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Studies indicate that ingested oral cyanocobalamin tablets are ineffective in the treatment of allergic disease, perhaps because once ingested, they are directly metabolized in the liver. When B12 is delivered via injection or lozenge it passes throughout the bloodstream before arriving at the liver. It is during this first pass in its native form that it is believed to exert its therapeutic effect. CLINICAL RESEARCH: "The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes allergic rhinitis (hay fever), sinusitis, asthma,...conjunctivitis, urticaria, eczema, dermatitis (contact and atopic)...allergic and migraine headache...as diseases in which IgE-mediated allergy may be involved."1 In 1988, asthma and allergic rhinitis subjects were treated with B12. Total IgE, specific IgE and pulmonary lung functions were taken at days 45, 150 and 180 from baseline. Eight of the 9 subjects had reduced IgE. 2 In 1989 open label studies at two sites in Riverside County, CA in 1989. Sixteen of the 17 subjects had lowered IgE levels from Day 0 to Day 30.3

Antihistamines As the name indicates, an antihistamine counters the effects of histamine, which is released by the mast cells in the body''s tissues and contributes to allergy symptoms. For many years, antihistamines have proven useful in relieving sneezing and itching in the nose, throat, and eyes and in reducing nasal swelling and drainage. Many people who take antihistamines experience some distressing side effects: drowsiness and loss of alertness and coordination. In children, such reactions can be misinterpreted as behavior problems. During the last few years, however, antihistamines that cause fewer of these side effects have become available by prescription. These new nonsedating antihistamines are as effective as other antihistamines in preventing histamine-induced symptoms, but do so without causing sleepiness.

In 1992 in El Paso, TX a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study of subjects (n=130) with allergic rhinitis in 1992-1993 was conducted. The average IgE level of the placebo treated subjects remained essentially flat, while the average IgE level for active treated subjects was reduced significantly from baseline to Day 30.7 In 1993 in El Paso, TX, valid subjects (n=66) returned a second set of symptom diaries which they had completed for days 365 to 395 (the same period, one year after the first set of symptom diaries). The active group had mean symptom scores showing statistically significant decreases from 1992 to 1993. The placebo group had increased symptoms in 1993. (The relevant pollen counts at the study site in 1993 were much higher than in 1992, leading to expectation of higher symptoms.)7