RouteThe normal, accepted route for giving B12 is by injection, either intramuscular or subcutaneous. This route bypasses the stomach, where it is reasonable to assume there is something wrong with absorption of B12. The advantage of subcutaneous injections is that you can learn to do them yourself in time. That used to be the only route available — well it was that or chopped raw liver! But there are now lozenges of methylcobalamin available; these take advantage of two things. First, they are a big dose — the ones we use are either 5,000 units or 20,000 per lozenge, intended to be taken every day — and second they are meant to be held under the tongue for a while to dissolve. This uses a third route into the body; the rich network of blood vessels under the tongue can carry molecules directly into the system, also bypassing the digestion. It make sense to use injections of B12 first to see if they work, then to try lozenges to see if they work too; if not you can go back to injections.
Co-factorsI have been doing this sort of medicine for a long time, and learnt a few things. One is this; when you start a new nutritional treatment and feel much better, but it wears off after 3-6 months or so, it’s generally because you’ve missed something — in other words the treatment was necessary but not sufficient. |
Of course if the improvement wears off after just 3 weeks it may have been a placebo effect all along. When treating with a prescription drug, you usually (not always) are intending to block a biochemical process, a chain reaction, and you only need to do that at one point in the chain. When using nutrition you need to get all the links in the chain working properly to get a lasting result. Sorting out one big lack, repairing one link in the chain, will help at first but it won’t last. So what co-factors go with B12? The straight answer, of course, is all of them, but there are some highlights. The most obvious is folic acid, another member of the B vitamin group — although some evidence suggests that the more natural forms, MTHF (methyltetrahydrofolate) and folinic acid, work better for some people. Certain genes come into play here, and it is possible to do genomic testing to find out more. B6 is also important, as are minerals such as zinc and magnesium. And then there’s vitamin D - see elsewhere about this. Everybody is individual, and individual assessment is necessary to find out your individual needs. Those who know they need more B12 have already taken a major step in this direction; credit is due. The next steps can get more technical though; we’re happy to help. |
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.