A 37-year-old member asked:
A blood test showed that i'm B12 deficient. Serum B12 level of 186 pg/ml, should I take vitamin B12 supplements?
1 doctor answer
Dr. Guy DaSilva answered
34 years experience in Preventive Medicine
Absolutely: B12 in the form of methyl cobalamin is necessary for numerous biochemical pathways. It can prevent psychoses, nerve tissue degeneration and megaloblastic anemia. Methyl B12 can be given safely at doses up to 3mg intramuscularly and can be given weekly in those patients who cannot absorb it through the GI tract. Otherwise, 2mg oraly is optimal. There are no known side-effects of having to much.
Answered on Jul 12, 2018
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1 comment
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Dr. Richard Roberts commented
45 years experience in Pediatrics
Beware some OTC manufacturers who substitute the cheaper cyanocobalamin (a synthetic B12) which can not be absorbed by the mucous membranes. You need the biologically active form, methyl cobalamin (also called Mecobalamin), which is readily absorbed through the mucous membranes.
Oct 10, 2015
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