The B-complex vitamins are a family of nutrients that have been grouped together because of the interrelationships in their function within human enzyme systems, and their distribution in natural food sources. Deficiency in these vitamins has been shown to result in tinnitus, and supplementation may improve the symptom. The B vitamins are water soluble and easily absorbed, except vitamin B12, whose absorption is enhanced by intramuscular injection or sublingual application. Nevertheless, oral B12 supplementation still leads to increased serum levels. Unlike fat-soluble nutrients, most B-complex vitamins cannot be stored in the body, and must be replaced daily from food sources or supplements. The B vitamins function as co-enzymes to facilitate human metabolism and energy production. They maintain healthy skin, eyes, muscle tone, and support the functions of the liver and central nervous system. They are also important in helping to deal with depression, stress, and anxiety. Normally, B vitamins are taken as a complex, but a single B vitamin may be indicated to treat a particular disorder. Deficiency in B vitamins may also result in lethargy, anemia, nervousness, skin and hair problems, decreased appetite, poor night vision, tinnitus and hearing loss.let's find out more about different forms of vitamin b. vitamin b 1. vitamin b 3. vitamin b6. vitamin b 12

 Vitamin B6 is a co enzyme involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins and the manufacturing of hormones, red blood cells, neurotransmitters, enzymes, and prostaglandins. It is also required for the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that controls mood, appetite, sleep patterns, and sensitivity to pain. A deficiency of vitamin B6 can quickly lead to insomnia and profound malfunctioning of the central nervous system. Common symptoms of deficiency can include depression, vomiting, anemia, renal stones, dermatitis, lethargy, and increased susceptibility to diseases caused by a weakened immune system . Among its many benefits include helping to maintain healthy immune system
functions, protecting the heart from cholesterol deposits, and preventing renal stone formation. It is also beneficial in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome, premenstrual syndrome, night leg cramps, allergies, asthma, arthritis, and dizziness Supplemental B6 is commonly used as a treatment for nausea, morning sickness, depression, and tinnitus. Natural foods that are highest in vitamin B6 include brewers yeast, carrots, chicken, eggs, fish, avocados, bananas, brown rice, and whole grains. The RDI for vitamin B6 is 2 mg/d. Most B-complex formulas contain between 10 and 100mgof vitamin B6. VitaminB6 is one of the few vitamins that can be toxic. Doses up to 500 mg/d are uncommon but safe. Doses above 2 g/d however, can lead to irreversible neurologic damage. Doses exceeding this level should not be used unless the patient is under the treatment of a physician. Vitamin B6 supplements should not be taken by Parkinson’s disease patients treated with L-dopa,
because vitamin B6 can diminish the effects of L-dopa in the brain. Most of the vitamin B–complex supplements seem to work on tinnitus in some patients by providing a stabilizing effect on the nerves centrally and peripherally. Only anecdotal evidence exists regarding this treatment method. Nature Made Vitamin B-6

Vitamin B12, also referred to as cobalamin and cyanocobalamin, is a micronutrient that is water soluble like other B vitamins. Unlike the other B vitamins, however, which are not stored in the body, vitamin B12 is stored for up to 9 months in the liver and kidneys.
The RDI for vitamin B12 is 2 lg for adults, 2.2 lg for pregnant women, and 2.6 lg for nursing mothers . Vitamin B12 is not found in vegetables, but can be found in pork, blue cheese, clams, eggs, herring, kidney, liver, seafood, and milk.
It has been estimated that 5% to 10% of persons over the age of 65 years are deficient in vitamin B12. With newer and more sensitive tests available, deficiency states have been found in as many as 15% to 20% of the population . This deficiency state is most likely secondary to absorption difficulties and a deficient nutritional intake. There may be some   correlation between the decline in vitamin B12 levels and the increasing prevalence of tinnitus in the elderly. Vitamin B12 is an important coenzyme required for the proper synthesis of DNA and new cell formation. It also works synergistically with vitamin C to aid in proper digestion and absorption of foods, protein synthesis, and the normal metabolism of carbohydrates and fats. Additionally, B12 prevents nerve damage by contributing to the formation of the myelin sheath. Vitamin B12 also maintains fertility, and helps promote normal growth and development in children. Metabolites, including cobalamin, are involved in stabilizing neural activity. Vitamin B12 is an essential cofactor for methylation of myelin basic protein and cell membrane phospholipids. Cobalamin deficiency has been shown to be a factor involved in neuronal dysfunction. It is logical to assume that a relationship between tinnitus, which might involve neuronal dysfunction, and vitamin B12 deficiency may exist. In the senior author’s experience, several patients who were motivated to attempt nutritional supplementation with B12 noted significant improvement in their tinnitus. Still others, however, have reported no such benefit. A deficiency of vitamin B12 can result in pernicious anemia, characterized by megaloblastic anemia, lack of intrinsic factor, inability to absorb vitamin B12, and increased risk for esophageal webs and cancer. Because vitamin B12 can be stored easily in the body and is only required in minute amounts, symptoms of severe deficiency usually take 3 to 5 years to appear. When symptoms do arise, usually in mid-life, it is likely that deficiency was caused by digestive disorders or malabsorption rather than poor diet. It is well known, however, that the elderly have a reduced dietary intake, which may predispose them to nutritional deficiencies. Furthermore, strict vegetarians (vegans) who do not consume any foods of animal origin need to supplement their diets with this nutrient because B12 comes almost exclusively from animal sources. Vitamin B12 is available in supplemental form. Because of relatively poor gastric absorption, B12 can be taken as a sublingual tablet or by injection. Supplements range in strength from 50 lg to 2 mg. Megadose vitamin B12 toxicity is unknown, and any excess is excreted from the body
. One can measure serum B12 or serum methylmalonic acid for levels of this vitamin. The normal range of B12 in the healthy population is 150 to 900 pg/mL.
Experimental studies and clinical observations have related tinnitus to demyelination of nerve fibers and to a distorted resting state of spontaneous neural activity. Shemesh et al  showed a high prevalence (47%) of vitamin B12 deficiency in patients with chronic tinnitus when a criterion of deficiency is set at 250 pg/mL and lower. Serum cobalamin deficiency was more widespread and severe in the tinnitus group associated with noise exposure. This suggested a relationship between vitamin B12 deficiency and dysfunction of the auditory pathway. Deficiency also results in peripheral and central neurologic pathology. Decreased methionine production caused by cobalamin deficiency can lead to a sensory demyelinating neuropathy. Abnormalities of the nervous system in the absence of hematologic disorders and normal results of the Schilling test have been reported in 28% of 141 consecutive patients with abnormally low serum cobalamin. The Schilling test assesses the absorption of free cobalamin and also the absorption of free cobalamin with intrinsic factor. In many instances, the actual cause of the deficiency is difficult to identify. It might be a result of inadequate dietary intake, a minor alimentary dysfunction, or a nutrition-metabolic disturbance. Supplemental cobalamin was found to show some relief in several patients with severe tinnitus.

Vitamin B3 (also called niacin, niacinamide, or nicotinic acid) is an essential nutrient required for proper metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, and for the production of hydrochloric acid. Vitamin B3 also supports circulation, healthy skin, and aids in the functioning of the central nervous system. Because of its role in supporting the higher functions of the brain and cognition, vitamin B3 also plays an important role in the
treatment of schizophrenia and other mental illnesses, and in stabilizing cognitive functions. Adequate levels of B3 are vital for the proper synthesis of insulin, and the sex hormones, estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone. Natural food sources for vitamin B3 include beef, broccoli, carrots, cheese, corn flour, eggs, fish, milk, potatoes, and tomatoes. Foods containing vitamin B3, however, provide minimal amounts of this vitamin. A deficiency in vitamin B3 can result in pellagra, a disorder characterized by malfunctioning of the nervous system and gastrointestinal upset. Classically, the three cardinal symptoms are diarrhea, dementia, and dermatitis. Recently, niacin has been embraced by the medical community
for its ability to safely lower cholesterol and triglyceride serum levels. The dosing required is between 500 and 2000 mg daily. Doses exceeding 1000 mg can lead to hepatoxicity and are more common in the timed-release niacin supplements. When recommending doses in this range, liver function tests need to be monitored Niacin at any dose may result in a niacin flush, a natural reaction that is harmless but can be uncomfortable. A niacin flush generally results in a burning, tingling, and itching sensation, accompanied by a reddening flush
that spreads across the skin of the face, arms, and chest, typically lasting 5 to 60 minutes . A nonflush form of niacin now exists, which may be better tolerated by some patients, but this is the form that is more apt to cause potential liver problems. There is no accepted standard niacin dosing for tinnitus. Typically, the senior author recommends beginning at 50 mg twice a day. After 2 weeks, if there is no improvement, the patient increases the dose by 50 mg at each interval to a maximum dose of 500 mg twice per day. Higher doses can be recommended, but it is advised to monitor liver function tests. Niacin may provoke migraine headache attacks in some people and appropriate warning is justified. High doses should be used with caution in pregnant women. Mega doses of pure niacin can aggravate health problems, such as stomach ulcers, gout, glaucoma, and diabetes mellitus. Unfortunately, there is no clinical proof for the effectiveness of niacin in treating tinnitus. This is inherently difficult to prove because of a possible placebo effect arising from the niacin flush sensation rather than any therapeutic value of the underlying vasodilation. It has been noted that there is a favorable response to niacin in some patients. There have been other anecdotal reports of the benefit of niacin in treating tinnitus. Some health care providers advocate taking niacin in combination with thiamine. The 1994 text on myofascial pain, Trigger Points, states that niacin without thiamine seems to provide little relief for tinnitus [10]. This has not,
however, been the senior author’s experience. The combination dosing is two parts niacinamide for each one part thiamine. Some supplements come balanced in this proportion. There have also been reports of niacin working in combination with lecithin, a group of phospholipids that yield two fatty acid molecules and one molecule each of glycerophosphric acid and choline after hydrolysis. Lecithin is found in nervous tissue, especially myelin sheaths, and in the plasma membrane of plant and animal cells. The theory is that the lecithin, being an emulsifier, helps disperse the buildup of fats in the capillaries, and the niacin helps dilate the capillaries to allow the lecithin in. The phosphatidylcholine
portion of lecithin, however, is a precursor of acetylcholine and should be avoided in people who are manic-depressive because it may worsen the depressive phase. Compelling evidence exists from experiments in the authors’ laboratory demonstrating that aged rats supplemented with a diet rich in phosphatidylcholine have improved auditory sensitivity when compared with placebo-supplemented rats. Furthermore, study of the subjects’ mitochondrial function reveals a statistically significant improvement in mitochondrial energy production in the treated groups compared with placebo. Nature Made Vitamin B-3

 Vitamin B1 (thiamine) is a nutrient with a critical role in maintaining a healthy central nervous system. Adequate thiamine levels can dramatically affect cognitive function by maintaining a positive mental attitude and enhancing learning abilities. Conversely, inadequate levels of B1 can lead to vision problems, mental confusion, and loss of physical coordination. Vitamin B1 is required for the production of hydrochloric acid, forming blood cells, and for maintenance of healthy circulation. It also plays a key role in converting carbohydrates into energy, and in maintaining proper
muscle tone of the digestive and cardiovascular systems. A chronic deficiency of thiamine leads to beriberi, a devastating and potentially deadly disease of the central nervous system. Beriberi is diagnosed clinically by peripheral neuropathy and cardiovascular and cerebral dysfunction, which includes congestive heart failure and dementia. Because of improved diets and the widespread use of supplements, beriberi is rare in developed countries,
with one important exception. Beriberi symptoms are occasionally seen in chronic alcoholics because of the destructive effect alcohol has on B1. Thiamine levels can also be affected by ingestion of antibiotics, sulfa drugs, caffeine, antacids, and oral contraceptives. A diet high in carbohydrates can also increase the need for B1. Food sources high in thiamine include beans, eggs, brewers yeast, whole grains, brown rice, and seafood. In supplemental form, B1 is generally found in a combination with vitamins B2, B3, B6, pantothenic acid, and folic acid.
There are no known toxic effects from vitamin B1, and any excess is excreted from the body. The recommended dietary intake (RDI) for B1 is 1.5 mg, although more typical daily intake ranges from 50 to 500 mg/d . Some patients have noted that vitamin B1 supplements relieve their tinnitus. The mechanism of action seems to be by a stabilization effect on the nervous system, especially in the inner ear. Dosages ranging from 25 to 500 mg/d have been used.