For many years, alternative doctors have insisted that vitamin B12 had to be administered through injection. We have seen some amazing effects from B12 injections, so we know it works. But we have never seen the evidence on oral B12. Many have insisted that it just does not work at all. In fact, I’ve told you many times that I prefer B12 by injection.
Well, there have been some great articles written recently on vitamin B12. They dispel these long-term beliefs and prove that oral B12 can be as effective as injections!
One of these studies followed 50 patients with known vitamin B12 deficiency. They were given B12 by injection. This corrected the deficiency at that moment. Then they were given B12 (as cyanocobalamin), 1,000 mcg daily, and followed for 18 months. None redeveloped B12 deficiency, either by blood levels of B12, or by a measure of B12 activity via homocysteine.
The most amazing part of this study is that 10 of the participants had pernicious anemia. In pernicious anemia, your body has a specific defect in B12 absorption. A chemical called intrinsic factor, which is made by the stomach, is lacking. Intrinsic factor is believed essential for B12 absorption downstream in your lower small intestine.
Years ago, physicians administered the Shilling Test. This test specifically measures intrinsic factor B12 absorption.
However, there is now overwhelming evidence that B12 can be absorbed without intrinsic factor.
Studies since 1968 show oral vitamin B12 is equally effective as injections — even in pernicious anemia and other B12 deficiency states.
This is good news for you if you are on injections. While I still use B12 injections in selected cases, I am gradually moving to oral, and now you can, too. Take this information (and references) to your physician. The full articles are available online for his or her review.
Ref: Postgraduate Medical Journal, 2003;79:218-219; American Family Physician, March 2003.