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Peripheral Neuropathy Diet
General dietary recommendations for people with peripheral neuropathy include:
- Control calories:
- Eat quality fats:
- Use virgin olive oil and other unsaturated, low-cholesterol fats.
- Eat the right amount of fats, carbohydrates and protein:
- Limit your fat intake to 20 or 30 percent, but don't substitute simple carbohydrates for fat.
- Less than 7% of the day's total calories from saturated fat.
- Up to 10% of the day's total calories from polyunsaturated fat.
- Up to 20% of the day's total calories from monounsaturated fat
- Avoid fad diets:
- Eat a well-rounded diet instead.
- Eat small, frequent meals.
- Avoid large and heavy meals.
- Limit cholesterol in diet:
- To less than 200 milligrams a day.
- Limit iron intake:
- Too much iron can increase atherosclerosis.


- Eat enough dietary fiber:
- Whole grains are best.
- Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables
- Reduce salt in your diet
- Optimal: no more than 2 grams per day.
- Check with your doctor about supplementing your diet with B vitamins:
- Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
- Vitamin B3 (niacin)
- Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)
- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
- Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
Key Dietary Recommendations for Chronic Disease Prevention
| Nutrient | Recommendation |
| Energy (calories) | to maintain BMI < 25 |
| Total fats | < or = to 30% of total daily calories |
| Saturated fats | < 7% of total daily calories |
| Polyunsaturated fats | < 10% of total daily calories |
| Monounsaturated fats | < 13% of total daily calories |
| Cholesterol | < or = to 300 mg per day |
| Dietary fiber | 25-30 grams per day |
| Fiber type | 3:1 insoluble to soluble fiber |
| Sodium | < or = to 1,500 mg per day |
| Calcium 9-24 yrs | 1,200-1,500 mg per day |
| Calcium 25-50 yrs | 1,000 mg per day |
| Calcium 51-65 yrs | 1,200 mg per day |
| Calcium >65 yrs | 1,500 mg per day |
| Vitamin D 9-50 yrs | 200 IU per day |
| Vitamin D 51-70 yrs | 400 IU per day |
| Vitamin D >70 yrs | 600 IU per day |
| Folic acid | 400 micrograms (ug) per day |
| Fruits & vegetables | 5-7 servings per day |
Continue to Peripheral Neuropathy Pain Control
Last Updated: Dec 22, 2010 References
Authors: Stephen J. Schueler, MD; John H. Beckett, MD; D. Scott Gettings, MD
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PubMed Peripheral Neuropathy References
- Carter GT. Rehabilitation management of peripheral neuropathy. Semin Neurol. 2005 Jun;25(2):229-37. [15937738]
- Pagnoux C, Guillevin L. Peripheral neuropathy in systemic vasculitides. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2005 Jan;17(1):41-8. [15604903]
- Pratt RW, Weimer LH. Medication and toxin-induced peripheral neuropathy. Semin Neurol. 2005 Jun;25(2):204-16. [15937736]
- White CM, Pritchard J, Turner-Stokes L. Exercise for people with peripheral neuropathy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004 Oct 18;(4):CD003904. [15495069]