In August last year I wrote about natural ways to prevent and treat mouth ulcers, medically known as Aphthous Stomatitis. A recently published medical study (1) has found that nightly doses of a vitamin B12 supplement are useful for individuals who suffer from recurrent mouth ulcers. The study is very relevant since it is estimated that up to 25% of the general population may suffer from mouth ulcers with up to 50% of these individuals having recurrent ulcers within 3 months. Recurrent mouth ulcers are especially common during times of stress as this is a known contributor in susceptible individuals.
Before starting their scientific research, the authors of this new paper conducted a comprehensive search of published medical studies related to the treatment of recurrent mouth ulcers. They found that many treatments have been tested ranging from local antiseptics to antibiotics and even certain steroid creams and immunosuppresant drugs! Most of these treatments were seen as short term ways to alleviate pain, number of ulcers, their size and duration of effect. The treatments were not so good at achieving long-term reduction in the frequency of mouth ulcer attacks or maintenance of remission.
Previously (2,3) the same authors have shown that treatment of recurrent mouth ulcers with vitamin B12 was successful but they wanted to confirm and expand upon their findings. Their latest study was small but well designed. It included 58 patients who suffered with recurrent mouth ulcers. A sublingual, under the tongue, high dose (1000mcg) of vitamin B12 was given to 31 of the patients nightly for 6 months. The other 27 patients acted as the control group and received no vitamin B12 supplement.
It was found that the duration of outbreaks, the number of mouth ulcers, and the level of pain were reduced significantly at 5 and 6 months of treatment with vitamin B12, regardless of initial vitamin B12 levels in the blood. During the last month of treatment a significant number, 74%, of participants in the intervention group reached “no aphthous ulcers status” i.e. they no longer had mouth ulcer attacks. The authors conclude that Vitamin B12 treatment is simple, inexpensive, and low-risk and seems to be effective for patients suffering from recurrent mouth ulcers regardless of their initial blood serum vitamin B12 levels.
Although the study was small the results are adding to previous evidence and therefore seem highly relevant. The reason that effect may have been seen even in patients without a B12 deficiency could be because the identification and measurement of ‘functional’ vitamin B12 deficiency is controversial, it is difficult to accurately measure the status of B12 in the body. The authors comment that another explanation for the possible effectiveness of vitamin B12 in treating recurrent mouth ulcers is that vitamin B12 has some unique but still unrecognized functions and needs may be higher than once thought.
Since this kind of treatment is simple and inexpensive and has no known significant toxic effects it may well be worth a try. Taking 500-1000mcg Vitamin B12 at night if you suffer from recurrent mouth ulcers could prove very useful. Many sublingual B12 supplements and vitamin drops are now available to buy.
(1)Volkov I et al. 2009. Effectiveness of Vitamin B12 in Treating Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. 22: 9-16
(2) Volkov I et al. 2005. Recurrent apthous stomatitis responsive to vitamin B12 treatment. Can Fam Phys. 51: 844–5
(3) Volkov I et al. 2007. Successful treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis of any origin with vitamni B12 (irrespective of its blood level). The Internet Journal of Family Practice 2007;5.
Written by Ani Kowal
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