Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin B12
For the health condition: Smell (loss of)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2
There is some scientific evidence to support the use of vitamin B12 for treating loss of smell (anosmia), although the evidence is limited and of low to moderate quality. Vitamin B12 is essential for normal nerve function, and its deficiency can lead to neurological symptoms, including sensory disturbances. Several case reports and small clinical studies have described improvement in olfactory function following vitamin B12 supplementation in patients with B12 deficiency-related anosmia. For example, a 1996 case series published in the journal Rhinology described several patients with loss of smell who responded positively to vitamin B12 injections. More recently, a randomized controlled trial published in 2017 in the journal European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology found that intranasal vitamin B12 improved smell function in patients with olfactory dysfunction, though the sample size was small and results need confirmation. However, not all cases of anosmia are related to B12 deficiency, and supplementation is only likely to be effective when a deficiency is present. Overall, while there is a plausible biological basis and some preliminary clinical evidence, vitamin B12 should mainly be considered in cases where deficiency is documented or strongly suspected. Routine use for all patients with loss of smell is not currently supported by robust clinical trials.
Other health conditions supported by vitamin B12
AlcoholismAlzheimer's Disease
Anemia
Anorexia
Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders
Apathy
Autoimmune Disorders
Bell's Palsy
Birth Defects (prevention)
Burning Feet or Hands
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Canker Sores
Cardiovascular Disease
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Dementia
Depression
Diabetes
Endurance (lack of)
Energy (lack of)
Exercise
Fatigue
Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Hair (loss or thinning)
Hair Care (general)
Hashimoto's Disease
Hearing Loss
Infertility
Memory and Brain Function
Mental Illness
Miscarriage (prevention)
Mood Swings
Multiple Sclerosis
Nerve Damage
Nervous Exhaustion
Neuralgia and Neuritis
Numbness
Nursing
Paralysis
Pernicious Anemia
Post Partum Weakness
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for)
Senility
Smell (loss of)
Sore or Geographic Tongue
Stress
Wasting
Products containing vitamin B12
Nature's Sunshine Love and Peas (Sugar Free Original Formula)
Nature's Sunshine AIVIA Clean Energy
Nature's Sunshine AIVIA Plant Protein
Nature's Sunshine AIVIA Plant Protein
Nature's Sunshine AIVIA Whey Protein
Nature's Sunshine AIVIA Whey Protein
Nature's Sunshine Balanced B Complex (Vitamin B)
Nature's Sunshine Cardio Assurance
Nature's Sunshine Children's MultiVitamin & Mineral
Nature's Sunshine Liquid - Methyl Vitamin B-12 Complete
Nature's Sunshine Love and Peas (Sugar Free) NEW!
Nature's Sunshine Love and Peas
Nature's Sunshine Mega-Chel
Nature's Sunshine Methyl Combo
Nature's Sunshine MultiVitamin & Mineral (SynerPro)
Nature's Sunshine MultiVitamin & Mineral (Time Release)
Nature's Sunshine Natural Changes
Nature's Sunshine Nature's Prenatal
Nature's Sunshine Nature's Harvest
Nature's Sunshine Nervous System (30 Day Program)
Nature's Sunshine Nutri-Calm
Nature's Sunshine Nutri-Calm
Nature's Sunshine Power Beets Pouch
Nature's Sunshine Power Beets To-Go Packs
Nature's Sunshine Power Greens
Nature's Sunshine Power Greens To-Go
Nature's Sunshine Power Meal
Nature's Sunshine Power Meal
Nature's Sunshine Silver Shield BioGuard Hand & Body Cream
Nature's Sunshine Skeletal Strength
Nature's Sunshine Solstic Twenty-Four
Nature's Sunshine Solstic Energy
Nature's Sunshine Solstic Revive
Nature's Sunshine Structural System (30 Day Program)
Nature's Sunshine Super Supplemental
Nature's Sunshine Super Supplemental (Without Iron)
Nature's Sunshine Super Trio
Nature's Sunshine B-Complex
Nature's Sunshine VitaWave
