Alpha-Tocopherol and Cyanocobalamin Combination Accelerates Peripheral Nerve Healing: An Experimental Animal Study

To evaluate the functional and histopathological results of alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) and vitamin B12 on an experimental rat model of peripheral nerve injury.

This research included 32 Wistar Hannover rats. The sciatic nerves of the animals were crushed using an aneurysm clamp. The rats were divided into 4 groups, as group 0 (the controls; no treatment), and groups B12, E, and B12+E, respectively. The rats were analyzed functionally, using the sciatic functional index (SFI), and histopathologically.

In the functional analysis, it was determined that vitamin E was as influential as B12. Concomitant use of these 2 vitamins was found to be more beneficial. The SFI was significantly higher in the B12+E group when compared with that of the B12 group, which indicated that vitamin E improved the healing effects of vitamin B12. In the histopathological evaluation, vitamin E was not effective in the treatment of axonal degeneration (AxD) or edema/inflammation (EI) by itself. Although vitamin B12 was effective in the treatment of EI, it was ineffective in the treatment of AxD. However, the combination of these vitamins decreased both AxD and EI, which showed that the additive effects of these vitamins could reverse neurological injury when used together.

Vitamins B12 and E were effective in the functional recovery of peripheral nerve injury (PNI). Neither vitamin B12 nor E was effective in the treatment AxD; however, their combination was effective in the treatment of AxD. The results suggested that vitamin E was effective in the treatment of PNI, especially when combined with vitamin B12. It is our belief that the combination of these vitamins could be used in the treatment of PNI, especially after future studies have been conducted on humans.