Nov 21 |
Vitamin B12 for COVID-19: real-time meta analysis of 4 studies | |
| Meta analysis using the most serious outcome reported shows 30% [5‑48%] lower risk. No treatment or intervention is 100% effective. All practical, effective, and safe means should be used based on risk/benefit analysis. Multipl.. | ||
Jul 31 |
et al., La Rivista Italiana della Medicina di Laboratorio, doi:10.23736/S1825-859X.24.00247-0 | Potential role of vitamins B (B6, B9, B12) in the severity of COVID-19 in children |
| Retrospective 112 pediatric COVID-19 patients in Ukraine showing lower levels of vitamins B6, B9, and B12 associated with COVID-19 severity. | ||
Jan 31 |
et al., SAGE Open Medicine, doi:10.1177/20503121241253957 | Association of vitamin B12, folate, and homocysteine with COVID-19 severity and mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis |
| Systematic review and meta-analysis of 13 studies with 2,134 patients for the association of vitamin B12, folate, and homocysteine with COVID-19 severity and mortality. | ||
Nov 15 2023 |
et al., Microorganisms, doi:10.3390/microorganisms11112777 | Potent Antiviral Activity of Vitamin B12 against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, and Human Coronavirus 229E |
| In Vitro and In Silico analysis finding that methylcobalamin, hydroxocobalamin, and cyanocobalamin forms of vitamin B12 showed broad-spectrum inhibition against SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, and HCoV-229E. Methylcobalamin had the highest activity.. | ||
Sep 14 2023 |
et al., Health Science Reports, doi:10.1002/hsr2.1509 | Vitamin B12 effectiveness in the management of hospitalized COVID‐19 and its clinical outcomes and complications: A randomized clinical trial |
| 75% lower ICU admission (p=0.34) and 1% longer hospitalization (p=0.97). Small RCT 34 hospitalized patients in Iran showing improved imflammatory markers and lower ICU admission with vitamin B12 treatment, without statistical significance. There was no mortality. | ||
Jun 20 2023 |
et al., Explore, doi:10.1016/j.explore.2023.06.009 | Melatonin, vitamins and minerals supplements for the treatment of Covid-19 and Covid-like illness: a prospective, randomized, double-blind multicenter study. |
| 67% improved recovery (p=0.32). RCT 164 low-risk (no hospitalizations) patients in Tunisia, showing improved recovery with zinc, melatonin, and vitamins A-E. This study includes COVID-19 and COVID-like illness, with 49% of 128 patients receiving a PCR test being COVID-1.. | ||
Sep 27 2022 |
et al., Progress in Nutrition, doi:10.23751/pn.v24i3.13462 | Association between low serum folic acid and vitamin B12 levels with COVID-19 prognosis |
| 3% longer hospitalization (p=0.7). Retrospective 529 hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Turkey showing lower serum folic acid levels associated with longer hospitalization and higher mortality. Folic acid deficiency and insufficiency were common. There was no significant as.. | ||
Jun 30 2022 |
et al., Nutrition and Food Sciences Research, 9:2 | Assessment of Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Retinol-binding Protein (RBP), Zinc, Selenium, Copper and Magnesium in Iranian COVID-19 Patients and Their Relationships with the Disease Linked Death |
| Analysis of 98 hospitalized COVID-19 patients showing that a high proportion of patients had nutrient deficiencies: 59% for vitamin D, 12% for vitamin B12, 53% for RBP, 31% for zinc, 89% for selenium, 16% for copper, and 27% for magnesium.. | ||
May 27 2022 |
et al., Nutrients, doi:10.3390/nu14112254 | Suboptimal Consumption of Relevant Immune System Micronutrients Is Associated with a Worse Impact of COVID-19 in Spanish Populations |
| Ecological study in Spain, showing lower intake of vitamin D, A, B9, and zinc in regions with the highest COVID-19 incidence and mortality. Vitamin D intake was associated with lower prevalence, incidence, and a combined incidence+mortali.. | ||
Apr 26 2022 |
et al., International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research, 14:5 | The Effect of Vitamin B12, Magnesium and Vitamin D in COVID-19 among Geriatric Patients |
| 87% lower ICU admission (p=0.09) and 38% shorter hospitalization (p<0.0001). Prospective study of 30 patients treated with vitamin D, magnesium, and vitamin B12, and 25 control patients, showing shorter hospitalization and lower oxygen and ICU requirements with treatment. Cholecalciferol 1000IU, magnesium oxide 15.. | ||
Apr 20 2022 |
et al., Informatics in Medicine Unlocked, doi:10.1016/j.imu.2022.100951 | Unravelling Vitamin B12 as a potential inhibitor against SARS-CoV-2: A computational approach |
| In Silico study showing significant interaction with SARS-CoV-2 targets for multiple vitamins. | ||
Mar 1 2022 |
, D., Materials Express, doi:10.1166/mex.2022.2168 | Level of vitamins and minerals for people with coronavirus (Covid-19) in Taif, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
| Retrospective 193 COVID-19 patients in Saudi Arabia, showing higher vitamin B12 levels associated with mortality, and higher mortality with vitamin D deficiency. | ||
Feb 28 2022 |
et al., Bosnian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, doi:10.17305/bjbms.2021.7009 | The impact of vitamin and mineral supplements usage prior to COVID-19 infection on disease severity and hospitalization |
| 24% lower hospitalization (p=0.15) and 27% lower severe cases (p=0.06). Retrospective 2,148 COVID-19 recovered patients in Jordan, showing lower risk of severity and hospitalization with vitamin B12 prophylaxis, without statistical significance. | ||
Feb 5 2022 |
et al., Nutrition Reviews, doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuab092 | The role of vitamin B12 in viral infections: a comprehensive review of its relationship with the muscle–gut–brain axis and implications for SARS-CoV-2 infection |
| Review of the benefits of vitamin B12 for viral infections, including immune modulation, metabolic effects, and symptom relief, summary of previous research, and implications for use with COVID-19. | ||
Sep 5 2021 |
et al., Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, doi:10.37506/ijfmt.v15i4.18454 | Assessment of Serum Ferritin, Folate, Vitamin B12, C-reactive Protein, D-dimer and Homocysteine in Patients with Severe and Critical Covid-19 Infection |
| Analysis of 88 COVID-19 patients showing lower folic acid and vitamin B12 levels in severe vs. non-severe cases. | ||
Aug 18 2021 |
et al., Journal of Medical Virology, doi:10.1002/jmv.27277 | Evaluation of the relationship between serum levels of zinc, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19 |
| Retrospective 293 hospitalized patients in Iran showing lower levels of zinc, vitamin B12, and vitamin D in patients that died, with statistical significance reached only for zinc. | ||
Mar 31 2021 |
et al., Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2020.12.005 | Excessive vitamin B12 and poor outcome in COVID-19 pneumonia |
| Prospective study of 49 hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Italy showing higher vitamin B12 levels associated with worse outcomes. In multivariate analysis, only age was independently associated with worse outcomes. | ||
Feb 28 2021 |
et al., Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, doi:10.1002/cpt.2376 (date from preprint) | DrugWAS: Drug‐wide Association Studies for COVID‐19 Drug Repurposing |
| 34% lower mortality (p=0.3), 35% lower ventilation (p=0.26), 16% lower ICU admission (p=0.61), and 10% lower hospitalization (p=0.6). Retrospective 9,748 COVID-19 patients in the USA showing lower risk with vitamin B12 use, without statistical significance. | ||
Feb 8 2021 |
et al., International Journal of Clinical Practice, doi:10.1111/ijcp.14078 | The association between micronutrient and hemogram values and prognostic factors in COVID-19 patients: A single-center experience from Turkey |
| Retrospective 310 hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Turkey, showing patients that were admitted to the ICU, intubated, or died had higher vitamin B12 levels compared to those that were not. | ||
Dec 16 2020 |
et al., Heart & Lung, doi:10.1016/j.hrtlng.2020.10.010 | Clinical course of COVID-19 patients treated with ECMO: A multicenter study in Daegu, South Korea |
| 78% improved recovery (p=0.04). Retrospective 19 COVID-19 ECMO patients in South Korea, showing a higher rate of weaning from ECMO with vitamin B12 treatment, without statistical significance. Authors perform multivariate analysis but do not provide full results, only r.. | ||
Sep 8 2020 |
et al., Nutrients, doi:10.3390/nu12092738 | Current State of Evidence: Influence of Nutritional and Nutrigenetic Factors on Immunity in the COVID-19 Pandemic Framework |
| Ecological study of European countries analyzing 10 vitamins and minerals endorsed by the European Food Safety Authority as having sufficient evidence for a causal relationship between intake and optimal immune system function: vitamins D.. | ||
Jun 30 2020 |
et al., Life Sciences, doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2020.117627 | Virtual screening and repurposing of FDA approved drugs against COVID-19 main protease |
| In Silico study of 1,500 FDA-approved drugs finding that vitamin B12 had strong binding affinity with SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, and may be beneficial for COVID-19 treatment. | ||
Jun 10 2020 |
et al., Nutrition, doi:10.1016/j.nut.2020.111017 (date from preprint) | Cohort study to evaluate the effect of combination Vitamin D, Magnesium and Vitamin B12 (DMB) on progression to severe outcome in older COVID-19 patients |
| 80% lower need for oxygen therapy (p=0.04) and 81% lower ICU admission (p=0.07). Observational study of 43 patients >= 50 years old, with 17 patients receiving vitamin D, magnesium, and vitamin B12 (DMB); and 26 control patients, showing a significantly lower need for oxygen therapy and ICU admission with treatment. D.. | ||
May 31 2020 |
et al., Israel Medical Association Journal, 22:5 | Clinical Characterization of 162 COVID-19 patients in Israel: Preliminary Report from a Large Tertiary Center |
| Retrospective 162 COVID-19 patients in Israel, showing higher vitamin B12 levels associated with increased COVID-19 severity. | ||
Oct 1 2009 |
, EFSA Journal, doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2009.1223 | Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to vitamin B12 and red blood cell formation (ID 92, 101), cell division (ID 93), energy-yielding metabolism (ID 99, 190) and function of the immune system (ID 107) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 |
| European Food Safety Administration review concluding that there is a causal relationship between the intake of vitamin B12 and immune system function. | ||
Please send us corrections, updates, or comments.
c19early involves the extraction of 100,000+ datapoints from
thousands of papers. Community updates
help ensure high accuracy.
Treatments and other interventions are complementary.
All practical, effective, and safe
means should be used based on risk/benefit analysis.
No treatment or intervention is 100% available and effective for all current
and future variants.
We do not provide medical advice. Before taking any medication,
consult a qualified physician who can provide personalized advice and details
of risks and benefits based on your medical history and situation. FLCCC and WCH
provide treatment protocols.
Thanks for your feedback! Please search before submitting papers and note
that studies are listed under the date they were first available, which may be
the date of an earlier preprint.