By Barry Keate
Barry Keate, has lived with tinnitus over 40 years and has published 150+ research articles on numerous aspects of tinnitus. He is an expert on the condition and a well-known advocate for those with tinnitus.
(freepik/Freepik)
Vitamin B12 is vital to the proper function of the human body. Your body does not make vitamin B12 on its own so you must get it from, but it can be found in the foods you eat or in supplement form. It’s possible to get enough vitamin B12 in a regular, well-balanced diet that includes animal-based foods like dairy, meat, fish, and poultry. Vitamin B12 is also added to foods like fortified breakfast cereals.
Even still, more than 12% of adults have low B12 levels. This deficiency can lead to physical symptoms like fatigue, muscle weakness, anemia, and nerve damage. That is because vitamin B12 is a crucial ingredient that your body needs to form red blood cells, produce DNA, carry out cell metabolism, and send nerve signals.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Its Causes
When your body is either not receiving or not absorbing enough vitamin B12, you can end up with a deficiency. The average adult needs approximately 2.4 micrograms of vitamin B12 per day, but individuals who are pregnant or breastfeeding need more. While it is not extremely common, anyone at any age can be affected by vitamin B12 deficiency.
Diet
One cause of vitamin B12 deficiency can be simply not consuming enough food that contains vitamin B12. This is a significant risk for people who eat a vegan or vegetarian diet. Plant-based foods do not typically contain vitamin B12 unless they are fortified.
Pernicious Anemia
Another cause of vitamin B12 deficiency could be a rare condition known as pernicious anemia. In order for your body to absorb vitamin B12, it uses a protein called intrinsic factor. This protein is made in the stomach. After hydrochloric acid in your stomach separates the vitamin B12 from the food it arrived in, the intrinsic factor combines with the vitamin B12 so it can be absorbed by your digestive system.
However, not everyone’s stomach makes intrinsic factor. No matter how much vitamin B12 people with pernicious anemia consume, their bodies cannot properly absorb it, and a vitamin B12 deficiency occurs.
Gastritis
Gastritis is also a common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency. This inflammation of the stomach lining affects another vital element of vitamin B12 absorption: hydrochloric acid. Hydrochloric acid is part of the gastric juices that the body produces to break down food. But when gastritis keeps the body from making enough hydrochloric acid, the body can’t absorb adequate quantities of B12.
Other Conditions
Many other factors may create a vitamin B12 deficiency, including digestive diseases like Crohn’s disease and celiac disease. Alcohol use disorder can damage the digestive system. Another factor can be gastrointestinal surgeries, such as gastric bypass.
Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause a variety of different symptoms. Some people may not experience any symptoms. But others may experience neurological, psychological, and physical symptoms. Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are variable and can change over time.
Neurological symptoms may include:
- Problems with your vision
- Loss of hearing or ringing in the ears
- Difficulty walking or speaking
- Tingling or numbness in your feet and hands
- Difficulty with memory
- Becoming easily confused
Psychological symptoms may include:
- Changes in your mood or behavior
- Feelings of depression
- Irritability
Physical symptoms may include:
- Weight loss
- Sore tongue or mouth
- Lack of hunger
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Feeling very weak or tired
- Yellowish skin
Can Vitamin B12 Help Treat Tinnitus?
The causes of tinnitus are many. Treating the condition often requires addressing the underlying cause. If you are experiencing tinnitus and a vitamin B12 deficiency, there could be a connection. Research has linked Vitamin B12 deficiencies to cochlear nerve damage and damage to the tiny blood vessels in the ear, both of which can contribute to tinnitus.
One compelling study focused on patients with a vitamin B12 deficiency and tinnitus. When these patients were given B12 injections, they reported reduced tinnitus symptoms. Conversely, patients who did not have a vitamin B12 deficiency but received the same injection therapy reported no symptom reduction.
A growing body of evidence is pointing to the therapeutic role that B12 can play in reducing tinnitus symptoms in individuals who are deficient in vitamin B12.
Treating the Deficiency
If you have a vitamin B12 deficiency and you are experiencing tinnitus symptoms, it is wise to see a doctor to rule out more serious causes of the deficiency. The good news is that many individuals can improve their B12 levels by increasing their dietary intake or taking a supplement.
Foods rich in vitamin B12 include:
- Milk
- Yogurt
- Cheese
- Nori
- Tempeh
- Legumes
- Fish
- Poultry
- Eggs
- Meat
- Beef Liver
- Clams
- Fortified breakfast cereals
- Fortified nutritional yeasts
If you choose to take a supplement, pay close attention to the dose and quality of the supplement. Some forms of B12 may be absorbed more readily by the body than others. Methylcobalamin is the only form of the vitamin used in the central nervous system, making it the best form of B12 to take for tinnitus. You may find many supplements contain a form of B12 called cyanocobalamin. While the liver can convert it into the methyl form, it can only do so in small amounts.
Now You Know
If you are experiencing tinnitus, a vitamin B12 deficiency could be part of the problem. Make sure that your diet includes foods rich in vitamin B12 and consider the therapeutic benefits of natural B12 supplements for tinnitus.
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