Vitamin B12 & Insomnia

Everyone experiences occasional sleeplessness and difficulties falling asleep from time to time. Acute insomnia lasts for a short period, while chronic insomnia lasts three or more nights for a month or longer. A number of factors are thought to contribute to insomnia. While sleep medications and herbal over-the-counter sleep remedies might help, research also has shown that vitamin B-12 supplementation might benefit people suffering from insomnia.

About Vitamin B-12

Vitamin B-12, or cobalamin, is a member of the B complex family of vitamins. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, vitamin B-12 is required for a number of important biological processes, including maintaining healthy nerve cells, helping with the production of DNA and RNA and regulating blood cell formation. A vitamin B-12 deficiency can cause symptoms of fatigue, digestive problems, nervousness and shortness of breath. Certain populations, including the elderly, vegans and people who have an eating disorder, are at a higher risk of developing a vitamin B-12 deficiency. Vitamin B-12 is present only in meat, fish, chicken, eggs and dairy products.

Insomnia Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

Insomnia is a problematic condition characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or waking too early. It can affect your ability to function and leave you feeling tired, lethargic and irritable during the day. For some people, symptoms of insomnia also include depression, anxiety, tension headaches, difficulty concentrating or focusing and gastrointestinal symptoms. Acute insomnia often resolves on its own but chronic insomnia might require medical treatment. Some of the possible treatments for insomnia include behavioral therapy, such as light therapy or relaxation techniques, and medication. However, certain nutritional supplements, like vitamin B-12, also are thought to provide benefits.

Clinical Evidence

A study published in the August 1996 issue of the journal "Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences" showed the benefits of vitamin B-12 supplementation, light therapy, chronotherapy and/or hypnotics on patients suffering from sleep disorders, but the results are unclear as to whether the benefits occurred thanks to any one treatment or the combination. A review published in 2005 in the "Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine" discusses two case reports in which vitamin B-12 therapy was beneficial for improving insomnia due to circadian rhythm disorders. A study published in the June 1995 issue of the journal "Physiology and Behavior" demonstrated that intravenously administered vitamin B-12 helped to promote sleep in laboratory rats. While these results are promising, more clinical studies are needed to fully evaluate the benefits of vitamin B-12 for patients suffering from insomnia.

Considerations

While vitamin B-12 might help insomnia, you should not attempt to self-treat using nutritional supplements. Sometimes, insomnia can indicate an underlying medical disorder. Consult your doctor if you suffer from insomnia. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, vitamin B-12 supplements might cause interactions with certain medications. As with any nutritional supplement, inform your doctor if you plan to use a vitamin B-12 supplement, especially if you have a medical condition or take any prescription or over-the-counter medications or herbal remedies.