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Vitamin B12 for COVID-19
4 studies with >11,000 patients
Serious outcome risk
Vitamin B12
Control
Significantly lower risk for recovery.
One study shows significant benefit.
COVID-19 Vitamin B12 studies · October 2026
Recent:
Oliveira
Tyson
Kayar Çalılı
Adetunji.
Covid Analysis Vitamin B12 for COVID-19: real-time meta-analysis of 4 studies (Version 2)
Meta-analysis using the most serious outcome reported shows 30% [5‑48%] lower risk. 2 sufficiency studies analyze outcomes based on serum levels, showing -5% [-20‑9%] lower risk for patients with higher vitamin B12 l..
Jul 1
 Oliveira et al., Research Square, doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-9912983/v1 Early vitamin B12 treatment mitigates hippocampal neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in a hamster model of long COVID
Syrian golden hamster study showing benefits of vitamin B12 treatment for mitigating long COVID neurological sequelae. Authors propose that B12's neuroprotective mechanism involves DNA methylation-dependent downregulation of CCL11 transcr..
Mar 12
 Kayar Çalılı et al., Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, doi:10.32322/jhsm.1854699 Vitamin B12 status and outcomes in patients admitted to intensive care unit with COVID-19: a three-group comparative analysis
32% higher mortality (p=0.38). Retrospective 665 COVID-19 ICU patients in Turkey showing no significant association between vitamin B12 levels at ICU admission and disease severity, ICU length of stay, or mortality. Authors rely exclusively on total serum vitamin B12 r..
Feb 28
 Adetunji et al., BMC Infectious Diseases, doi:10.1186/s12879-026-12959-7 Association between serum vitamins and COVID-19 infection: a cross-sectional study of healthcare workers in a Nigerian tertiary hospital
Cross-sectional study of 181 healthcare workers showing significantly lower serum levels of most vitamins (A, C, D, E, and B-complex vitamins except B12) in those with COVID-19 infection compared to uninfected controls. Authors hypothesiz..
Jul 15
2025
 Al-Khrasani et al., Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2025.118346 Do vitamins halt the COVID-19-evoked pro-inflammatory cytokines involved in the development of neuropathic pain?
Review of vitamin supplementation for COVID-19-evoked pro-inflammatory cytokines involved in neuropathic pain development. Authors examine how certain vitamins may help prevent post-COVID neuropathic pain by modulating pro-inflammatory cy..
Mar 4
2025
 Kafeshani et al., Journal of Health System Research, doi:10.48305/jhsr.v21i1.1579 Investigating the Relationship between Food Intake and Severity of COVID-19 Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study
Cross-sectional study of 3,018 hospitalized (moderate and severe) and 717 outpatient (mild) COVID-19 patients showing differences in nutritional intake associated with disease severity. Patients requiring hospitalization had significantly..
Jul 31
2024
 Pavlyshyn 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
2024
 Ulloque-Badaracco 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
 Moatasim 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
 Erfani 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
 Mahjoub 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
 Keskin 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
 Borzouei 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
 Galmés 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
 Valecha 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
 Pandya 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
 Hemdan, 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
 Nimer 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
 Batista 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.
Jan 13
2022
 Tyson et al., Journal of Independent Medicine, doi:10.71189/JIM/2025/V01N02A06 (date from preprint) Low Rates of Hospitalization and Death in 4376 COVID-19 Patients Treated With Early Ambulatory Medical and Supportive Care: A Case Series and Observational Study
98% lower mortality (p<0.0001) and 99% lower hospitalization (p<0.0001). Retrospective 4,376 patients with mild/moderate COVID-19 in the USA treated with multiple medications including HCQ/ivermectin, zinc, azithromycin, budesonide, and dexamethasone (exact treatments specific to each patient), showing signifi..
Sep 5
2021
 Al-Alwan 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
 Shakeri 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
 Dalbeni 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
 Bejan 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
 Ersöz 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
 Jang 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
 Galmés 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
 Kandeel 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
 Tan 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. DMB..
May 31
2020
 Itelman 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, 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.