From the Research
If your vitamin B12 level is 74 pg/mL, I recommend oral supplementation with 1000 μg/d of cyanocobalamin, as this dose has been shown to improve vitamin B12 deficiency in patients with pernicious anemia 1. Treatment depends on the cause and severity of your deficiency, your age, weight, and overall health status. Generally, severe B12 deficiency may initially require intramuscular injections (typically 1000 mcg daily or every other day for 1-2 weeks), followed by weekly injections for a month, then monthly maintenance doses. Oral supplements (1000-2000 mcg daily) may be appropriate for less severe cases or after initial injection therapy. Some key points to consider:
- Normal vitamin B12 levels typically range from 200-900 pg/mL, so a level of 74 pg/mL is considered deficient.
- The American Family Physician recommends oral administration of high-dose vitamin B12 (1 to 2 mg daily) for correcting anemia and neurologic symptoms 2.
- A study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that oral supplementation with 1000 μg/d of cyanocobalamin improved vitamin B12 deficiency in patients with pernicious anemia 1.
- The Journal of Clinical Medicine published a Delphi expert consensus that high-dose oral B12 at different frequencies may be considered for long-term treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency 3. Please consult with your healthcare provider for a personalized treatment plan, as they need to evaluate the underlying cause of your deficiency and monitor your response to treatment.