All of the active B12 group reporting showed reduction in severity of symptoms ranging from 31% to 70%, while the placebo controls reported either no change or a worsening of symptoms. Wilcoxon-Rank of .002 for the end-points of sneezing, nasal congestion and runny nose; and p = .005 for IgE reductions. In 1992, the above mentioned data from 1988 on were presented by Dr. O''Connor to the FDA. The FDA panel acknowledged the safety of the treatment. The panel seemed to be in agreement that the statistics indicated a significant reduction in IgE and that a quantitative drop in symptoms was demonstrated. In 1992, Belen Anibarro, MD, studied five children with asthma with metabisulfite intolerance confirmed by oral challenge testing. The test was repeated after premedication with 1.5 mg of oral cyanocobalamin. In four of the five patients treated, bronchospasm did not develop in the second metabisulfite challenge.6

In January 1997, 62 subjects who had been the placebos in the 1995 study were invited to receive the vitamin B12. In June 1997, the 62 placebo subjects were sent a questionnaire asking: How would you compare your overall allergy (hay fever) symptoms this spring to the last two springs? 20 people responded, with 15 reporting having had the B12 treatment, and 5 not. 12 of the 15 reported at least a slight improvement in overall allergy symptoms, and 1 of the 5. Improvement ratios - 12:3 having received treatment, 1:4 not having received treatment.8 A bioequivalence study showed that a 3000 mcg lozenge delivered an equivalent amount of cyanocobalamin to the blood as a 15 mcg injection.9 From the spring to the summer patients with demonstrated allergic rhinitis received with the cyanocobalamin (or placebo) containing lozenge twice daily for 21 consecutive days. All subjects also received C and B oral multivitamins for 21 days. Twice daily subjects maintained a nine-week diary on sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, itchy eyes, itchy nose and antihistamine (chlorpheniramine) use. In the post-treatment period, the active group (n=15) recorded on average a greater reduction in symptoms and in antihistamine use than the placebo group (n=9). The results yielded reductions (0.1>p>0.01) in total weekly symptom/rescue medication for the active group compared to the placebo for weeks 2, 6, 8 and 9. The results tend to replicate those of the studies on injectable cyanocobalamin.10

“The high CD4/CD8 ratio and suppressed NK cell activity were improved by methyl-B12 treatment.” The Japanese researchers state: “We conclude that vitamin B12 acts as an immunomodulator for cellular immunity.”11 B12 was used successfully in the treatment of IgE-mediated skin disorders. The German researchers conclude that B12 (cobalamin) when applied to the skin one or more times per day exhibited “...excellent results in topical treatment of skin disorders and in particular of inflammatory and hyperproliferative skin ailments and/or cutaneous manifestations of illness which are immunologic in origin, e.g. psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, and other eczematous dermatitises...”12 Click here for Allergy medication online.