Abstract
Four patients with B12 deficiency anemia were treated with methylcobalamin (CH3-B12), which has been proven to be one of the natural forms of B12 in the human body. Each case was given daily 1000 μg CH3-B12 intramuscularly, and after 5 days from initial injection they recieved the same dose on alternate days.
The recovery of anemia and general condition was satisfactory. The effect of CH3-B12 on the metabolic disorder of methylmalonic acid was the same as that of B12 coenzyme (DBCC). On the other hand, CH3-B12 was similar to hydroxocobalamin (OH-B12) or DBCC rather than cyanocobalamin concerning urinary excretion and serum concentration of B12 after initial injection.
Therefore, it was speculated that CH3-B12 as well as OH-B12 or DBCC might be useful in therapy of B12 deficiency.
