Intended for healthcare professionals

  1. Education
  2. Vitamin B12
  3. Vitamin B12
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Practice Therapeutics

Vitamin B12

BMJ 2023; 383 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2022-071725 (Published 20 November 2023) Cite this as: BMJ 2023;383:e071725
  1. Bruce HR Wolffenbuttel, professor of endocrinology and metabolism (Em)1,
  2. P Julian Owen, consultant orthopaedic surgeon2,
  3. Mary Ward, professor of nutrition and dietetics3,
  4. Ralph Green, professor of medicine and pathology (haematology)4
  1. 1University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
  2. 2Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Addenbrooke’s, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Cambridge, UK
  3. 3Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland
  4. 4Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
  1. Correspondence to BHR Wolffenbuttel bwo{at}umcg.nl

What you need to know

  • The clinical picture is the most important factor in assessing the significance of results of blood tests assessing cobalamin (B12) status because there is no “gold standard” test to define deficiency

  • Neurological symptoms resulting from B12 deficiency may take several months or even years to resolve completely

  • Measuring serum biomarkers such as B12 or methylmalonic acid is neither helpful nor indicated in assessing or monitoring clinical improvement, neither is titration of injection frequency based on biomarker assessment

  • Self-administration of intramuscular B12 injections can lead to greater patient satisfaction and better health outcomes

What is vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is a water soluble vitamin required for several physiological processes, including normal nervous system functioning, and red blood cell development and maturation. It has antioxidant effects, is a co-factor in mitochondrial energy metabolism, and contributes to DNA synthesis, the methylation cycle, and epigenetic regulation.12 B12 is present in foods of animal origin, such as meat, eggs, and milk, or via food fortification. Healthy adults require an average intake of 4-7 mcg daily to maintain B12 status.34

Indications for B12 treatment, administration routes, and preparations

Treatment with B12 may be required for a variety of reasons (table 1).

Table 1

Main indications and administration routes for B12 treatment

View this table:

Evidence from animal and human studies shows that B12 also has neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties,15 and intervention studies in humans have reported beneficial effects of better B12 status or B12 therapy in multiple sclerosis,16 Parkinson’s disease,17 myalgic encephalomyelitis,18 autism,19 and (administering very high doses of methylcobalamin) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.20

Subcutaneous administration is sometimes recommended when intramuscular injections are contraindicated, for instance, in people using anticoagulants. Comparative studies between intramuscular and subcutaneous administration are lacking.21

In some countries, nasal or sublingual B12 preparations are available; however, their bioavailability is low,22 and long term efficacy studies in symptomatic B12 deficiency are lacking. Several combination preparations of different B12 forms and combinations with vitamins B1 and B6 are available. Table 2 summarises some of the available preparations; however, availability varies between countries.

Table 2

Examples of available vitamin B12 preparations

View this table:

Determining whom to treat

A deficiency of B12 may lead to a variety of symptoms. The classic presentation of symptomatic B12 deficiency occurs in Addison-Biermer’s disease, and is characterised by megaloblastic anaemia.9 This type of anaemia was the first condition to be linked to B12 deficiency, and probably because of that, many doctors have the misconception that B12 deficiency is ruled out in patients without anaemia. This, in turn, has led to delayed diagnosis, notably in people presenting solely with neurological symptoms.68232425 However, in many people, neurological and neuropsychological or cognitive symptoms (box 1, fig 1) are the main presenting symptoms.23 Anaemia is present in fewer than 20% of people with B12 deficiency.26 Cobalamin analogue formation maybe related to more prominent neurological manifestations.30

Box 1

Frequently reported signs and symptoms of B12 deficiency92326272829

  • Brain function: “Brain fog,” memory problems, cognitive impairment, insomnia, headaches (especially migraine), behavioural changes, learning problems, nominal aphasia

  • Mood: Mood swings, irritability, depression, anxiety, hallucinations, delusions, psychosis

  • Sensory: Peripheral paraesthesia (“pins and needles”), numbness, neuropathic pains, poor balance, reduced vibration sense or proprioception (joint position sense), tinnitus, ataxia, taste impairment, sometimes myelopathy

  • Constitutional: Fatigue, anaemia (either macrocytic, or normocytic when also iron deficient or associated with thalassaemia minor), other cytopenia, abdominal complaints, malabsorption, failure to thrive, weight loss, diarrhoea, hyperpigmentation, glossitis, (aphthous) stomatitis, infertility, urinary tract infections

  • Motor: Muscle weakness, altered reflexes (increased in degeneration of the spinal cord, reduced when peripheral neuropathy dominates), spasticity, seizures, cardiomyopathy

  • Autonomic: Urinary and/or faecal incontinence, postural hypotension or dizziness, erectile dysfunction

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Fig 1
Fig 1

Vitamin B12: Functions, deficiency and treatment

Diagnosing B12 deficiency can be challenging because no single specific measurement exists to reliably diagnose or refute the presence of B12 deficiency11122627 (box 2). A serum B12 concentration below 148 pmol/L (depending on the assay) with symptoms (box 1) is a strong indication of deficiency and is sufficient to start treatment.11 However, symptoms may also be present in individuals with serum B12 >148 pmol/L.

Box 2

Factors influencing the accuracy of results of serum B12 and related biomarkers

  • Considerable variability exists between the different commercially available serum B12 assays.31

  • Day-to-day variation of serum B12 may occur; for example, a concentration of 150 pmol/L on one day may be 120 pmol/L another day.

  • A serum B12 concentration within the normal limit, ie, above 148 pmol/L, does not exclude deficiency.

  • Serum B12 concentrations may be influenced by specific genetic polymorphisms or mutations; currently, more than 15 single nucleotide polymorphisms are known to influence serum B12.32333435

  • Oral B12 supplementation may result in serum B12 concentrations within or sometimes above the “normal” range without reducing symptoms, which can obscure the correct diagnosis.

  • Holo-transcobalamin (holoTC), the biologically active form of vitamin B12 in blood, also has a wide window with indeterminate levels,36 and the reference values strongly depend on the assay method.37

  • Measuring serum concentrations of MMA and homocysteine may be helpful in establishing B12 deficiency, especially in people with borderline serum B12 levels, ie, those between 148 and 300 pmol/L.363839 However, MMA was normal in 52% of individuals with holoTC concentrations below 20 pmol/L, the latter being indicative of deficiency.40 Additionally, specific genetic polymorphisms41 and recent treatment with antibiotics may result in false normal MMA levels,42 and MMA is also elevated with impaired renal function.43

  • Serum homocysteine is less specific for B12 deficiency, and can also be elevated in folate deficiency, vitamin B6 deficiency, vitamin B2 deficiency, and impaired renal function, hypothyroidism, and by certain medications.44

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Additionally, in patients who are already taking some form of oral B12 supplementation, demonstrating B12 deficiency can be a challenge, even when symptoms are typical (including those of neuropathy-like paraesthesia and numbness) as serum B12 concentrations may be just within, or sometimes above, the “normal” range.26 Serum B12, homocysteine, and methylmalonic acid (MMA) levels (box 2) are unreliable predictors of B12 responsive neuropathy (neurological disorders that respond to B12 supplementation).454647 In these situations, expert opinion suggests that clinicians consider discussing with their patients a therapeutic trial of B12 injections.71147

How is B12 deficiency treated?

The therapeutic goals of B12 treatment are the reversal of metabolic abnormalities and the prevention or reduction of clinical symptoms (fig 1). Treatment depends in part on the severity of symptoms and the cause of the deficiency. In individuals with symptomatic B12 deficiency despite normal dietary B12 intake, B12 malabsorption is the most likely cause and should guide parenteral therapy.

The three key treatment areas are outlined below.

Insufficient dietary intake

To prevent deficiency, oral cyanocobalamin supplementation once daily 20-50 mcg or 50-150 mcg is most commonly recommended.448 In some countries, methyl- and adenosylcobalamin-containing preparations are available; however, one observational study suggests better efficacy with cyanocobalamin than with methylcobalamin.49 Exercise caution when using combination preparations to avoid excessive folate or B6 intake. With advancing age, B12 absorption declines, and a higher supplemental B12 dose may be needed. Yearly monitoring of B12 status and suitable adjustment of the supplementation dose is recommended.50

For symptomatic deficiency (box 1) caused by insufficient dietary intake, intramuscular B12 therapy is usually initiated with the aim of progressing to oral supplements once symptoms have resolved.789

Symptomatic deficiency in people with B12 malabsorption

Suggested treatment schemes differ considerably between countries. The British National Formulary (BNF), for example, differentiates the prescription of hydroxocobalamin according to presenting symptoms, eg, “For neurological involvement, it is advised to administer hydroxocobalamin by intramuscular injection, initially 1 mg once daily on alternate days until no further improvement, then 1 mg every 2 months.” In the Netherlands, pharmacotherapeutic guidelines51 recommend (for the same neurological symptoms or abnormalities) administration of 1000 mcg once or twice weekly for up to two years. Little robust, reliable evidence supports current recommended dosing schedules, and no clinical studies assess the effectiveness and optimal dosing of intramuscular cobalamin preparations for symptom relief, other than studies assessing attained serum B12 concentrations and sometimes haematological response.525354 Studies as early as the 1960s reported considerable differences between individuals in pharmacodynamics5253545556 and dose requirements.57 Some patients may require a more frequent injection regimen, especially those with neurological symptoms, varying from twice weekly to every 2-4 weeks to become and remain asymptomatic. A possible explanation may be the large inter-individual difference in biliary B12 excretion. More than two thirds of the B12 excreted in bile is reabsorbed in the small intestine, but this reabsorption is reduced in people with pernicious anaemia or other causes of B12 malabsorption.5859

Nitrous oxide toxicity

The Association of British Neurologists has recently issued guidance on recognising and managing nitrous oxide toxicity associated with B12 deficiency.14 It recommends rapid initiation of alternate-day intramuscular hydroxocobalamin therapy, and maintenance of this treatment until all symptoms have resolved or there is no further neurological improvement, with long term B12 therapy depending on the presence of deficiency on presentation, together with total abstinence from the use of nitrous oxide.

How well does B12 therapy work?

Treatment with B12 injections is efficacious in restoring normal metabolism, alleviating symptoms, and reversing haematological and some neurological complications of deficiency.23 Anaemia usually resolves within six to eight weeks, but coexisting iron deficiency may be present and need oral iron supplementation7 and, in severe cases, parenteral iron infusion. Neurological symptoms may take several months or even years to resolve completely. Evidence from observational studies suggests that with longer symptom duration and more profound B12 deficiency, the likelihood that neurological symptoms will not completely resolve increases.28 People often continue to experience mild neurological symptoms such as poor memory, impaired concentration, and fatigue even after “adequate” B12 replacement (eg, therapy according to the BNF suggested treatment regimen)91729 and many patients report they need additional treatment. Biomarkers normalise more rapidly than an improvement or reversal of (neurological) symptoms. Additionally, symptoms may reappear without changes in biomarker status.

Some controversies exist about long-term parenteral B12 treatment. These are outlined below.

Oral versus intramuscular administration

It is suggested that passive absorption of B12 following sufficiently high oral doses (2000 mcg) can result in up to 10-12 mcg being absorbed daily7 and may allow serum B12 concentrations to normalise. However, passive absorption may be well below 1% in many patients,60 and high biliary B12 excretion may add to a negative B12 balance.59 Prospective studies on this topic have focused mainly on normalising serum B12 concentrations and should be interpreted with caution since the specific goal of treatment in symptomatic B12 deficiency is alleviating symptoms.92326 A recent Cochrane Review found that available studies only provide very low quality evidence that oral B12 is as efficacious as intramuscular B12 in improving symptoms.13 A recent survey of 204 patients suggested that oral B12 was associated with less effective symptom improvement than parenteral treatment.61 In practice, some patients may be able to switch to very high dose (ie, 2000 mcg daily) oral supplementation instead of continuing parenteral administration, but it is impossible to predict in whom this can be done safely, and many are at risk of worsening symptoms which may become permanent.24

Patient experiences

Data from a review of patient experiences and surveys involving more than 2200 patients with B12 deficiency in the UK indicate that many patients have concerns related to healthcare quality, safety, and treatment,626364 with nearly two thirds of respondents reporting that their treatment is insufficient to manage symptoms.2425 Some patients may experience recurrence or worsening of symptoms when the interval between injections is extended or extended too quickly, and report that continuation of frequent intramuscular hydroxocobalamin injections, varying between twice weekly and once every three to four weeks,65 is needed to remain asymptomatic. Why certain patients require more frequent treatment is not understood.

In an online survey, almost one third of 683 participants reported cancellation of B12 injections during the covid-19 lockdowns, with subsequent worsening of symptoms and often with negative emotions and feelings including anger, fear, disappointment, feeling let down, and feeling undervalued.66 In contrast, those who were self-administering B12 injections or who were rapidly taught to do so reported a noticeable improvement in their symptoms and quality of life, with some benefiting from increasing the frequency of injections to suit their personal need.6566

What are the harms?

Strong evidence, from decades of treating individuals with inborn errors of B12 metabolism, supports the safety of parenteral, lifelong, even high dose hydroxocobalamin, sometimes even at very high doses.6768 Long term epidemiological studies also indicate that treatment with pharmacological B12 doses and the corresponding increase in serum B12 do not increase mortality.69 Data on the safety of cyanocobalamin, when administered with high frequency (ie, one to two times a week) for a longer period of time, are lacking.

Adverse drug reactions include skin reactions like acne or rosacea; their frequency is unknown. In our experience, some people have successfully switched to a cobalamin preparation without benzylalcohol (a preservative in some parenteral B12 preparations) and have seen their skin problems resolve. Isolated allergy cases are reported, with some successfully treated by desensitisation.70 Transient hypokalaemia during initial B12 treatment in individuals with severe anaemia is usually mild and without clinical consequences.7

Contraindications

Preparations containing benzylalcohol are contraindicated for use in children and pregnant women.71 Cyanocobalamin is associated with worsening of visual problems, and is therefore contraindicated in people with the mitochondrial disorder Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy.72 Cyanocobalamin (but not hydroxocobalamin) is also contraindicated in renal insufficiency.73

Tips for safer prescribing

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Continued or new B12 therapy of women with deficiency during pregnancy and lactation is mandatory and safe.74 B12 deficiency increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including early pregnancy loss, neural tube defects, pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, and low birth weight,7576 as well as insulin resistance and adiposity.77 It also may lead to neurological complications in newborns, such as hypotonia, failure to thrive, central apnoeas, and seizures.7879

Children

Evidence based treatment advice on treatment in children is lacking; each case is judged individually.11 Solid evidence on the safety of parenteral, lifelong, high dose hydroxocobalamin is available from decades of treating patients with inborn errors of B12 metabolism (eg, cobalamin C deficiency).6768

Symptom monitoring

Monitor symptoms regularly (eg, every two to three months) as they may reappear, even after several months, if injection frequency is reduced. Measuring serum biomarkers such as B12 or MMA is neither helpful nor indicated in assessing or monitoring clinical improvement.38 Base the injection frequency on symptoms, and not on biomarker assessment.

Shared decision making

Use shared decision making to establish a long term frequency of B12 injections for each patient and teach them how to self-inject.80

How cost effective is B12?

Oral cyanocobalamin is cost effective for treating diet related B12 deficiency. A hydroxocobalamin vial for parenteral administration containing 1000 mcg costs less than £1. The main costs of intramuscular B12 therapy are associated with the administration of the injection itself, when this is done by a nurse specialist or GP. Many patients have successfully learnt to self-administer B12 by intramuscular injection, which reduces both healthcare costs and burden on GP practices, and allows people who are B12 deficient to optimise their treatment regimen.6566

Case example

A man in his 70s presents with a nine month history of difficulty walking and climbing stairs, numbness and pain in his lower limbs, and paraesthesia in his hands. He received a diagnosis of B12 deficiency 10 years ago, and during the covid-19 pandemic he switched from intramuscular hydroxocobalamin 1000 mcg once monthly to oral B12 supplementation. At the current presentation he has serum B12 (209 pmol/L), which is within the normal range (148-600 pmol/L), however MMA is elevated at 1100 nmol/L (a measurement taken in 2017 was 117 nmol/L, normal <300 nmol/L). He had no other haematological abnormalities at initial presentation or at his current relapse. Hydroxocobalamin injections are resumed twice weekly (self-administrated) because of the severity of the neuropathy. It takes more than 12 months for his symptoms to resolve.

Tips for patients.

  • If you have limited dietary intake of B12 and experience symptoms listed in box 1, you might have B12 deficiency.

  • Consider regular oral supplementation if you have a limited dietary intake of B12 or are taking medications that interfere with B12 absorption.

  • Where possible, avoid suddenly reducing the B12 dose or injection frequency, as too rapid dose reduction may worsen symptoms or lead to symptom recurrence.26 Instead, gradually increase the interval between B12 injections over the course of several months while monitoring symptoms.

  • If you require regular intramuscular B12 injections, consider being taught how to self-administer these.

  • Consider creating an individualised treatment plan with the support of your doctor tailored to help you become or remain symptom-free (dose and frequency will vary between individuals from twice weekly to once every two to three months).

Education into practice

Practice

  • How often do you evaluate B12 deficiency related symptoms in individuals at high risk of developing this, such as vegetarians and vegans, or people with increased risk of B12 malabsorption, such as individuals with type 1 diabetes or Hashimoto hypothyroidism?

  • Think about the last time you talked to a patient using intramuscular B12 therapy. Did you discuss the optimum frequency of hydroxocobalamin injections in their specific situation? And have you considered teaching the patient to self-inject? How might you alter your discussion next time?

How patients were involved in the creation of this article

This article has been shared with Martyn Hooper, chairperson of the Pernicious Anaemia Society (PAS), for comments and feedback. Input from Martyn and other patients, some being members of the PAS, is much appreciated. They suggested recommendations for reporting specific signs and symptoms often mentioned by members/patients; however, as this is a therapeutics article, these recommendations are not included. They also reported on the barriers patients experience in healthcare (which can also be found in the scientific literature,2566) and several additional case descriptions.

.

Search strategy

We searched PubMed (NLM database) with the terms “B12” OR “cobalamin” AND “deficiency” OR “therapeutics” OR “supplementation” for relevant publications of clinical observations and studies published from 1950 to 2022. We prioritised systematic reviews and studies on the benefits, harms, and cost effectiveness of B12 supplementation. We also searched clinical guidelines and our personal archives of references, and screened the reference lists of studies retrieved by the searches.

Further resources

Footnotes

  • This is one of a series of occasional articles on therapeutics for common or serious conditions, covering new drugs and old drugs with important new indications or concerns. To suggest a topic, please email us at practice@bmj.com

  • How to convert ng/L (or pg/mL) values to pmol/L vitamin B12 and vice versa:

  • 1 ng/L is equivalent to 0.7378 pmol/L

  • 1 pmol/L is equivalent to 1.3554 ng/L.

  • Advisers to this series are Robin Ferner and Patricia McGettigan.

  • Patient consent: The case in this article is based on a real case, and written consent has been obtained and submitted as a supplementary file.

  • Competing interests: The BMJ has judged that there are no disqualifying financial ties to commercial companies. The authors declare the following other interests:

  • Bruce H.R. Wolffenbuttel: Consultation for Novo Nordisk on GLP1 scientific data and results, and involved in a Novo Nordisk Post-marketing surveillance study on semaglutide use in type 2 diabetes.

  • Speaker honorarium from Springer MedNet, for a presentation on new insight into genetics and genomics in diabetes diagnosis and treatment.

  • Scientific adviser for a healthcare start-up, Nuevo Care, initiating a dedicated clinic for individuals with B12 deficiency.

  • Scientific adviser for a digital health start-up, Ancora Health, offering preventive health programmes.

  • Member of the Post-Graduate Education Committee of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes.

  • Coordinator/organiser for Post-Graduate Educations and Webinars, Diabetes (Alpha Omega Congress) & Endocrinology (BIG5 Endocrinology course).

  • Member of the editorial board of the Journal of Diabetes and Current Topics in Diabetes.

  • P Julian Owen: none.

  • Mary Ward: Principal investigator on investigating the effect of riboflavin on markers of vascular health in adults with a genetic predisposition to hypertension, supported by Dutch State Mining (DSM)—Health and Biosciences division.

  • We (Ulster University) have been awarded a patent for the treatment of hypertension with Riboflavin. EP2139488A1 USE OF RIBOFLAVIN IN THE TREATMENT OF HYPERTENSION; an intellectual Property License Agreement was signed with DSM, which provides exclusive use of pharmaceutical claims under patent rights in China, Mexico, Japan, Canada, and Europe.

  • Ralph Green: none.

  • Contributorship statement and guarantor: Planning of the manuscript: BHRW, PJO, MW, RG. Discussions on manuscript contents: all authors. Writing the first draft: BHRW. Editing for important content and approval of the final manuscript: all authors. Guarantor of the paper: all authors.

  • Provenance and peer review: commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

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