What are the reasons to have vitamin B12 injection supplement?

You should have Vitamin B12 injections if you have pernicious anaemia or severe Vitamin B12 deficiency due to lack of enough vitamin B12 in your diet.

How common is Vitamin B12 deficiency?

Vitamin B deficiency is found in 10% population aged 75 or more and 5 % population aged 65 to 74

What causes pernicious anaemia?

Pernicious anaemia is an autoimmune disorder in which your immune system affects the cells in the stomach that produce intrinsic factor responsible for absorbing vitamin B12. The results of this is that intestines cannot properly absorb Vitamin B12

What are the symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia?

Symptoms of Pernicious anaemia include shortness of breath, palpitations, headaches, tiredness, issues with vision, diarrhoea, indigestion, and sore/red tongue and mouth ulcers. Vitamin B12 deficiency can also causes neurological symptoms such as pins and needles, problems with memory, anxiety/depression, issues with memory and judgement and incontinence.

What tests are required to diagnose pernicious anaemia?

It is diagnosed by the symptoms and pernicious anaemia and blood test. Pernicious anaemia blood test includes blood vitamin B12 levels, complete blood count, blood ferritin and MMA (methylmalonic acid).

Which preparation of vitamin B12 injection is injected?

The only one type of vitamin B12 injection available in the UK, is hydroxocobalamin.

How often are vitamin B12 required?

Vitamin B12 injections are required every 2 to 3 months in patients with pernicious anaemia and every 6 months the cause is dietary deficiency.