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The Conversation
The Conversation
Science
Matan Shelomi, Associate Professor of Entomology, National Taiwan University

Mosquitoes are not repelled by vitamins and other oral supplements you might take

It's only wishful thinking that you can ward off mosquitoes from within. frank600/iStock via Getty Images Plus

A longstanding medical myth suggests that taking vitamin B1, also known as thiamine, can make your body repel mosquitoes.

A “systemic repellent” that makes your whole body unappealing to biting insects certainly sounds good. Even if you correctly reject the misinformation questioning safe and effective repellents like DEET, oral repellents would still have the benefit that you wouldn’t need to worry about covering every inch of exposed skin or carrying containers of bug spray whenever you venture into the great outdoors.

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