If you have a constant ringing in your ears, you probably have tinnitus. In this case, doctors recommend an injection of vitamin B12 or foods rich in it. But what is the relationship between B12 deficiency and this perceptual phenomenon? American scientists found the answer.
B12 is a water-soluble vitamin, also known as cobalamin. It plays a key role in the functioning of the brain and nervous system and in the formation of blood and various proteins. It also makes DNA and red blood cells.
A study published in the National Library of Medicine and the US National Institutes of Health investigated the role of B12 in the treatment of patients with chronic tinnitus, also known as tinnitus.
The ailment was already described in Egyptian Papyrus from 6,000 BC.
People with tinnitus notice pounding, ringing, roaring, or other noises in the ears that are not coming from any external source. All of these perceptions originate, in one way or another, from inside the head, according to the study.
During the research, they concluded the ability of the volunteers’ ears to perceive the vibrations of various bands of the audible spectrum before and after therapy and determined the level of B12. Of the total number of patients with tinnitus, 17 people (42.5%) showed a vitamin B12 deficiency below the normal level of 250 pg./ml.
- Neuroscience Breakthrough: Study Pinpoints Brain Activity That Helps Prevent Us From Getting Lost
- Brief Anger Hampers Blood Vessel Function Leading to Increased Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke – New Study
- New Blood Test Pinpoints Future Stroke Risk – Study Identifies Inflammatory Molecules as Key Biomarker
- Enceladus: A Potential Haven for Extraterrestrial Life in its Hidden Ocean Depths
- New Experiment: Dark Matter Is Not As ‘DARK’ As All We Think
“Another test showed that in group A, patients with vitamin B12 deficiency had significant improvements in the score of the mean tinnitus severity index and the visual analog scale (VAS) after B12-based therapy,” it is indicated in Article.
“Vitamin B12 administered weekly for six weeks shows a link between cobalamin deficiency and tinnitus, suggesting a therapeutic role for B12 in cobalamin-deficient tinnitus patients,” the study concludes.
B12 produces myelin, a protective and insulating multilamellar structure that surrounds nerves. The lack of B12 causes the communication between the nerves to deteriorate, which can lead to tinnitus, among other health problems.
Another study published in The American Journal of Otolaryngology agrees that tinnitus is related to B12 deficiency. The patients improved thanks to a therapy based on it.
The acuity of tinnitus noise can vary from a low roar to a high squeak, and can occur in one or both ears. In some cases, the sound can be so loud that it even affects the ability to concentrate.
“Tinnitus can significantly affect quality of life. Although it affects people differently,” emphasizes the Mayo Clinic.
To avoid problems with B12, it is recommended to consume products of animal origin. It is also possible to acquire it through cyanocobalamin, a synthetic form of B12 that can be administered through injections, pills, or nasal spray.