in a manner reminiscent of the other vitamin deficiencies discussed.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Vitamin E levels can be directly measured in the blood, though these levels can be affected by levels of cholesterol and &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://biology.about.com/od/molecularbiology/ss/phospholipids.htm&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;9&amp;quot; rel=&amp;quot;nofollow&amp;quot;&amp;gt;lipids&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; in the bloodstream. Treatment of vitamin E deficiency is with oral vitamin E supplements and improving fat absorption (treating the underlying medical condition, if possible).\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Bottom Line&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;While the myeloneuropathy caused by these vitamin deficiencies can be severe, the good news is the symptoms can improve or even resolve with proper treatment.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If your doctor does test you for a myeloneuropathy, he may order a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which can show lesions in the posterior part of the spinal cord and an\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/understanding-emg-and-ncs-results-2488642&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;10&amp;quot;&amp;gt;electromyogram (EMG) and nerve conduction study (NCS)&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, which\u00A0show slowing.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Sources:&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Brent, P. Goodman, Diagnostic Approach to Myeloneuropathy; Continuum: Spinal Cord, Root, and Plexus Disorders Volume 17, Number 4, August 2011.&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Oh, R.C., &amp;amp;amp; Brown, D.L. (2003). Vitamin B12 Deficiency. &amp;lt;em&amp;gt;American Family Physician&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;, Mar 1;67(5):979-86.&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Ropper, A.H. Samuels, M.A.. Adams and Victor&amp;amp;#39;s Principles of Neurology, 9th ed: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2009.&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Staff, N.P. &amp;amp;amp; Windebank, A.J. (2014). Peripheral neuropathy due to vitamin deficiency, toxins, and medications. &amp;lt;em&amp;gt;Continuum (Minneap Minn)&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;, Oct;20(5 Peripheral Nervous System Disorders):1293-1306.&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;em&amp;gt;DISCLAIMER: The information in this site is for educational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for personal care by a licensed physician. Please see your doctor for diagnosis and treatment of any concerning symptoms or medical condition&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<https://www.verywell.com/vitamin-deficiencies-and-the-spinal-cord-2488882>