Over the years, one of vitamin B's believed benefits is that it will protect you from mosquitoes. Supposedly, vitamin B creates such an unpleasant odor through one's pores that mosquitoes are forced to stay away from their prospective meal (that's you!). Two studies were conducted both stateside and abroad (Brazil) to determine if this urban legend was myth or truth. Indeed, both studies results are in accord: vitamin B will not protect you from these mini vampires. To get the full report, read The New York Times' http:www.nytimes.com/2008/08/12/health/12real.html?_r=1&ref=health&oref=slogin">"The Claim: Vitamin B Can Ward off Mosquitoes." Where did I put those candles again ... ?
Explore Alternative Medicine
Hi, I have a question/idea for a post but don’t want to display it here. I tried to email the guide to this site but the email just came back to me. Who is the new guide or what email can I use to write a private note to the guide? Please email me at drmrgrl247@yahoo.com
Up until 26 years ago, I was bitten by mosquitoes all my life (and they never cared where they bit me). Once, while in Lake Havasu, CA, they devastated us. Sometime later, I was at a camping store where they sold anti-mosquito bite pills. They were costly. So, I read the label. It was vitamin B1 (Thiamin). I went to a local drug store and purchased a bottle. They were inexpensive. The next time we went to Lake Havasu, we started taking two pills a day for a few days before going and then 1 pill a day afterwards. I couldn’t believe it. We got there and there were no mosquitoes in sight (so we thought) until a huge group of campers in canoes came to our camp area, had already been to the only store in town where they were out of Off Mosquito Repellent, and were offering us $20 for a can of it. I didn’t have any. They asked why we weren’t being bit, so I told them my story. I have passed this information on to many friends and family over the years, and there is not one of us it didn’t help! They don’t even land on you!
Hmmm…There are several B vitamins. To which one are you referring?
In the article, the New York Times’ doesn’t differentiate among variations of vitamin B. Therefore, I imagine they are speaking about all types of vitamin B.
Have used Vit B complex most of my life and have rarely been bitten by anything! If it doesn’t work, then why do the professional pest control people get a B shot regularly to protect them. Have had several tell me that they do. Besides, Vit B will help with stress and generally feeling “bugged” by humans around you too. That is worth it’s weight in gold.
comment by Renee is right on… I, too, have used B1, Thiamine, for over thirty years to ward off mosquitoes. have shared info with many who have had same results. human body flushes excess thiamine out of system quickly through pores (sweat) and urine so it’s important to keep it in system when you go camping, work outside, etc. only have gotten bitten by those little buggers when I haven’t taken my B1. When I go camping, I typically will take 1000 mg over the course of the day. Also, alcohol reduces its effectiveness.
we must understand that there is too much MONEY made in the repellant industry for any information like this to be publicized. I never liked the idea of putting toxins on my skin….
Does Vitamin B also protect you against other insects that bite?
Hi Paulette, We use the Insect Defend Patch. It is a trans-dermal patch that contains 75mg of Vitamin B1. It has proven to be very effective against mosquitoes as well as black flies, deer flies, sand flies and no-see-ums. Each patch lasts up to 36 hours and is safe for kids as young as 1 year old. I think the patch works better than pills because it is a timed release. Most excess B1 taken orally just passes through your digestive system because it is water soluable.
A Geography professor from Ecuador that i know swears by the B1 repellent. He travels extensivley to tropical areas of the world for his research, so i tried this when i went to Costa Rica, ingesting B1 10 days before i left on my trip. And low and behold i was not bitten once by mosquitoes and that was the rainy season.
I used to be a landscaper a few years ago. The first year I did it I was eaten alive by mosquitos and went through tons of repellent. The next year I started taking B1 and had no problems. We even had a particular yard where my co-worker would wear a rain suit to keep from getting eaten sucked dry and I would work with no problems. Studies may not prove it to b e true but I’ve seen the results for me.
I was a Sgt. For the Lee County Sheriffs Department in Southwest Florida. For several years I was stationed at Boca Grande, an island off the coast. My patrol area included many other small islands. On occasion I would have to check homes on some of these small islands. The salt-water mosquitoes were so bad I wore a rain slicker and tied a handkerchief over my nose and mouth. Very uncomfortable in 90+ degrees and high humidity. They were bad and their bit is almost a sting.
An old fisherman told me about Vitamin B (1). I took 1000-1500mg per day. In about 20 days I noticed that the mosquitoes would buzz around me but stopped biting. I think success has a lot to do with how much you take, how much you sweat, what else you eat and your physical make up. Does it work for me? You bet it does.
We’ve been using the Insect Defend Patch for a couple years now (Vitamin B1), long as you’re active it works awesome!
When we were first married, we bought: MOSQUITO PILLS. Now, this was just our local sport mans shop. You start with two and every 12 hours you took two ore. If you screw-up, and forget to take them…you get mosquitos biting thru your leggings and jeans. (This was in Idaho…by a pond!) Not smart. What I remember (this is 30 years ago) it was high dosages of B- something. It said on the bottle “tested on boy scouts)If anyone has seen this product…..please email me.
It works! I’ve been taking (3) B-50’s a day…. and today I was untouched by mosquitos…. usually I get eaten alive more than anyone else. I’m absolutely amazed.
Interesting. We have Asian Tiger Mosquitos in our neighborhood here in Virginia (!) and for the past 10 years have been eaten alive whenever we are outside foe more than 2 minutes without DEET. It is awful. We just spent a day gardening, and realize none of us were bitten. We are trying to figure out what is different, and I realized we have been taking a B-Complex for the last few weeks. Hmmm…
I went deer hunting with my brother-in-law and I was nearly eaten alive by the mosquitoes. They didn’t even land on my brother-in-law. His secret — Take 2 Vitamin B-12 tablets for 2 to 3 days before going out into the woods, then 1 B-12 tablet each day you are out there. The following year I did as he suggested. No matter what the Scientists say — they DID WORK for me ! No mosquitoes bothered me from then on!
I’ve also had success with vitamin B although I typically get the B-complex as opposed to just one vitamin B type. It’s interesting to note that the article referenced does not have any link to the actual study so there’s no way to verify what vitamin B type was tested in their experiments. I find it odd that the article doesn’t provide the source, and I will dismiss it as a “myth” itself.