CFS & Fibromyalgia Integrative Therapies B12 for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome By Adrienne Dellwo linkedin Adrienne Dellwo is an experienced journalist who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and has written extensively on the topic. Learn about our editorial process Adrienne Dellwo Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by David Ozeri, MD on September 25, 2020 linkedin David Ozeri, MD, is a board-certified rheumatologist. He is based in Tel Aviv, Israel, where he does research at Sheba Medical Center. Previously, he practiced at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board David Ozeri, MD on September 25, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Dietary Sources Side Effects Supplementation B vitamins are essential for energy production, protein metabolism, red blood cell formation, and central nervous system maintenance. B vitamins are water soluble, meaning that your body uses what it can and eliminates the rest through urine. Claudia Totir / Getty Images B12 is a common supplement for increasing energy. It's available in several forms, including injections, tablets, and sublingual (under the tongue) forms. A few (but limited) studies suggest that low B12 levels may be involved in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. If so, it's possible that they are, at least in part, responsible for the low energy levels typical of both conditions. Research on B12 supplements for these illness has just begun, but what little we have is promising. A 2015 study of B12 injections showed a positive response, especially in those who were also taking daily folic acid supplements. Many doctors disagree with this and consider B12 injections archaic and unsupported by scientific evidence. Some doctors and researchers, however, say anecdotal evidence supports B12 supplements for achieving and maintaining higher B12 levels in people with these conditions. Dietary Sources B12 is readily available in almost any animal-derived food, such as: Beef liver & other organ meatsShellfishMeat & poultryEggsMilk & other dairy productsFortified breakfast cerealsNutritional yeast Some vegetarian and vegan products are fortified with B12 since a plant-based diet generally will not contain enough. If you're on a special diet, you may want to talk to your doctor and/or a nutritionist about how to best get enough important vitamins and minerals. Side Effects It's important to note that side effects are possible and potentially dangerous even with natural substances like B vitamins. You should get medical attention right away if you experience any of the following: Severe allergic reactionsCalf pain, swelling or tendernessChest painFeel of swelling throughout the bodyFever, chills or a persistent sore throatIrregular heartbeatMuscle weakness or crampingShortness of breathUnusual bruising or bleeding Supplementation You don't need a prescription for B12 supplements. They're available from most places that sell supplements. Still, if you're considering B12 supplementation, talk to your doctor about it. (Remember that many doctors are skeptical about B12 injections and may favor different types of supplementation.) If your doctor knows about all of your treatments, he/she can give you better guidance and make sure you're not doing anything that's unsafe. Your pharmacist is also a great resource when it comes to negative interactions between different treatments, including supplements. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Learn about treatment and lifestyle changes to cope with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. What are B vitamins? Updated November 2018. Regland B, Forsmark S, Halaouate L, et al. Response to vitamin B12 and folic acid in myalgic encephalomyelitis and fibromyalgia. PLoS ONE. 2015;10(4):e0124648. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0124648 National Health Services. Treatment chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME). Updated May 16, 2017. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin B12. Updated July 9, 2019. Blumenthal KG, Ziegler JB. Hypersensitivity reactions, dietary supplements, and the importance of the case report. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2016;4(1):177-8. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2015.08.001 Additional Reading Regland B, et al Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology. 1997;26(4):301-7. Increased concentrations of homocysteine in the cerebrospinal fluid in patients with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.