Vitamin B-12 is an essential water-soluble vitamin that is one of the eight B-complex vitamins and serves an important role in maintaining brain and nervous system function. Vitamin B-12 is available as a nutritional supplement in many forms, including as a dissolvable lozenge. Vitamin B-12 lozenges have a distinct advantage over other forms of vitamin B-12 because of their ability to be absorbed by your body more quickly though the thin tissues inside your mouth. As with all nutritional supplements, consult your physician before using any form of supplemental vitamin B-12 to make sure the vitamin will not interact with any medications you may be taking or conditions that you may have.
Uses
According to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, vitamin B-12 supplementation is required for red blood cell formation, neurological function and DNA synthesis. The recommended dietary allowance for vitamin B-12 is about 2.4 mcg per day for most adults, but many people may be deficient in B-12 as a result of poor nutrition, disease or the use of certain medications that may decrease the absorption of the vitamin. As a result, some individuals who are deficient must supplement with additional vitamin B-12. In individuals who have difficulty absorbing B-12 through their digestive tract, sublingual B-12 lozenges may be effective because they bypass the stomach and are absorbed directly into the bloodstream.
Lozenges vs. Oral Route
Lozenges appear to be a more effective method of delivery of vitamin B-12, compared to tablets that are meant to be consumed orally. Vitamin B-12 oral supplements must be ingested and absorbed into your bloodstream and may be degraded in your liver before vitamin B-12 can exert its effects on your body. According to the book "Nutrition For Health, Fitness, and Sport," sublingual vitamin B-12 supplements may be more effective than oral B-12 and can enter your blood stream in as few as 15 minutes.
Lozenges vs. Injections
Traditional treatment for a deficiency of vitamin B-12 involves intravenous replacement through vitamin B-12 injections. Your physician may prescribe injectable vitamin B-12 that is found in a liquid suspension administered through a syringe directly into your bloodstream, which bypasses the digestive process that can decrease B-12 absorption. However, according to the book "Anabolic Primer," sublingual vitamin B-12 supplements may be an effective alternative to B-12 injections and do not require a physician's assistance or the use of a needle and syringe, which reduces your risk of infection.
Cost
Over-the-counter oral vitamin B-12 supplements are relatively inexpensive, while vitamin B-12 injections are quite costly and are not always covered through insurance. In comparison, sublingual vitamin B-12 supplements are more effective than oral B-12 vitamins, are similar in cost and do not require a prescription or a physician to administer. However, consult your physician before using any form of supplemental vitamin B-12 to make sure it is safe and effective for the treatment of your specific condition or deficiency.
References
- Office of Dietary Supplements; Vitamin B-12; 2011
- "Nutrition For Health, Fitness, and Sport"; Melvin H. Williams; 2002
- Linus Pauling Institute; Vitamin B-12; Jane Higdon; 2003
- "Anabolic Primer"; Phil Embleton and Gerard Thorne; 1998
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