Top 5 Nerve Supplements
One of the fastest-growing supplement categories today are products that address nerve health concerns. The right nerve support supplement can help promote healthy nerve function and relieve nerve-related pain and discomfort, including tingling, burning sensations, numbness, or “pins and needles” like feelings in the hands and feet.1
With as many as 20 million Americans suffering from nerve pain, it is no surprise that hundreds of nerve support supplements are flooding the marketplace. While these supplements all promise to deliver benefits, the reality is that many fall short. Some of the most popular brands use ineffective or insufficient doses of ingredients, and many hide these facts under “proprietary blends” so they don’t have to reveal the low dose of the most critical ingredients found in their formulas.
How to Pick a Good Nerve Support Supplement &
Avoid the Junk
With so many options, many of us might still be unclear about what to look for in a quality nerve support supplement. To help cut through the clutter, we have compiled months of research for you, featuring the key ingredients shown in studies to help relieve nerve pain, repair damaged nerves, and benefit overall nerve health.
This short guide will help you know what to look for and what to avoid, so you can make an informed decision when it comes to your nerve support needs. We will also list out the top 5 nerve support supplements sold today.
Let’s take a moment to understand precisely how nerve supplements work and why adding them to your daily routine is essential.
Nerve Supplements
What Are They All About?
The reality is that many people may not always be able to determine the actual cause of their nerve pain. While there could be a variety of root causes, the likely common factor is that nerve damage occurred at some point. There are two major ways nerves can become damaged.
The first way nerves can become damaged can best be described by relating to something we all deal with frequently when your phone charger cord becomes damaged. Like the cord of your phone charger, your nerves have a protective coating that acts similarly to the plastic layer protecting the delicate wires inside. It’s called a myelin sheath. If a charger cord is bent or damaged and the plastic layer tears, it can stop your phone from charging or connecting properly. Likewise, if the myelin sheath covering your nerves is damaged or worn down, it can lead to numbing, tingling, burning sensations, and overall nerve pain and discomfort.3 4 5 6
The second most common way nerves can become damaged is one that Sciatica sufferers can relate to, which is when nerves get pinched or compressed, leading to nerve irritation.7
Nerve support formulas commonly comprise various essential vitamins, minerals, and herbs to support nerve health and strengthen the nerve’s protective myelin sheath coating. A complex of B vitamins and the essential Alpha-lipoic acid (a-lipoic acid or ALA) is vital in improving nerve function and integrity.8 9 10
4 Things To AVOID
When Buying A Nerve Supplement
1. CYANOCOBALAMIN
Cyanocobalamin is the synthetic version of Vitamin B12 often used in supplements because it’s cheaper for companies to produce. However, it’s also harder for the body to absorb. Methylcobalamin, on the other hand, is the natural form of B12, and studies have shown it to be the most bioavailable form, meaning it’s the easiest for the body to absorb and stays in your system longer than Cyanocobalamin. 17 18 19 So when it comes to finding the best nerve support supplement for your needs, look for formulas that use the Methylcobalamin form of Vitamin B12, and avoid formulas that use Cyanocobalamin.
2. PROPRIETARY BLENDS
In reviewing the labels of dozens of nerve support supplement brands, we found that many manufacturers group some of their ingredients into a “proprietary blend.” Manufacturers argue that they use these proprietary blends to protect their formulas from competitors. However, a blend allows the brand to hide how much of a key ingredient is in the product. Consumers need to know if the critical ingredient they are paying for has 5mg or 600mg in the product. Giving you the total amount of milligrams of the entire blend provides the consumer no insight into what they are actually paying for. To make matters worse, brands can choose to cut costs by changing the amounts used for crucial ingredients in a proprietary blend at any time, leaving the consumer wondering why a product that used to work for them no longer does. For these reasons alone, we advise avoiding wasting your hard-earned money on nerve support brands that use proprietary blends.
3. RELYING ON AMAZON REVIEWS
Research showed that in March 2019, there were 1.8 million new unverified reviews, with an average of 99.6% of them being 5-star reviews.20 Most of these reviews are from people paid to write them. These fake reviews inflate the number and overall star rating of a product. When deciding on a product that can impact your health, don’t rely on Amazon reviews, as they can be extremely misleading.
4. INSUFFICIENT RETURN POLICY
All reputable supplement brands will demonstrate they have faith in their products by offering a 100% money-back guarantee policy. Some try to complicate their refund policies by placing limitations on what kind of returns they will take. Avoid any brand that does not have, at minimum, a no-questions-asked 90-day money-back guarantee.
2024’s Top Nerve Support Supplements
Our review encompassed 82 different nerve support supplements, putting each through our rigorous Review Scout assessment process. To determine 2024’s Top 5 Nerve Support Supplements, we looked for predicted effectiveness, safety, return policy, and overall customer satisfaction.
PROS
- Contains all four essential ingredients: Vitamin B12 as Methylcobalamin, Vitamin B1 as Benfotiamine, PEA, and Boswellia Serrata Gum Resin Extract
- Includes 600mg of Standardized Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA)
- Contains 6 additional nerve-supporting nutrients
- Lists exact amounts of all 11 ingredients
- Vegetarian Capsules, Gluten, Sugar, and Hormone-Free
- Verified 90-day 100% money-back return policy
- Manufactured in the USA
CONS
- Often out of stock due to high demand
Why We Chose It
Stonehenge Health’s Dynamic Nerve is Review Scout’s top choice. This supplement contains all four essential nerve-supporting ingredients: ALA, PEA, Boswellia Serrata, and the Benfotiamine form of Vitamin B1, plus the bioavailable Methylcobalamin form of Vitamin B12. They have also gone a step further by including six additional nerve-supporting nutrients, including acetyl-L-carnitine and vitamins B2, B6, and B9.
In reviewing dozens of nerve-supporting brands, we found that very few have utilized the proper form of ALA in the correct 600 mg dosage which is the amount backed by clinical studies to be effective for nerve health. Not only does Stonehenge Health’s Dynamic Nerve check this critical box, but just as importantly, they list the exact amounts of each ingredient in their product so you know exactly what you’re getting. We like it when a company is transparent, like Stonehenge Health.
We verified that Stonehenge Health’s formula does not contain synthetic fillers or artificial ingredients and uses vegetarian capsules. Stonehenge Health backs its products with a no-questions-asked, 90-day money-back guarantee and is one of the few brands endorsed by a board-certified doctor. We also like that they offer customers discounts on bundles. Click on the link below to see their current specials.
*Results are based on user-generated experiences with these products, and individual results may vary. Please refer to the manufacturer’s product website for detailed information.
#2 SciatiEase
A-
Overall Grade
#2 SciatiEase
- OVERALL RATING 8.7/10
- Predicted Effectiveness 9.1/10
- Ingredient Quality 8.6/10
- Value 7.5/10
- Return Policy 9.9/10
- User Rating 8.6/10
PROS
- Contains three of the four essential ingredients: Alpha Lipoic Acid, Vitamin B1 as Benfotiamine, and PEA
- Contains Vitamin B12 as Methylcobalamin
- Includes a variety of herbs
- 180-Day Money back guarantee
- Manufactured in the USA
CONS
- Only half the ALA needed for effective dosage
- Does not include Boswellia Serrata Gum Resin Extract
- Very expensive considering low dosage of ALA
- Requires 4 gelatin capsules per dosage
- User complaints of stomach upset
Why We Chose It
SciatiEase is a popular nerve support brand that has been selling for some time. We were pleased to see the potent dosage of PEA, Benfotiamine form of Vitamin B1, Methylcobalamin form of Vitamin B12, and other nerve-supporting B Vitamins. While this product does contain the standard form of ALA, it only offers 300 mg per serving, which is half of the 600 mg dosage confirmed for effectiveness by clinical studies. It’s also missing the important anti-inflammatory Boswellia Serrata.
While we applaud SciatiEase’s generous 180-day return policy, it’s the most expensive of all the products we reviewed, and some consumers have noted that it can be difficult to take since it requires 4 capsules per serving. Complaints of stomach upset may also be related to the large dosage requirement, the number of ingredients, and the use of gelatin capsules instead of consumer-preferred vegetarian capsules.
*Results are based on user-generated experiences with these products, and individual results may vary. Please refer to the manufacturer’s product website for detailed information.
#3 PureHealth Research Nerve Regen
B
Overall Grade
#3 PureHealth Research Nerve Regen
- OVERALL RATING 7.7/10
- Predicted Effectiveness 7.5/10
- Ingredient Quality 7.7/10
- Value 7.3/10
- Return Policy 9/10
- User Rating 7/10
PROS
- Contains two of the four essential ingredients: Vitamin B12 as Methylcobalamin and Vitamin B1 as Benfotiamine
- One-year return policy
- Manufactured in the USA
CONS
- Only 150 mg of standard ALA
- Does not contain Boswellia Serrata Gum Resin Extract
- Does not contain PEA
- Requires 4 gelatin capsules per dosage
- User complaints of heartburn
Why We Chose It
PureHealth Research Nerve Regen has gained popularity through the company’s heavy online advertising. We liked that this formula contains the exact same potent dosage of Benfotiamine and Methylcobalamin that the top-ranked product, Dynamic Nerve, does. However, aside from not including the essential ingredients PEA and Boswellia Serrata, PureHealth Research’s formula only offers 150 mg of standard Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA). That equates to 25% of the amount used in clinical studies.
This brand relies on including 150 mg of R-ALA, a different form of Alpha Lipoic Acid. The challenge with R-ALA is that, to date, no human clinical studies have demonstrated its effectiveness in supporting nerve health. Even when you combine this formula’s ALA and R-ALA, it only equates to 300 mg, which is half the recommended 600 mg dose.
Like others on this list, Nerve Regen requires the user to take 4 capsules per serving. Consumers have complained about heartburn, potentially related to the various ingredients in this product’s “proprietary blend.” While we appreciate this brand’s generous 1-year return policy, we imagine consumers will be using it, considering Nerve Regen’s lack of potency and 4-pill per serving requirement.
*Results are based on user-generated experiences with these products, and individual results may vary. Please refer to the manufacturer’s product website for detailed information.
#4 Sciaticare
C
Overall Grade
#4 Sciaticare
- OVERALL RATING 6.8/10
- Predicted Effectiveness 6.8/10
- Ingredient Quality 6.7/10
- Value 7.2/10
- Return Policy 6.2/10
- User Rating 7/10
PROS
- Contains Vitamin B12 as Methylcobalamin
- Contains Vitamin B1 as Benfotiamine
CONS
- Proprietary Blend hiding the amount of ALA and Benfotiamine
- Does not contain PEA
- Does not contain Boswellia
- Limited potency of Methylcobalamin
- Not the standard form of ALA
- Limited 30-day return policy
Why We Chose It
Sciaticare contains several key ingredients but fell low on our rankings due to its use of a proprietary blend. We were puzzled by Sciaticare’s inclusion of both forms of Vitamin B1, Thiamine and Benfotiamine. However, a careful review of their label only reveals the amount of Thiamine, and the Benfotiamine is hidden in the proprietary blend. We often see this as a marketing technique, allowing a company to hide the amount of a critical ingredient when they are likely using a minuscule and ineffective dosage.
We prefer brands that are fully transparent in their ingredient dosages. Sciaticare is another brand relying on the R-ALA form of Alpha Lipoic Acid. As mentioned earlier, to date, there are no human clinical studies demonstrating R-ALA’s effectiveness in supporting nerve health. The question of how much R-ALA remains a mystery as this ingredient is in their proprietary blend. What is not a mystery is that Sciaticare does not include either PEA or Boswellia Serrata. The brand only offers consumers a 30-day return period, far shorter than our recommended 90-day minimum return policy.
*Results are based on user-generated experiences with these products, and individual results may vary. Please refer to the manufacturer’s product website for detailed information.
#5 Nervive Nerve Relief
D+
Overall Grade
#5 Nervive Nerve Relief
- OVERALL RATING 6.0/10
- Predicted Effectiveness 5.9/10
- Ingredient Quality 5.9/10
- Value 6.5/10
- Return Policy 5.5/10
- User Rating 6.1/10
PROS
- Contains clinical dosage of ALA
- Only 1 capsule per serving
- Manufactured in the USA
CONS
- Does not contain PEA
- Does not contain Boswellia Serrata
- Does not use Benfotiamine form of Vitamin B1
- Does not use Methylcobalamin form of Vitamin B12
- Uses unnatural additives
- No information on return policy
Why We Chose It
Nervive Nerve Relief has become a trendy product due partly to this brand’s aggressive television advertising budgets. Initially, we were impressed that Nervive contains 600 mg of standard Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) and three different forms of B vitamins. Upon closer inspection, it became evident that the brand has a lower selling price thanks to its considerably cheaper, less bioavailable, and less effective forms in Cyanocobalamin instead of Methylcobalamin and Thiamine instead of Benfotiamine.
Nervive also lacks the critical ingredients PEA and Boswellia Serrata. Then again, television advertising is costly, and they need to cut costs where possible to keep the advertising going. Consumers have complained about dizziness and burning sensations when taking the product. We were not thrilled that Nervive contains low-quality and unnatural additives like FD&C Blue No.2 Aluminum Lake.
Information on Nervive’s return policy was not readily available on their website.
*Results are based on user-generated experiences with these products, and individual results may vary. Please refer to the manufacturer’s product website for detailed information.
Citations
- https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/nerve-pain
- https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/unexplained-nerve-pain-the-mystery-of-neuropathic-pain
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10727776/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3830599/
- https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS/Definition-of-MS/Myelin
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22974-myelin-sheath
- https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/diseases-conditions/sciatica
- https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-HealthProfessional/
- https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contentid=AlphalipoicAcid&contenttypeid=19
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/alpha-lipoic-acid#what-it-is
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6930825/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17272797/
- https://restorativemedicine.org/library/monographs/alpha-lipoic-acid/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8294980/
- https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2019.00406/full
- Prasad S et al CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. Chap 13.
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/methylcobalamin-vs-cyanocobalamin
- https://www.justvitamins.co.uk/blog/cyanocobalamin-versus-methylcobalamin/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4696188/
- https://reviewmeta.com/blog/amazon-flooded-with-millions-of-fake-reviews-in-2019/.
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33614362/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6021160/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9774895/
- https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/dietary-factors/lipoic-acid
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17065669/
- https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1596/palmitoylethanolamide-pea
- https://www.iherb.com/blog/pea-palmitoylethanolamide-health-benefits/1652
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3500919/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8157570/
- https://ppj.phypha.ir/article-1-1739-en.pdf
- https://www.neurobion.com/en-ph/nerve-health/b-vitamins/b1-b6-b12-vitamins-for-healthy-nervous-system
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/219545
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8294980/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6930825/
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259627300_Pharmacokinetic_Study_of_Benfotiamine_and_the_Bioavailability_Assessment_Compared_to_Thiamine_Hydrochloride
- https://www.lifeextension.com/wellness/supplements/benfotiamine-vs-thiamine