B12 deficiency is also known as hypocobalaminemia and represents the low blood level of vitamin B12. B12 deficiency can harm the nervous tissue and has a long term effect. Although B12 deficiency is a serious problem, treatments for the cure of it exists and are successfully used on patients. To treat the B12 deficiency, the organism can receive supplements through pills – sublingual pills, liquid or strip. Another option to treat B12 deficiency is with nasal sprays, transdermal patches or injection. The vitamin is available on its own or in combination with other supplements. There is a short list of substances that contain B12 – cyanocobalamin, hydroxocobalamin, methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin, also known as cobamamide and dibeconzide.

Injections with the B12 vitamin can be made to patients suffering of B12 deficiency. Injections can be intramuscular or subcutaneous with hydroxocobalamin, methylcobalamin or cyanocobalamin. In the first couple of weeks of treatment, the patient will receive half a dozen injections and for maintenance, a monthly injection for the rest of his or her life. The patient can also inject himself with B12 vitamin, using a similar set of gauge, needle and syringe to the one used for self-administration of insulin by patients with diabetes. The traditional treatment for B12 deficiency involves injections, because absorption is ensured this way. The oral method is also widely accepted today, because with a sufficiently large dose of B12, the body absorbs enough vitamin. Normally, 2 milligrams per day are considered a large dose.

Recently, some researchers claimed that the intranasal and sublingual routes followed in the treatment of B12 deficiency are more successful than the swallowing of regular pills. The intranasal route has the same effect on the boy of the patient like the swallowing of a pill with a megadose of B12. The sublingual method still does not compare to the classic routes used in treatments. Of course, for patients suffering of B12 deficiency, a diet to supply them with the B12 vitamin would be great, but unfortunately this is not possible if they already have the deficiency. Anyhow, in order to avoid the B12 deficiency, people should consume either animal products which naturally contain the vitamin or synthesized pills.