Also, like other useful substances, the body needs vitamin B 12. It provides the accumulation of energy necessary for life, promotes cell reproduction, and supports the normal functioning of the immune system.
If we don’t get enough of it with food, if the process of absorption of the vitamin is disturbed (for example, large amounts of vitamin C can interfere with the process of obtaining B12 with food), if the patient is older than 50 years old and absorption is impaired due to age-related changes, then you need to apply for help to medicine. Start taking the Cyanocobalamin drug. Vitamin B 12 is realized in ampoules for intramuscular, subcutaneous and intravenous injections, in the form of a crystalline powder of red color and in the form of tablets, capsules.
Indications for use
The daily norm for adults is 3 mcg, for children 1-2 mcg living in Russia (abroad the norm is 2 times lower). Vitamin B 12 is found in foods mainly of animal origin: liver, meat, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, herring, oysters. But there is in plant foods: seaweed, soy, yeast. A small piece of fish (such as salmon) would be enough to compensate for the vitamin requirement for 3 days.
A signal about a lack of vitamin in the body can be a violation of the digestive process (constipation, poor digestibility of food), muscle weakness, dry mouth, anemia, ulcers, visual disturbances, immunodeficiencies, numbness of the limbs. The psychological manifestations include: fatigue, irritability, drowsiness, depression, constant dizziness, headaches, ringing in the ears, and with severe hypovitaminosis there may even be hallucinations and memory loss. All this can be accompanied by significant harm to the nervous system (without vitamin, the protective membrane of the nerves collapses). Scientists have noted an increased risk of heart disease and Alzheimer's disease even with a small B12 deficiency.
If you are not sure about the symptoms, but are very worried, in a private laboratory you can do a test for homocysteine level (10 mmol per 1 liter of blood - the norm) or for the content of methylmalonic acid in the urine (should be up to 4 mg creatinine).
Vitamin B 12 is needed in high doses for pregnant and lactating women, premature babies, the elderly, vegetarians, as well as for alcohol abuse and frequent smoking.
It is indicated for use by AIDS patients with chronic anemia, trauma, skin diseases, with hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, chronic diarrhea, inflammatory processes in the nervous system, with sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and Down's disease. And also with the aim of prevention for problems with the absorption of vitamins (pathology of the stomach, intestines).
Vitamin B 12 facilitates the course of diseases of the nervous system, radiation sickness, liver diseases, chronic pancreatitis, and allergic reactions.
The drug is dangerous for the following diagnoses: angina pectoris, thromboembolism, erythremia, erythrocytosis.
Dosage
Vitamin B 12 in tablets is produced both separately and as part of multivitamin complexes. Its content in dietary supplements and biocomplexes is sufficient for a healthy adult. Therapeutic doses are hundreds of times higher.
In the form of injections, 0.1 or 0.2 mg (for severe diseases - 0.4 or 0.5 mg) is administered every other day, as vitamin B 12 tends to accumulate in the body.
In the form of a powder, it is poorly absorbed, therefore it is recommended to be taken with folic acid. Long-term use together with potassium (as well as with corticosteroid hormones and antipsychotics) will lead the course of treatment with vitamin to zero.
An overdose is very dangerous: up to anaphylactic shock. Side effects are also unpleasant: dizziness, pain, allergies, tachycardia. Do not take chances without the explicit instructions of a doctor. However, this advice does not apply to vitamin intake in the biocomplex.