Circadian rhythm sleep disorders

Overview

Vitamin B12 has five trials for circadian rhythm sleep disorders, including delayed sleep phase syndrome, in this review. Supplementation, even when combined with bright light therapy, did not improve sleep-wake timing or related clinical outcomes compared with control conditions in those studies.

Available evidence does not support vitamin B12 for these circadian rhythm sleep problems based on the trials indexed here. No other supplements are listed for this condition in this database. See the evidence reviews below for individual trial detail.

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Evidence Review

Taking vitamin B12 pills, even with bright light therapy, does not help people who have trouble with their natural sleep-wake cycles, such as delayed sleep phase syndrome.
Vitamin B12 is not effective for these sleep problems.

Browse 5 studies

Circadian rhythm sleep disorders in adolescents: clinical trials of combined treatments based on chronobiology1998n=20

A study of 20 children/adolescents found that after consideration of these results, a step-by-step procedure of combined treatments for the circadian rhythm sleep disorders is proposed.

Population: Children/adolescents
Participants: 20
Avg age: ~16

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ObservationalClinical features of circadian rhythm sleep disorders in outpatients1998

An observational study of 86 found that the 56 (65.1%) cases with primary CRSD showed good response to vitamin B12 and bright light therapy; however, 28 (70.0%) cases with secondary CRSD did not respond to such therapies.

Effect: Benefit

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RCTVitamin B12 treatment for delayed sleep phase syndrome: a multi-center double-blind study1997n=50

A randomized trial of 50 (ages 13–55) found that 3 mg/day for 4 weeks no significant differences were observed between the 2 groups in subjective evaluations of mood or drowsiness during the daytime or in night sleep by sleep-log evaluation.

Effect: No Benefit
Duration: 4 weeks
Dose: 3 mg/day
Population: Patients with delayed sleep phase syndrome
Participants: 50
Ages: 13–55

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Clinical trialA multicenter study of sleep-wake rhythm disorders: therapeutic effects of vitamin B12, bright light therapy, chronotherapy and hypnotics1996

A study found that these therapies caused moderate or remarkable improvement in 32% of the non-24, 42% of DSPS, 45% of irregular and 67% of long sleepers.