Supplement
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) for Insect Repellent
A B vitamin some people take to create a mild, natural mosquito-deterrent scent in the skin.
📊 How it ranks (our editor score) — 56/100Tap to see the breakdown
🌱 What it is
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) is an essential nutrient that, taken orally, some believe produces a skin odor mosquitoes find less appealing, though evidence is mixed.
✨ Why it's good for you
- Simple, low-risk vitamin to add during mosquito season
- Inexpensive and widely available
- May be used alongside standard repellents
🥄 How to use it
Take 50 mg of thiamine daily during mosquito season as a possible adjunct to standard repellents — it should not replace proven repellents like DEET or picaridin in areas with mosquito-borne disease risk.
How much: 50 mg daily during mosquito season.
Why it works: Thiamine is thought to alter the smell of skin secretions in a way that may make a person less attractive to biting mosquitoes, though scientific evidence for this effect is limited and inconsistent.
⚠️ Cautions
- Evidence for thiamine as a mosquito repellent is weak — do not rely on it alone in areas with West Nile virus, Zika, or other mosquito-borne disease risk.
- Use an EPA-registered repellent as your primary protection in high-risk areas.
- Very high doses aren't needed; stick to the stated amount.
📚 What others say
- Natural Remedies Encyclopedia (7th ed.)
🕊️ A word of encouragement
Be encouraged: the same hands that made you are able to restore you. Rest in that hope.
💬 Ask Remy about Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) for Insect Repellent
📚 Resource confidence
Based on mentions in health references
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