Complex B vitamins: Physiology and Therapeutic Effect on Pain

Alberto Mimenza Alvarado^1, and Sara Aguilar Navarro¹

¹Geriatric Department, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, México

Cite this paper:
Alberto Mimenza Alvarado and Sara Aguilar Navarro. Complex B vitamins: Physiology and Therapeutic Effect on Pain. American Journal of Pharmacological Sciences. 2016; 4(2):20-27. doi: 10.12691/ajps-4-2-2

Abstract

Complex B vitamins (B1, B6, and B12) have shown affect several metabolic routes in the organism. Vitamin B1, or thiamine, has anti-oxidative properties and significant effects on the nitric oxide-cGMP pathway, giving it anti-hyperalgesic and anti-allodynic properties. Vitamin B6, or pyridoxine, has modulatory effects on calcium channels, inhibiting glutamate synthesis and intervening in the metabolism of carbohydrates. Vitamin B12 shows reconstructive effects and increases epidermal growth factor synthesis. Combining them produces an additive effect that, apart from participating in vital body functions, can help treat diseases such as pain. It is important to know about the mechanisms that explain their analgesic and anti-allodynic effects, in order to understand the physiologic mechanisms involved in these actions. This article summarizes Vitamins B1, B6 and B12 actions, focusing in pain treatment.

Keywords:
thiamine cobalamine pyridoxine pain nitric oxide oxidative

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