Vertigo and Vitamin Treatment

When you feel dizzy and it seems as if the room is spinning, you may be undergoing a bout of vertigo. Vertigo is a symptom of an underlying condition that could range from an inner ear disorder to dehydration or a sudden drop in your blood pressure. Vertigo is a common experience that increases with age. You should talk to a doctor if you experience vertigo that lasts longer than a few minutes or is persistent. You may just need to take vitamin supplements, change the way you move at certain times or undergo more serious treatment with prescribed medications.

Vitamin B-6

Vertigo often occurs in people with substance abuse problems or alcoholism. Vitamin B-6, usually part of B-complex vitamins, can help relieve the symptoms of dizziness and nausea from vertigo if you have dietary deficiencies, according to Life Extension 1. Both your nervous and immune systems need the water-soluble vitamin to function properly. Red blood cells need vitamin B-6 to produce hemoglobin that carries oxygen to your tissues. Without sufficient hemoglobin, you can develop vertigo and other symptoms that are similar to those of anemia and low blood sugar. Fortified cereal is one of the best dietary sources of vitamin B-6, which also can be found in bananas, chicken breasts and potatoes with the skins intact.

Ginkgo Biloba

According to the Life Extension Foundation, a number of studies show that ginkgo biloba is successful for treating vertigo that's caused by vestibular receptacle impairments 1. The vestibular system includes parts of your brain and inner ear that process information coming from your eyes that are involved with balance. Damage to your ear can cause vestibular disorders 2. Meniere's disease is an inner ear disorder that results in vertigo, ringing in your ears and hearing loss. People who take ginkgo biloba supplements may experience fewer vertigo episodes.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can mitigate the damage caused by free radicals your body naturally produces and that enter your body through the environment and the food you eat. Vitamin C may provide substantial relief from vertigo and other symptoms of Meniere's disease, according to the Life Extension Foundation 1. Effective dietary sources of vitamin C are fruits and vegetables. Other antioxidants that may help treat the condition include vitamin E, glutathione and lipoic acid.

Warning

While some foods may provide nutrients that reduce the instances of vertigo, other foods may exacerbate your condition. Monosodium glutamate, or MSG, is a form of sodium that is used in processed foods and restaurants to enhance flavor. MSG can cause fluid retention that could build up in your inner ear if you are prone to bouts of vertigo. Additionally, you should limit your salt intake to avoid fluid retention.