Can Vitamin B Protect You from Pesky Mosquitoes?
Monday August 18, 2008
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 ... ?
Comments
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.