B12 Mentions

[helvella]

NHS England's Specialist Pharmacy Service has published a new (fully updated) page re B12 deficiency in pregnancy.

Vitamin B12 deficiency: treatment during pregnancy

Last updated 27 November 2024 · See all updates

sps.nhs.uk/articles/vitamin...

Have to say, I was somewhat surprised at this sentence:

A less frequent maintenance dose of 1mg twice-yearly can be administered for dietary vitamin B12 deficiency.

And Anton Petrov mentions absorbing B12 via the lungs - specific point starts at 5:08 to save watching it all:

Evidence Shows We Can Absorb Vitamins and Minerals From the Air

youtube.com/watch?v=_lcFObG...(Not working as expected?)

Of course, even if we can absorb it via our lungs - whether or not we have Pernicious Anaemia - any impairment to enterohepatic recirculation would imply the dose required would be much greater. And total safe lung-deliverable dose might be less than is required.

(Also posted on TUK.)

[Nackapan]

I have heard of 6 monthly B12 injections to top up oral b12 tablets for vegans .

Never heard of inhaling vitamins

[Gambit62 Administrator]

My recovery started using nasal sprays. Unfortunately they have become difficult to find/source now.

[Nackapan in reply to Gambit62]

Through the mucus membrane directly applied I suppose.Wonder why not as available now?

Perhaps only effective for a low percentage of people ?

Or for same group oral b12 tablets the same?

Not inhaling from the air .

Must be a difference.

I imagine very low uptake unless high potency and done frequently .

Some vaccines are applied that way for children a spray up the nose.

Not sure if still used ?

They are just checked for flu vaccine still .

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Nackapan]

May not be inhaling from air but having looked at the whole presentation it is the sort of thing that the presenter was talking about.

The CDC used to have a micro-site for b12 about 10 years ago and recommended nasal spray as an alternative to injections where patients had issues with injections.

[helvella in reply to Gambit62]

I was aware of nasal dosing of B12 - but had never thought of breathing it in.

[palmier]

About breathing in vitamins: Many vitamins are sensitive to oxidisation, i e to air exposure, so should need to be fairly "fresh" in order to work. But perhaps when eating, some of the nutrients are actually absorbed through inhalation, as opposed to when just swallowing a tablet. Especially if the food is chewed thoroughly. Maybe sublingual B12 work in part through inhalation?