Arthritis is no longer a disease only seen in the elderly. Currently, many young people are also diagnosed with different forms of arthritis, with common symptoms such as prolonged joint pain, morning stiffness, swelling and limited movement. Faced with this situation, many patients seek support measures besides medication and physical therapy, including vitamin B supplementation.
According to Dr. Akhilesh Rathi, Director of the Department of Orthopedics, Joint Replacement and Robot Surgery, Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute (India), arthritis is a complex disease, not only affecting joints but also related to muscles, nerves and the entire motor system. Therefore, nutrition plays a certain supporting role in the disease control process.
Vitamin B is not a single substance but a group of vitamins, of which vitamins B1, B6, B9 and B12 are often mentioned. These vitamins participate in many important bodily functions such as maintaining the function of the nervous system, supporting muscle function and participating in energy metabolism.
In this group, vitamins B6 and B12 are directly related to neurohealth. When the nervous system is affected, the feeling of pain may become more pronounced or prolonged, especially in patients with arthritis accompanied by neuralgia.
According to Dr. Rathi, vitamin B does not have the effect of treating the cause of arthritis. However, in some cases, supplementation can help reduce neurological symptoms such as numbness, tingling, or weakness in limbs. These symptoms are common in elderly patients, people with diabetes, or people who have been taking medication for a long time, leading to vitamin B deficiency, especially vitamin B12.
However, not all arthritis patients need vitamin B supplementation. Using vitamins without testing to determine the deficiency does not bring obvious benefits in reducing joint pain or inflammation. Conversely, unnecessary vitamin use can cause some unwanted effects such as digestive discomfort or nausea.
Vitamin B can be considered in cases of arthritis accompanied by neuralgia, elderly patients diagnosed with vitamin B12 deficiency, people with diabetic neuropathy or people who have to take pain relievers for a long time. In these cases, vitamin B only plays a supporting role, not replacing the main treatments.
Experts emphasize that arthritis treatment requires a comprehensive approach. Patients should maintain a balanced diet, control weight, exercise appropriately, combine physical therapy and use medication as prescribed by medicine. Vitamin B, if necessary, should only be supplemented after being evaluated by a doctor.
