Fibromyalgia and B-Complex

People suffering from fibromyalgia experience pain in their muscles, tiredness, and tenderness in different places of the body. Although the cause of this chronic condition is still not known, there are various treatment options.

One such treatment that helps reduce pain is the intake of vitamin B-complex. Vitamin B-complex consists of eight B vitamins, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, and B12.

These vitamins are also known as Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin or Nicotinic acid, Pantothenic acid, Pyridoxine or Pyridoxal or Pyridoxamine, Biotin, Folic acid, and Cobalamins, respectively.

These vitamins play an important role in running the body. It helps convert the food into fuel, energizing the body throughout the day.

Doctors have been known to give Vitamin B-Complex to fibromyalgia patients for treatment. It has also been reported that fibromyalgia patients experienced significant improvements in their symptoms after the use of different Vitamin B- complex.

B vitamins are a class of water-soluble vitamins that play important roles in cell metabolism.  The different types of Vitamin B-Complex are as follows:

Vitamin B1 or Thiamine

Thiamine or vitamin B1 is required for cellular energy. It is a required for several enzymatic processes such as glucose metabolism.

According to a study, most of the symptoms of fibromyalgia may be the clinical manifestation of a mild thiamine deficiency due to a dysfunction of the active transport of thiamine from the blood to the mitochondria or to enzymatic abnormalities.

The study looked at three women suffering from fibromyalgia. The level of their thiamine in the blood was determined. After that, they were given high doses of thiamine. The results showed that the patients had improved symptoms of fibromyalgia.

In another study, Italian physicians found a significant reduction in fibromyalgia symptoms in three patients who were given a high dose of thiamine.

The results showed 71 percent reduction in fatigue, and 80 percent reduction in pain in patient one, 37 percent reduction in fatigue and 50 percent reduction in pain in patient two and 60 percent reduction in fatigue and 60 percent reduction in pain in patient three.

Vitamin B2 or Riboflavin

Riboflavin is a water-soluble B vitamin. It helps in the production of energy in all the tissues in the body.  It is vital for the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

It acts as an antioxidant and is important for the maintenance of the nervous system and the skin.

This Vitamin B2 is also believed to be helpful for fibromyalgia patients.

Vitamin B3 or Niacin

Vitamin B3 or niacin is an important water-soluble vitamin that can be found in many common foods including certain types of meat.

It maintains a healthy cardiovascular system and metabolism- especially balancing blood cholesterol levels.

Niacin is known to slow down phase one of the body’s natural detoxification process while it speeds up phase two. Niacin has also been studied as a treatment for other health problem including fibromyalgia.

Vitamin B5 or Pantothenic acid

Vitamin B5, also known as pantothenic acid is a water soluble B-vitamin that is critical for normal function of the human body.  It is commonly called anti-stress nutrient since it plays a role in the production of stress hormones by the adrenal glands.

The lack of Vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid contributes to the inability to cope with stress. It is also known to be beneficial for people suffering from fibromyalgia.

Vitamin B6 or Pyridoxine

Vitamin B6 is also called pyridoxine. This vitamin plays a role in the process of making serotonin and norepinephrine. These are chemicals that transmit signals in the brain. Vitamin B6 is also involved in the formation of myelin, a protein layer that forms around nerve cells.

Vitamin B7 or Biotin

Biotin or Vitamin B7 is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin that plays a vital role in helping the body metabolize proteins and process glucose.

Vitamin B9 or Folic acid and Vitamin B12

According to researchers at the Gottfries Clinic, affiliated with the Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Gothenburg University in Sweden, therapy based on vitamin B9 and B12 can improve to some extent the overall health status of patients suffering from fibromyalgia.

The study “Response to vitamin B12 and folic Acid in myalgic encephalomyelitis and fibromyalgia,” included thirty-eight patients in a cross-sectional survey.

The study concluded that frequent injections of high-concentrated vitamin B12, combined with an individual daily dose of oral folic acid, may provide blood saturations high enough to be a remedy for good and safe relief in a subgroup of patients with fibromyalgia and myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Foods that contain vitamin B-complex

Some foods are especially good sources of just one B vitamin, while other foods contain several B vitamins.

Vitamin B1 or Thiamine – found in cereals such as rice, and wheat, bread, fortified cereals and pasta, and lentils.

Vitamin B2 or Riboflavin – found in chicken, fish, eggs, legumes, milk and milk products, nuts, spinach, broccoli, asparagus, and fortified cereals.

Vitamin B3 or Niacin – found in chicken, salmon and in fishes like canned tuna, legumes, pasta and whole wheat.

Vitamin B5 or Pantothenic acid – found in yogurt and avocado, legumes, sweet potatoes, mushrooms and broccoli.

Vitamin B6 or Pyridoxine – found in potatoes, beans, red meat, poultry, eggs and fortified cereals.

Vitamin B7 or Biotin – found in liver and egg yolks, salmon, pork, and grain foods.

Vitamin B9 or Folic acid – found in spinach, fenugreek, turnip greens, asparagus, Liver, dried beans and other legumes, and orange juice.

Vitamin B12 or Cobalamin – found in fish, red meat, poultry, milk, milk products, cheese, and eggs

Some side effects of Vitamin B-Complex

Here are some of the side effects of B-complex but are not very severe

• Black Stools
• Diarrhea
• Incomplete or Infrequent Bowel Movements
• Intense Abdominal Pain
• Some rare side effects include these:
• Bronchospasm
• Feeling confused
• Sleeping problem
• Swelling of the Abdomen
• Depression
• Vomiting
• Loss of Appetite
• Itching

Fibromyalgia patients are often prescribed Vitamin B complex. However, it is important for a person with fibromyalgia to consult his or her doctor before taking any kind of Vitamin B.