Will treatment with Vitamin B12 work? How much will it save?

Anecdotally we observe patients with MS restored to full muscular and nervous function, stopping not only their MS drug regime but also reducing their care needs and even returning to work. From mild conditions it takes about 1 year; from severe MS the prognosis is less good although improvements beyond the natural variation and cycles of MS are reported by carers and family.  The improvement is also noted with other motor damage such as single limb paralysis, ataxia, epilepsy, dysphagia.

We observe people who come to the surgery having been prescribed anti-depressants and anti-psychotics, coming off all medication and returning to work.

We observe improvements to patients with Irritable Bowel and Crohns, again allowing people to return to work and cease other medication

Many people report relief from fatigue and better memory/ cognitive ability, reducing care costs and reducing their dependence on the health service.

The plural of anecdote is not data, this is fully accepted[1].  However we believe that Vitamin B₁₂ replacement therapy could have a substantial beneficial effect even when measured purely in terms of direct NHS costs.  If social care costs could be calculated, and if personal costs and the costs of lost activity and lost pleasure factored in, the benefits would be many many times higher.

Citations

1.            Goldacre, B., Bad science. 2008, London: Fourth Estate. xiii, 338 p.