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I have given over 10,000 injections of vitamin B12, and the effect has been variable. Some people have experienced an immediate benefit; some have felt better later; for some it has done nothing at all. For some it has been life-changing, and this, I gather, is the experience of many in the PAS. Vitamin B12 is a complicated molecule — I’ll put up a picture if I can manage it. Its absorption is complicated too; it requires a molecule called Intrinsic Factor, secreted by the stomach. Anything that interferes with stomach function — low acid, high acid, antacid medication, surgery — may interfere with Intrinsic Factor.
FormsThere are several forms of vitamin B12 — cyanocobalamin, methylcobalamin and hydroxocobalamin are the ones that are available as injections. There is another form called adenosylcobalamin which is formed in the body as an intermediate stage in metabolism, plus glutathionylcobalamin which is a new molecule to us. Cyanocobalamin is the form that is available on the NHS; our view is that the other two forms are often better. Methylcobalamin is most indicated in brain disorders, but can be used in most conditions and situations. |
The only circumstances in which we think it must be hydroxocobalamin are cancer and poisoning. In cancer this is because methyl- is past the “fork in the road” where the other road leads to adenosyl-, which best guess tells us is the key. In poisoning it’s because the French literature is based on hydroxo-; intensive care units there have long used extremely high doses of hydroxo-, 4-5grams IV daily (remember that some doctors won’t prescribe more than 1 milligram every 3 months; this is 5,000 times that every day) as a safe and effective antidote for cyanide poisoning. we know that works, we don’t know if methyl- would do the same.
DoseTreatment with B12 needs to be a dose-finding exercise, to figure out how much you need and how often. Some people do respond to 1milligram every 3 months; some need more like 5 milligrams, and some need that dose much more frequently. If you benefit from a small dose there is no reason that you have to take more, but it would be interesting to find out if you get more benefit from a larger dose. The intensive care dose described above tells you that no harm is likely from a large (from 1milligram to 10milligrams) dose. |
Hello,
Can you advise how I can buy the 5,000 and 20,000 unit methylcobalamin lozenges you refer to?
My mobile number is 07818 063503 if it is more convenient to ring.
Thank you for your time.