Bell's palsy is a type of paralysis that occurs suddenly, causing one side of the face to feel numb, stiff and weak. The affected side of the face appears to droop, leading to a lopsided smile, a half-closed eyelid and possibly drooling from the side of the mouth and tearing in the eye. The exact reason Bell's palsy occurs is unknown, but onset often follows nerve damage or a herpes simplex virus infection. It can also occur after an attack of shingles and typically affects people under 15 and over 60. It's possible that a type of Bell's palsy can be caused by a deficiency of vitamin B12.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is water-soluble vitamin needed for normal nerve cell functioning. Although most cases of Bell's palsy occur after nerve damage or a viral infection, the alternative medicine website Peace Health states that a vitamin B12 deficiency can cause nerve degeneration and may be associated with chronic cases of Bell's palsy. In fact, injections of vitamin B12 have been used in the treatment of Bell's palsy. Vitamin B12 is released from food sources via enzymatic action, attached to a glycoprotein and absorbed from the intestine. It can take years for a vitamin B12 deficiency to become symptomatic, and it can occur due to a malabsorption syndrome, such as pernicious anemia and atrophic gastritis, or pancreatic disease.
Treatment With Vitamin B1
Although studies have not found a deficiency of vitamin B1 to be a contributing factor in the development of Bell's palsy, it has been used to treat the condition. Vitamin B1, also called thiamine, is another water-soluble B vitamin necessary to maintain proper nerve functioning and is used in the treatment of other neurological disorders, such as the nerve-related symptoms of the disease beriberi. The "British Medical Journal" reports that the use of a combination of daily B1 injections, along with oral supplementation three times a day, resulted in the resolution of Bell's palsy symptoms within a few days. This form of treatment should be handled by your physician, as this vitamin can interfere with other medications, including some taken for heart problems.
Treatment With Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is another vitamin that is essential for nerve growth. Vitamin B6 is also a water-soluble vitamin that needs to be ingested daily as it not stored by the body, being excreted in the urine. Again, it has not be identified as a causative factor in Bell's palsy, but MayoClinic.com states it may be useful in its treatment. However, taking large doses of vitamin B6 supplement is known to cause neurological symptoms, including pain and numbness in the hands and feet.
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