Update 8/1/20. If you have ringing in the ears – a medical condition called tinnitus – you may have heard of a supplement called Lipoflavonoid which, has been “used extensively for decades for the treatment of Meniere’s syndrome and tinnitus.” That's what the company says. I became curious about this supplement after I started getting ringing in my left ear. So, I decided to try lipoflavonoid and see if it helped. What follows is not only my review of LipoFlavonoid but also the results of what happened when I used it. Hopefully, what you will read will help you better decide if LipoFlavonoid is right for you.
Other Tinnitus Reviews
- Tinnitus Supplements Review
- Tinnitus 911 Review
- Black Seed Oil Review (tinnitus section)
LipoFlavonoid Ingredients
For this review, I looked at Extra Strength Lipo-Flavonoid Plus. According to the product box, a serving is 3 caplets. Each serving (3 caplets) has the following ingredients:
| Ingredient | Amount | Percent DV |
| Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) | 200 mg | 334% DV |
| Vitamin B1 (thiamine mononitrate) | 0.67 mg | 44% DV |
| Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) | 2 mg | 118% DV |
| Niacin (niacinamide) | 0.67 mg | 34% DV |
| Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine HCL) | 0.67mg | 34% DV |
| Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) | 3.33 mcg | 56% DV |
| Pantothenic acid (calcium pantothenate) | 3.33 mg | 34% DV |
| Calcium (dicalcium phosphate) | 58 mg | 6% DV |
| Tisina Complex composed of the following: | 1000 mg | N/A |
| 1 Choline bitertrate | ||
| 2 Inositol | ||
| 3 Lemon bioflavonoid complex | ||
In this table, % DV= percent daily value, mcg = micrograms, and N/A = no daily value has been established
Tisina is the name the company calls the 3 ingredients in their proprietary blend. This blend contains the active ingredients in Lipoflavonoid.
Previously, the supplement label contained another ingredient – eriodictyol glycoside. As you will see below, eriodictyol glycoside is the active ingredient in Lipoflavonoid.
Lipo-Flavonoid Other Ingredients
Here's a list of the other ingredients in this supplement
| microcrystalline cellulose | stearic acid | partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (soybean, palm or cottonseed) |
| croscarmellose sodium | povidone | talc |
| polyvinyl alcohol | magnesium stearate | silicon dioxide |
| titanium dioxide | hypromellose | ethyl vanillin |
| triacetin | carnauba wax |
The label also tells us the supplement may also contain:
- Hydroxyl methyl-cellulose
- Polyethylene glycol
- Riboflavin
- Soy lecithin
- FD&C red #40
- FD&C red #40 lake
- FD&C Yellow #6 (sunset yellow)
- Xantham gum
- FD&C blue #1 lake
- FD&C blue #1
- Lipoflavinoid also contain soy
These other ingredients play no role in the benefits of Lipoflavonoid.
Video Review
Here's a quick video I created to summarize the research
Watch on my YouTube Channel if you prefer
Lipo-Flavonoid Active Ingredient
I don't think the vitamins and minerals in the supplement play any role in reducing tinnitus sounds or hearing loss. Instead, let's focus on the research on its active ingredient. That ingredient is eriodictyol glycoside (also called lemon bioflavonoid).
Lipoflavonoid Tisina Complex
3 caplets of Extra strength Lipoflavonoid contains 1000 mg (it used to be 1500mg) of the following ingredients called the Tisina complex:
- Choline bitartrate
- Inositol
- High potency lemon bioflavonoid complex
The active ingredient in Lipoflavonoid is called eriodictyol glycoside. This is what they refer to as “lemon bioflavonoid complex.”
Eriodictyol glycoside is a phytonutrient called a bioflavonoid. It's found in lemon peels.
LipoFlavonoid Research
The Lipoflavonid website discusses surveys from 2010 and 2014 ENTs. The surveys revealed 84%-90% of ENTs recommended this supplement to patients with ear ringing and Meniere’s disease. While these surveys are not peer-reviewed studies, I believe them. Both my primary doctor and ENT were aware of this supplement when I was evaluated for tinnitus.
So what's the evidence?
The name Lipoflavonoid was first used in a 1964 study. So, this supplement has research dating back over 50 years. The active ingredient in Lipoflavonid is said to be a compound called eriodictylol glycoside.
Today they call it “lemon bioflavonoids.”
1960s Research
I located 2 clinical studies from the early 1960s. Both investigations were conducted by an ENT named Dr. Henry Williams. Here are the studies:
In the 1964 study, 197 people with tinnitus and Meniere's and hearing loss were given 9 caplets of Lipoflavinoid for 6 months. The majority of them showed improvements in hearing after using the supplement. Some people however did not show improvements.
In another investigation, Walter Reed Hospital, in 1965, conducted a study of citrus bioflavonoids in people with hearing loss that was not related to Meniere's Disease. Those researchers found no improvement in hearing.
Any other Proof?
In another study where researchers gave 40 people with tinnitus either:
- Lipoflavonoid + manganese
- Lipoflavonoid Plus by itself
The people took Lipoflavoind 3 times a day by itself or in combination with 8 mg of manganese. Manganese was included because some previous research suggested it might help tinnitus too.
This study lasted for 6 months.
Unfortunately, the researchers could not determine if either treatment helped. This may be due to the high drop out rate of the study participants.
How Does Eriodictylol Glycoside Work?
Eriodictylol glycoside – the lemon bioflavonoid – is seen as the likely active ingredient. While this is not fully known how it works, it is speculated that lemon bioflavonoids lower histamine levels. Excess histamine is thought to be a reason for ear ringing /tinnitus and plays a role in Meniere's disorder.
Lipoflavonoid Night
There is a nighttime version of this supplement. Here is Lipoflavonoid Plus vs. LipoFlavonoid Nightside by side:
| LipoFlavonoid Plus | LipoFlavonoid Night |
| Vitamin C 300 mg | Vitamin C 200 mg |
| Vitamin B1 1 mg | Vitamin B1 0.67 mg |
| Vitamin B2 3 mg | Vitamin B2 2 mg |
| Niacin 10 mg | Niacin 6.67 mg |
| Vitamin B6 1mg | Vitamin B6 0.67 mg |
| Vitamin B12 5 mg | Vitamin B12 3.33 mcg |
| Pantothenic acid 5 mg | Pantothenic acid 3.33 mg |
| Calcium 87 mg | Calcium 58 mg |
| Tisina Complex 1000 mg | Tisina Complex 1000 mg |
| 1. Choline bitartrate | 1. Choline bitartrate |
| 2. Inositol | 2. Inositol |
| 3. High potency lemon bioflavonoid complex | 3. High potency lemon bioflavonoid complex |
| Melatonin 5 mg |
As can be seen, both versions contain 1000 mg of the Tisina complex. In addition to this, Lipoflavonoid Night contains 5 mg of melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that studies show may help us fall asleep faster.
Sometimes both supplements are sold together as a combo pack too.
Who Makes LipoFlavonoid?
The company is called Clairon Brands LLC, located at 27070 Miles Road Suite A Solon, Ohio, 44319. The contact phone number is : (844) 454-7632. This address (minus the “suite A”) is the same for other products including Absorbine Jr and something called “Anti-Monkey Butt Powder.”
Another company name is DSE Health Solutions located at 164 Northfield Drive, Edison NJ 08837. This address corresponds to Garden State Fulfillment as well as another supplement company called Numark Laboratories also called Numark Brands.
What Does This Mean? Numark Brands is the company behind LipoFlavonoid. Garden State Fulfillment is probably where the supplement is shipped from.
LipoFlavonoid BBB Rating
Numark Brands/DSE Health Care Solutions has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. See the BBB file for updates and more information.
My Lipoflavonoid Experiment
What kind of results can you expect with this supplement? Well, I've had tinnitus in my left ear for some time. After dealing with it for several months, I decided to try LipoFlavonoid to see if it helped.
The first time I used the product, I took 3 caplets before bed. During the night, I noticed that I still had the ringing but when I woke up the next day, the noise in my ear had stopped.
Interesting.
Later that day I actually had an appointment to see my doctor about my ear ringing. When I informed him about my little experiment, he told me he was aware of LipoFlavonoid and from what he understands, it appears to work in about 40% of cases.
For a time, I felt fortunate that maybe, I was one of that 40%…until the next day, when the tinnitus in my left ear returned.
As I write these words, I've been using 3 caplets of LipoFlavonoid for about a week and the ringing in my left ear has not stopped, although it does seem to be a tad better than it was before. There are good days and not-so-good days. It comes and goes.
I'm going to continue to use LipoFlavonoid for the next month or so to see if it needs more time to work and I will update my review to let everyone know what happened.
Update. I've taken LipoFlavonoid for 6 months but it did not reduce my tinnitus symptoms.
How Much Does It Cost?
This supplement is not very expensive. I have seen it in stores for around $20-$25, sometimes less. Some drug store chains even carry their own version of Lipoflavnoid often costs less. The store versions are often called different names but they can be found on the same shelf.
I've looked at some of these store brands and noticed they often contain the same active ingredients as Lipo-Flavonoid. They often call their key ingredient either citrus bioflavonoids or lemon bioflavonoids.
Where Can You Buy It?
This is a popular supplement. You can purchase Lipoflavonoid at many familiar stores like CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, Walmart, Costco, BJs, GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, and Krogers.
Lipo-Flavonoid Dosage
The box I have says to take 3 caplets per day. However, on the LipoFlavonoid website they say to take 2 caplets each, 3 times a day (for a total of 6 caplets per day) for 1-2 months, and then to taper off to the maintenance regimen, which I take to be 3 caplets per day.
Oddly, in one of the 1960s studies, 9 caplets a day were used.
I didn't see the recommendation of 6 caplets per day when I started taking it. I'll up my dosage to 6 per day for the next two months and report my findings in an update to my experiment, which I outlined above.
Update. After 6 months, I did not see a difference in my tinnitus.
Lipoflavonoid And The Military
On the Lipoflavonoid website, they say that ” Tinnitus is one of the most common service-related disabilities among veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Hearing loss is a significant problem for those in the military. While at least one study has found Lipo-Flavonoid did not work in US military personnel, it was a small study. I'm still curious. Has anyone in the military used lipo flavonoid? If yes, leave a comment below and let me know if it helped you and how long it took to work? Also, let me know if it did not work for you.
LipoFlavonoid Side Effects
I think Lipoflavonoid is safe in healthy people. I'm not aware of any side effects from the product. Here are a few things to think about
- Start with less than recommended for the first week
- Stop at least 2 weeks before surgery
- Pregnant or nursing, ask your doctor
- Vitamin C increases iron absorption. Ask your doctor if you have iron overload disease (hemochromatosis)
Hearing loss, as well as ringing in the ears, can be complicated. In fact, if you start to research the causes of tinnitus, some of them can scare the daylights out of you! So, it's best to get checked out by your doctor first to find out what might be causing the problem.
Does LipoFlavonoid Work?
Research dating back to over 50 years ago hints Lipoflavonoid might help some people. I wish I was one of them. After taking Lipoflavonoid for several months, it did not reduce my tinnitus symptoms. If it worked for you, leave a comment below and let me know how long it took before it kicked in or anything else you think would help others. The good news is the supplement is not expensive and can be found at many local stores. I hope it helps you.