If you suspect you have neuropathy, one of the first questions your doctor is likely to ask you is whether you are diabetic or pre-diabetic. Up to 50-70% of diabetic persons develop some type of neuropathy during their lifetime. In some cases of diabetes, the SORD gene is implicated in the development of neuropathy. SORD (sorbitol dehydrogenase) is an enzyme that metabolizes sorbitol, which can accumulate when the SORD gene is mutated, leading to a toxic effect on peripheral nerves.
There is an existing drug, AT-007, that is being assessed for repurposing from its original FDA-approved use to prevent the accumulation of sorbitol. Neuropathy can also be caused by nutritional deficiencies. You don’t have to be starving for this to be a possible cause for neuropathy.
If you have irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, etc., or have had bariatric or intestinal surgery, you may have a malabsorption problem. Your doctor may do some nutrient testing for various vitamins, cofactors, etc., to determine whether you are nutritionally deficient. Such deficiencies may often be remedied by taking supplements or getting intravenous infusions.
