Vitamin B12 deficiency

Vitamin B12 deficiency
Cyanocobalamin
Classification and external resources
Specialty Neurology
ICD-10 E53.8
ICD-9-CM 266.2
DiseasesDB 13905
MedlinePlus 000574
Patient UK Vitamin B12 deficiency

Vitamin B12 deficiency, also known as hypocobalaminemia, refers to low blood levels of vitamin B12.[1] A wide variety of signs and symptoms may occur including a decreased ability to think and behavioural and emotional changes such as depression, irritability, and psychosis. Abnormal sensations, changes in reflexes, and poor muscle function can also occur as may inflammation of the tongue, decreased taste, low red blood cells, reduced heart function, and decreased fertility.[2] In young children symptoms include poor growth, poor development, and difficulties with movement.[3] Without early treatment some of the changes may be permanent.[4]

Common causes include poor absorption from the stomach or intestines, decreased intake, and increased requirements. Decreased absorption may be due to pernicious anemia, surgical removal of the stomach, chronic inflammation of the pancreas, intestinal parasites, certain medications, and some genetic disorders. Decreased intake may occur in those who eat a vegan diet or are malnourished. Increased requirements occur in HIV/AIDS and in those with rapid red blood cell breakdown.[2] Diagnosis is typically based on vitamin B12 blood levels below 120–180 picomol/L (170–250 pg/mL) in adults. Elevated methylmalonic acid levels (values >0.4 micromol/L) may also indicate a deficiency. A type of low red blood cells known as megaloblastic anemia is often but not always present.[3]

Supplementation is recommended to prevent deficiency in vegetarians who are pregnant.[3] Once identified it is easily treated with supplementation by mouth or injection.[5] There are no concerns from excess vitamin B12 among those who are otherwise healthy.[3] Some cases may also be helped by treating the underlying cause.[6] Other cases may require ongoing supplementation as the underlying cause is not curable.[7] Vitamin B12 deficiency is common.[2] It is estimated to occur in about 6% of those under the age of 60 and 20% of those over the age of 60. Rates may be as high as 80% in parts of Africa and Asia.[2]

Signs and symptoms

Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency anemia and neurologic dysfunction.[8] A mild deficiency may not cause any discernible symptoms, but as the deficiency becomes more significant symptoms of anemia may result, such as weakness, fatigue, light-headedness, rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing and pale color to the skin. It may also cause easy bruising or bleeding, including bleeding gums. GI side effects including sore tongue, stomach upset, weight loss, and diarrhea or constipation. If the deficiency is not corrected, nerve cell damage can result. If this happens, vitamin B12 deficiency may result in tingling or numbness to the fingers and toes, difficulty walking, mood changes, depression, memory loss, disorientation and, in severe cases, dementia.

The main syndrome of vitamin B12 deficiency is pernicious anemia. It is characterized by a triad of symptoms:

  1. Anemia with bone marrow promegaloblastosis (megaloblastic anemia). This is due to the inhibition of DNA synthesis (specifically purines and thymidine)
  2. Gastrointestinal symptoms: alteration in bowel motility, such as mild diarrhea or constipation, and loss of bladder or bowel control.[9] These are thought to be due to defective DNA synthesis inhibiting replication in a site with a high turnover of cells. This may also be due to the autoimmune attack on the parietal cells of the stomach in pernicious anemia. There is an association with GAVE syndrome (commonly called watermelon stomach) and pernicious anemia.[10]
  3. Neurological symptoms: Sensory or motor deficiencies (absent reflexes, diminished vibration or soft touch sensation), subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord, seizures,[11][12][13][14] or even symptoms of dementia[15] and or other psychiatric symptoms may be present. The presence of peripheral sensory-motor symptoms or subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord strongly suggests the presence of a B12 deficiency instead of folate deficiency. Methylmalonic acid, if not properly handled by B12, remains in the myelin sheath, causing fragility. Dementia and depression have been associated with this deficiency as well, possibly from the under-production of methionine because of the inability to convert homocysteine into this product. Methionine is a necessary cofactor in the production of several neurotransmitters.

Each of those symptoms can occur either alone or along with others. The neurological complex, defined as myelosis funicularis, consists of the following symptoms:

  1. Impaired perception of deep touch, pressure and vibration, loss of sense of touch, very annoying and persistent paresthesias
  2. Ataxia of dorsal chord type
  3. Decrease or loss of deep muscle-tendon reflexes
  4. Pathological reflexes Babinski, Rossolimo and others, also severe paresis

Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause severe and irreversible damage, especially to the brain and nervous system. These symptoms of neuronal damage may not reverse after correction of hematological abnormalities, and the chance of complete reversal decreases with the length of time the neurological symptoms have been present.

Tinnitus may be associated with vitamin B12 deficiency.[16]

Psychological

Vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause symptoms of mania and psychosis, fatigue, memory impairment, irritability, depression, ataxia, and personality changes.[17][18][19] In infants symptoms include irritability, failure to thrive, apathy, anorexia, and developmental regression.[20][21]

Causes

Mechanism

The total amount of vitamin B12 stored in the body is between two and five milligrams in adults. Approximately 50% is stored in the liver, but approximately 0.1% is lost each day, due to secretions into the gut—not all of the vitamin in the gut is reabsorbed. While bile is the main vehicle for B12 excretion, most of the B12 secreted in bile is recycled via enterohepatic circulation. Due to the extreme efficiency of this mechanism, the liver can store three to five years worth of vitamin B12 under normal conditions and functioning.[37] However, the rate at which B12 levels may change when dietary intake is low depends on the balance between several variables.[38]

Metabolic

Vitamin B12 deficiency causes particular changes to the metabolism of 2 clinically relevant substances in humans:

  1. Homocysteine (homocysteine to methionine, catalysed by methionine synthase) leading to hyperhomocysteinemia may lead to varicose veins
  2. Methylmalonic acid (methylmalonyl-CoA to succinyl-CoA, of which methylmalonyl-CoA is made from methylmalonic acid in a preceding reaction)

Methionine is activated to S-adenosyl methionine, which aids in purine and thymidine synthesis, myelin production, protein/neurotransmitters/fatty acid/phospholipid production and DNA methylation. 5-Methyl tetrahydrofolate provides a methyl group, which is released to the reaction with homocysteine, resulting in methionine. This reaction requires cobalamin as a cofactor. The creation of 5-methyl tetrahydrofolate is an irreversible reaction. If B12 is absent, the forward reaction of homocysteine to methionine does not occur, and the replenishment of tetrahydrofolate stops.[39]

Because B12 and folate are involved in the metabolism of homocysteine, hyperhomocysteinuria is a non-specific marker of deficiency. Methylmalonic acid is used as a more specific test of B12 deficiency.

Pathomorphology

A spongiform state of neural tissue along with edema of fibers and deficiency of tissue. The myelin decays, along with axial fiber. In later phases, fibric sclerosis of nervous tissues occurs. Those changes apply to dorsal parts of the spinal cord and to pyramidal tracts in lateral cords. The pathophysiologic state of the spinal cord is called subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord.[40]

In the brain itself, changes are less severe: They occur as small sources of nervous fibers decay and accumulation of astrocytes, usually subcortically located, and also round hemorrhages with a torus of glial cells. Pathological changes can be noticed as well in the posterior roots of the cord and, to lesser extent, in peripheral nerves. Abnormalities might be observed in MRI.[41]

Diagnosis

MRI image of the brain in an axial view showing the “precontrast FLAIR image”. Note the abnormal lesions (circled) in the per ventricular area suggesting white matter pathology in someone with vitamin B12 deficiency.

Serum B12 levels are often low in B12 deficiency, but if other features of B12 deficiency are present with normal B12 then further investigation is warranted. One possible explanation for normal B12 levels in B12 deficiency is antibody interference in people with high titres of intrinsic factor antibody.[42] Some researchers propose that the current standard norms of vitamin B12 levels are too low.[43] One Japanese study states the normal limits as 500–1,300 pg/mL.[44] Range of vitamin B12 levels in humans is considered as normal: >300 pg/mL; moderate deficiency: 201–300 pg/mL; and severe deficiency: <201 pg/mL.[45]

Serum vitamin B12 tests results are in pg/mL (picograms/milliliter) or pmol/L (picomoles/liter). The laboratory reference ranges for these units are similar, since the molecular weight of B12 is approximately 1000, the difference between mL and L. Thus: 550 pg/mL = 400 pmol/L.

Serum homocysteine and methylmalonic acid levels are considered more reliable indicators of B12 deficiency than the concentration of B12 in blood.[46] The levels of these substances are high in B12 deficiency and can be helpful if the diagnosis is unclear.

Routine monitoring of methylmalonic acid levels in urine is an option for people who may not be getting enough dietary B12, as a rise in methylmalonic acid levels may be an early indication of deficiency.[47]

If nervous system damage is suspected, B12 analysis in cerebrospinal fluid is possible, though such an invasive test should be considered only if blood testing is inconclusive.[48]

The Schilling test has been largely supplanted by tests for antiparietal cell and intrinsic factor antibodies.

Effect of folic acid

The National Institutes of Health has found that "Large amounts of folic acid can mask the damaging effects of vitamin B12 deficiency by correcting the megaloblastic anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency without correcting the neurological damage that also occurs", there are also indications that "high serum folate levels might not only mask vitamin B12 deficiency, but could also exacerbate the anemia and worsen the cognitive symptoms associated with vitamin B12 deficiency".[3] Due to the fact that in the United States legislation has required enriched flour to contain folic acid to reduce cases of fetal neural-tube defects, consumers may be ingesting more than they realize.[49] To counter the masking effect of B12 deficiency the NIH recommends "folic acid intake from fortified food and supplements should not exceed 1,000 μg daily in healthy adults."[3] Most importantly, B12 deficiency needs to be treated with B12 repletion. Limiting folic acid will not counter the irrevocable neurological damage that is caused by untreated B12 deficiency.

Treatment

Hydroxocobalamin injection is a clear red liquid solution of hydroxocobalamin.

B12 can be supplemented by pill or injection and appear to be equally effective in those with low levels due to absorption problems.[5]

When large doses are given by mouth its absorption does not rely on the presence of intrinsic factor or an intact ileum. Generally 1 to 2 mg daily is required as a large dose.[50] Even pernicious anemia can be treated entirely by the oral route.[51][52][53] These supplements carry such large doses of the vitamin that 1% to 5% of high oral doses of free crystalline B12 is absorbed along the entire intestine by passive diffusion.

Epidemiology

A study in the year 2000 indicates that B12 deficiency is far more widespread than formerly believed. The study found that 39 percent of studied group of 3,000 had low values.[28]

In the developing world the deficiency is very widespread, with significant levels of deficiency in Africa, India, and South and Central America. This is theorized to be due to low intakes of animal products, particularly among the poor.[54]

B12 deficiency is more common in the elderly.[54] This is because B12 absorption decreases greatly in the presence of atrophic gastritis, which is common in the elderly.

The 2000 Tufts University study found no correlation between eating meat and differences in B12 serum levels.[28]

See also

References

  1. Herrmann, Wolfgang (2011). Vitamins in the prevention of human diseases. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. p. 245. ISBN 9783110214482.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Hunt, A; Harrington, D; Robinson, S (4 September 2014). "Vitamin B12 deficiency.". BMJ (Clinical research ed.). 349: g5226. doi:10.1136/bmj.g5226. PMID 25189324.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin B12 — Health Professional Fact Sheet". National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements. 2016-02-11. Retrieved 2016-07-15.
  4. Lachner, C; Steinle, NI; Regenold, WT (2012). "The neuropsychiatry of vitamin B12 deficiency in elderly patients.". The Journal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences. 24 (1): 5–15. doi:10.1176/appi.neuropsych.11020052. PMID 22450609.
  5. 1 2 Vidal-Alaball, J; Butler, CC; Cannings-John, R; Goringe, A; Hood, K; McCaddon, A; McDowell, I; Papaioannou, A (20 July 2005). "Oral vitamin B12 versus intramuscular vitamin B12 for vitamin B12 deficiency.". The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (3): CD004655. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004655.pub2. PMID 16034940.
  6. Wardlaw, Graeme J. Hankey, Joanna M. (2008). Clinical neurology. London: Manson. p. 466. ISBN 9781840765182.
  7. Schwartz, William (2012). The 5-minute pediatric consult (6th ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 535. ISBN 9781451116564.
  8. Reynolds, E.H. (2014). "The neurology of folic acid deficiency". Handb Clin Neurol. 120: 927–43. doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-4087-0.00061-9. PMID 24365361.
  9. Briani C, Dalla Torre C, Citton V, Manara R, Pompanin S, Binotto G, Adami F (2013). "Cobalamin Deficiency: Clinical Picture and Radiological Findings". Nutrients. 5 (11): 4521–4539. doi:10.3390/nu5114521. ISSN 2072-6643. PMC 3847746Freely accessible. PMID 24248213.
  10. DN Amarapurka MD, ND Patel MD (September 2004). "Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia Syndrome". Journal of The Association of Physcians of India. 52: 757.
  11. Matsumoto A, Shiga Y, Shimizu H, Kimura I, Hisanaga K (Apr 2009). "[Encephalomyelopathy due to vitamin B12 deficiency with seizures as a predominant symptom]". Rinshō Shinkeigaku = Clinical Neurology. 49 (4): 179–85. doi:10.5692/clinicalneurol.49.179. PMID 19462816.
  12. Kumar S (Mar 2004). "Recurrent seizures: an unusual manifestation of vitamin B12 deficiency". Neurology India. Neurologyindia.com. 52 (1): 122–123. PMID 15069260.
  13. Mustafa TAŞKESEN; Ahmet YARAMIŞ; Selahattin KATAR; Ayfer GÖZÜ PİRİNÇÇİOĞLU; Murat SÖKER. "Neurological presentations of nutritional vitamin B12 deficiency in 42 breastfed infants in Southeast Turkey" (PDF). Turk J Med Sci. 41 (6): 1091–1096. Retrieved 2013-12-29.
  14. Yavuz H (Sep 2008). "'Vitamin B12 deficiency and seizures'". Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology (Open access). 50 (9): 720. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8749.2008.03083.x. PMID 18754925.
  15. Kumar S, Narasimha A, Holla B, Viswanath B, Narayanaswamy JC, Math SB, Chandrashekar CR (2013). "Reversible dementia in young persons due to cobalamin deficiency". The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences. 25: E62–E63. doi:10.1176/appi.neuropsych.12040083.
  16. Stover, editors, Janos Zempleni, John W. Suttie, Jesse F. Gregory, III, Patrick J. (2014). Handbook of vitamins (Fifth edition. ed.). Hoboken: CRC Press. p. 477. ISBN 9781466515574.
  17. Sethi NK, Robilotti E, Sadan Y (2005). "Neurological Manifestations Of Vitamin B-12 Deficiency". The Internet Journal of Nutrition and Wellness. 2 (1). doi:10.5580/5a9.
  18. Masalha R, Chudakov B, Muhamad M, Rudoy I, Volkov I, Wirguin I (Sep 2001). "Cobalamin-responsive psychosis as the sole manifestation of vitamin B12 deficiency". The Israel Medical Association Journal. 3 (9): 701–703. PMID 11574992.
  19. "Pernicious anemia: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia". National Institutes of Health: National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2013-12-29.
  20. Dror DK, Allen LH (May 2008). "Effect of vitamin B12 deficiency on neurodevelopment in infants: current knowledge and possible mechanisms". Nutrition Reviews. 66 (5): 250–5. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2008.00031.x. PMID 18454811.
  21. Black MM (Jun 2008). "Effects of vitamin B12 and folate deficiency on brain development in children". Food and Nutrition Bulletin. 29 (2 Suppl): S126–31. PMC 3137939Freely accessible. PMID 18709887.
  22. Kittaka-Katsura H, Fujita T, Watanabe F, Nakano Y (Aug 2002). "Purification and characterization of a corrinoid compound from Chlorella tablets as an algal health food". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 50 (17): 4994–7. doi:10.1021/jf020345w. PMID 12166996.
  23. Watanabe F, Takenaka S, Kittaka-Katsura H, Ebara S, Miyamoto E (Oct 2002). "Characterization and bioavailability of vitamin B12-compounds from edible algae". Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology. 48 (5): 325–31. doi:10.3177/jnsv.48.325. PMID 12656203.
  24. Nakano S, Takekoshi H, Nakano M (Mar 2010). "Chlorella pyrenoidosa supplementation reduces the risk of anemia, proteinuria and edema in pregnant women". Plant Foods for Human Nutrition. 65 (1): 25–30. doi:10.1007/s11130-009-0145-9. PMID 20013055.
  25. Watanabe F, Takenaka S, Katsura H, Miyamoto E, Abe K, Tamura Y, Nakatsuka T, Nakano Y (Dec 2000). "Characterization of a vitamin B12 compound in the edible purple laver, Porphyra yezoensis". Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry. 64 (12): 2712–5. doi:10.1271/bbb.64.2712. PMID 11210144.
  26. Croft MT, Lawrence AD, Raux-Deery E, Warren MJ, Smith AG (Nov 2005). "Algae acquire vitamin B12 through a symbiotic relationship with bacteria". Nature. 438 (7064): 90–3. doi:10.1038/nature04056. PMID 16267554.
  27. Martens JH, Barg H, Warren MJ, Jahn D (Mar 2002). "Microbial production of vitamin B12". Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 58 (3): 275–85. doi:10.1007/s00253-001-0902-7. PMID 11935176.
  28. 1 2 3 McBride, Judy (2 August 2000). "B12 Deficiency May Be More Widespread Than Thought". Agricultural Research Service. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  29. Lam JR, Schneider JL, Zhao W, Corley DA (Dec 2013). "Proton pump inhibitor and histamine 2 receptor antagonist use and vitamin B12 deficiency". JAMA. 310 (22): 2435–2442. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.280490. PMID 24327038.
  30. Baik, H.W.; Russell, R.M. (1999). "Vitamin B12 deficiency in the elderly". Annu Rev Nutr. 19: 357–377. doi:10.1146/annurev.nutr.19.1.357. PMID 10448529.
  31. Yeomans ND, Hanson RG, Smallwood RA, Mihaly GW, Louis WJ (1982). "Effect of chronic ranitidine treatment on secretion of intrinsic factor". Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 285 (6337): 264. doi:10.1136/bmj.285.6337.264. PMC 1499627Freely accessible. PMID 6124297.
  32. Caruso R, Pallone F, Stasi E, Romeo S, Monteleone G (2013). "Appropriate nutrient supplementation in celiac disease". Ann Med (Review). 45 (8): 522–31. doi:10.3109/07853890.2013.849383. PMID 24195595.
  33. Ting RZ, Szeto CC, Chan MH, Ma KK, Chow KM (Oct 2006). "Risk factors of vitamin B(12) deficiency in patients receiving metformin". Archives of Internal Medicine. 166 (18): 1975–9. doi:10.1001/archinte.166.18.1975. PMID 17030830.
  34. Cordingley FT, Crawford GP (Feb 1986). "Giardia infection causes vitamin B12 deficiency". Australian and New Zealand Journal of Medicine. 16 (1): 78–9. doi:10.1111/j.1445-5994.1986.tb01127.x. PMID 3458451.
  35. Zarebavani M, Dargahi D, Einollahi N, Dashti N, Mohebali M, Rezaeian M (2012). "Serum levels of zinc, copper, vitamin B12, folate and immunoglobulins in individuals with giardiasis" (PDF). Iran. J. Public Health. 41: 47–53. PMC 3640781Freely accessible. PMID 23641390.
  36. Kondo H, Osborne ML, Kolhouse JF, Binder MJ, Podell ER, Utley CS, Abrams RS, Allen RH (May 1981). "Nitrous oxide has multiple deleterious effects on cobalamin metabolism and causes decreases in activities of both mammalian cobalamin-dependent enzymes in rats". The Journal of Clinical Investigation. The American Society For Clinical Investigation. 67 (5): 1270–1283. doi:10.1172/JCI110155. PMC 370693Freely accessible. PMID 6112240.
  37. Voet, Donald, Voet, Judith G. (2010). Biochemistry. New York: J. Wiley & Sons. p. 957. ISBN 978-0470-57095-1.
  38. Yamada K (2013). "Chapter 9. Cobalt: Its Role in Health and Disease". In Astrid Sigel, Helmut Sigel and Roland K. O. Sigel. Interrelations between Essential Metal Ions and Human Diseases. Metal Ions in Life Sciences. 13. Springer. pp. 295–320. doi:10.1007/978-94-007-7500-8_9.
  39. Shane B, Stokstad EL (1985). "Vitamin B12-folate interrelationships". Annual Review of Nutrition. 5: 115–41. doi:10.1146/annurev.nu.05.070185.000555. PMID 3927946.
  40. "Vitamin B12 / Pathophysiology Text". LifeSave.org. p. 215. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  41. Guez S, Chiarelli G, Menni F, Salera S, Principi N, Esposito S (2012). "Severe vitamin B12 deficiency in an exclusively breastfed 5-month-old Italian infant born to a mother receiving multivitamin supplementation during pregnancy". BMC Pediatrics (Full text). Biomedcentral.com. 12: 85. doi:10.1186/1471-2431-12-85. PMC 3407531Freely accessible. PMID 22726312.
  42. Hamilton MS, Blackmore S, Lee A (Sep 2006). "Possible cause of false normal B-12 assays". BMJ. 333 (7569): 654–5. doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7569.654-c. PMC 1570871Freely accessible. PMID 16990334.
  43. Goodman M, Chen XH, Darwish D (Oct 1996). "Are U.S. lower normal B12 limits too low?". Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 44 (10): 1274–5. doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1996.tb01389.x. PMID 8856015.
  44. Mitsuyama Y, Kogoh H (Mar 1988). "Serum and cerebrospinal fluid vitamin B12 levels in demented patients with CH3-B12 treatment--preliminary study". The Japanese Journal of Psychiatry and Neurology. 42 (1): 65–71. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1819.1988.tb01957.x. PMID 3398357.
  45. Solomon LR (2015). "Cobalamin-responsive disorders in the ambulatory care setting: unreliability of cobalamin, methylmalonic acid, and homocysteine testing". Blood. 105 (3): 978–85. doi:10.1182/blood-2004-04-1641. PMID 15466926.
  46. "Test used to diagnose B12 deficiency may be inadequate". news-medical.net. October 28, 2004. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
  47. Donaldson MS (2000). "Metabolic vitamin B12 status on a mostly raw vegan diet with follow-up using tablets, nutritional yeast, or probiotic supplements". Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism. 44 (5–6): 229–34. doi:10.1159/000046689. PMID 11146329.
  48. Devalia V (Aug 2006). "Diagnosing vitamin B-12 deficiency on the basis of serum B-12 assay". BMJ. 333 (7564): 385–6. doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7564.385. PMC 1550477Freely accessible. PMID 16916826.
  49. Melinda Beck (January 18, 2011). "Sluggish? Confused? Vitamin B12 May Be Low". Wall Street Journal.
  50. Kuzminski AM, Del Giacco EJ, Allen RH, Stabler SP, Lindenbaum J (Aug 1998). "Effective treatment of cobalamin deficiency with oral cobalamin". Blood. 92 (4): 1191–1198. PMID 9694707.
  51. Bolaman Z, Kadikoylu G, Yukselen V, Yavasoglu I, Barutca S, Senturk T (2003). "Oral versus intramuscular cobalamin treatment in megaloblastic anemia: a single-center, prospective, randomized, open-label study". Clin Ther. 25 (12): 3124–34. doi:10.1016/S0149-2918(03)90096-8. PMID 14749150.
  52. Lane LA, Rojas-Fernandez C; Rojas-Fernandez (2002). "Treatment of vitamin b(12)-deficiency anemia: oral versus parenteral therapy". Ann Pharmacother. 36 (7–8): 1268–72. doi:10.1345/aph.1A122. PMID 12086562.
  53. Butler, C. C.; Vidal-Alaball, J; Cannings-John, R; McCaddon, A; Hood, K; Papaioannou, A; McDowell, I; Goringe, A (2006). "Oral vitamin B12 versus intramuscular vitamin B12 for vitamin B12 deficiency: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials". Family Practice. 23 (3): 279–285. doi:10.1093/fampra/cml008. PMID 16585128.
  54. 1 2 Baik HW, Russell RM (1999). "Vitamin B12 deficiency in the elderly". Annual Review of Nutrition. 19: 357–77. doi:10.1146/annurev.nutr.19.1.357. PMID 10448529.

Further reading

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 12/2/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.