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Will Vitamin B Help My Canker Sore Problem?

May 1, 2011 | By Ashley Tyson

Canker sores, clinically known as recurrent aphthous stomatitis, are a painful form of mouth ulcers that usually appear white or yellow with a surrounding red area. Although they are not malignant, canker sores can be quite bothersome. These open sores occur for a variety of reasons, including heredity, emotional stress, food allergies, trauma and deficiencies. A lack of vitamin B-12, also referred to as cobalamin, is a particular dietary cause of canker sores. If your canker sores persist or become exceedingly painful, contact your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

Step 1

Take 1,000 mcg of vitamin B-12 supplement by mouth each day. According to a January 2009 study published in "The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine," 74 percent of canker sore sufferers who took this amount for a six-month period experienced remission. Patients noticed more comfort, less pain and shorter outbreaks. Although 1,000 mcg is significantly higher than the daily recommended amount, no toxic or adverse effects are associated with this large intake, according to the Linus Pauling Institute.

Step 2

Eat foods high in vitamin B-12, folic acid and iron. Folic acid and iron deficiencies are also known causes of canker sores. Shellfish are naturally rich in cobalamin, and dark green leafy vegetables like spinach and Swiss chard are high in folic acid and iron. Since B-12 deficiency is a common cause of canker sores, simply getting your daily recommended amount of 2.4 mcg can prove beneficial. Consuming 1 cup of milk and 1 cup of raisin bran fulfills your daily need.

Step 3

Speak to your doctor if your canker sores do not improve with vitamin B or over time, which may indicate an underlying condition such as herpes virus, drug allergies or bullous lichen planus.

References

Article reviewed by Eric Lochridge Last updated on: May 1, 2011

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