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Vitamin B 12 Absorption by Inhalation
Author(s) -
Shinton N. K.,
Singh A. K.
Publication year - 1967
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1967.tb08696.x
Subject(s) - inhalation , medicine , cyanocobalamin , vitamin b , gastroenterology , vitamin b12 , absorption (acoustics) , lung , vitamin , anesthesia , physics , acoustics
SUMMARY Cyanocobalamin in the form of an aerosol was inhaled by normal subjects, patients with pulmonary diffusion defects and patients with vitamin B 12 deficiency. In all groups there was a rapid increase in serum B 12 levels suggesting that absorption had occurred by diffusion through the lung alveoli. Six patients with pernicious anaemia given daily inhalations showed complete clinical and haematological remission and a group of six patients with B 2 deficiency were maintained in remission for 12 months. While effective, this method of administration of vitamin B 12 is not regarded as superior to that of injections and is therefore considered to have no therapeutic application. The possibility of inducing pulmonary damage is considered.