Bell's palsy is a condition of sudden onset facial muscle weakness. Exact mechanisms that trigger this disease are unknown but it has been attributed to an inflammatory reaction of the facial motor nerve cells. You may experience symptoms including pain around the ear, restriction of eye closure on the same side and difficulty with eating and fine facial movements. Treatment of Bell's palsy with vitamin B-12 has been studied in the past with favorable results but this data is not extensive enough to make vitamin B-12 a major source of treatment for Bell's palsy.
Research Supporting Vitamin B-12
There have been few studies supporting benefits of vitamin B-12 in Bell's palsy patients. M. Mitra and associates studied the effects of vitamin B-12 injections and steroid medications. They were able to find faster recovery in patients given B-12 injections with or without steroids. During 1995, M.A. Jalaludin also described the effectiveness of vitamin B-12 or methylcobalamin injections for Bell's palsy. Research studies by H. Kobayashi and associates also supported use of vitamin B-12 in Bell's palsy.
Rationale of Using Vitamin B-12 in Bell's Palsy
Vitamin B-12 deficiency can cause spinal and peripheral nerve degeneration and vitamin B-12 has been used to treat these conditions. Vitamin B-12 deficiency does not cause Bell's palsy but it has helped patients with Bell's palsy by an unknown mechanism.
Dosage of Vitamin B-12
Dosage of at least 500 to 1,000 mcg given every one to two days is required to see any beneficial effects in Bell's palsy. Vitamin B-12 taken orally is not effective. People seeking B-12 injections for Bell's palsy should consult a physician.
Current Medical Data
Current medical data and research does not support routine use of vitamin B-12 injections in Bell's palsy. More extensive studies and larger trials are required to include B-12 in Bell's palsy treatment algorithm.
Treatment Options for Bell's Palsy
The only proven medical treatment for Bell's palsy is corticosteroids, when started within five days of the onset of symptoms. It is important to use eye drops for lubrication to prevent dryness, since patients may have difficulty closing the eye.
References
- Cyanocobalamin in Chronic Bell's Palsy, J Indian Med Assoc., 33:129-31; Mitra M, Nandi AK. ; 1959
- Methylcobalamin Treatment of Bell's Palsy. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol., 17:539-44; Jalaludin MA. 1995
- The clinical effects of mecobalamin on peripheral facial palsy, Otolaryngology, 26:968-72.; Kobayashi H, Aoyagi M, Suzuki H, et al.; 1980
