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Postgrad Med J 2003;79:218-219 doi:10.1136/pmj.79.930.218
  • Original article

Oral vitamin B12 can change our practice

  1. E Nyholm1,
  2. P Turpin1,
  3. D Swain2,
  4. B Cunningham1,
  5. S Daly1,
  6. P Nightingale3,
  7. C Fegan2
  1. 1Yardley Green Medical Centre, Birmingham
  2. 2Consultant Physicians, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital
  3. 3Statistician, Wolfson Computer Laboratory, University of Birmingham
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr Elizabeth S Nyholm, Yardley Green Medical Centre, 73 Yardley Green Road, Birmingham B9 5PU, UK; 
 Liz.nyholm{at}pc.birminghamha.wmids.nhs.uk
  • Received 19 October 2002
  • Accepted 20 January 2003

Abstract

Oral vitamin B12 can provide an effective alternative to intramuscular injections, so giving patients a choice and reducing costs in primary care. This study investigated the effectiveness, safety, and acceptability of oral vitamin B12 as replacement therapy in patients with vitamin B12 deficiency in a city general practice population. Forty patients previously maintained on vitamin B12 injections were given 1000 μg of oral cyanocobalamin daily for up to 18 months. All the patients maintained satisfactory serum B12 levels and showed normal haematology and neurology. Compliance and acceptability was excellent. The time for a change in practice has indeed arrived.

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