Vitamin B-12 is a water-soluble vitamin that is necessary for the formation of healthy red blood cells and for the maintenance of a healthy immune system. Lack of vitamin B-12 leads to pernicious anemia and damage to nerve cells. Vitamin B-12 deficiency is treated using a man-made form of vitamin B-12 known as cyanocobalamin, according to MedlinePlus. Vitamin B-12 supplements are available as pills and as liquids for injection. There several advantages of vitamin B-12 injections.
Swallowing Problems
Vitamin B-12 injections can be administered to patients with swallowing difficulties such as patients with advanced esophageal cancer or tumors in the esophagus. Swallowing pills can be very painful for patients with ulcerations in the esophagus. Vitamin B-12 injections are a better alternative for these patients.
Fast Absorption
Vitamin B-12 administered as an injection has a faster therapeutic effect than oral vitamin B-12 pills. Regular vitamin B-12 tablets have to be digested and absorbed in the stomach before a patient can note any therapeutic effect. The absorption of vitamin B-12 also depends on the availability of an intrinsic factor, a protein that binds to the vitamin B-12 supplements and helps them absorb in the small intestine. Patients who have had stomach surgeries or older patients may not be able to absorb enough vitamin B-12 with supplements.
Time
Vitamin B-12 injections are more convenient to use than vitamin B-12 pills because the injections require less administration time. The injections can be administered once every month or every other day, depending on the severity of vitamin B-12 deficiency symptoms. Vitamin B-12 pills are taken daily, which can be a nuisance for some patients.
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