Management of vitamin B12 deficiency in primary care

Abstract

Vitamin deficiencies are a major global health concern, and are a particular risk to infants, children and pregnant women. This article discusses what primary care nurses need to know when consulting a patient with a suspected deficiency Vitamin B12 is an essential water-soluble vitamin, which is vital in the production of red blood cells, nervous system function, and DNA synthesis during cell division. Vitamin B12 deficiency is a condition resulted from inadequate intake or malabsorption of vitamin B12. Severe B12 deficiency could lead to pernicious anaemia, mental impairment, and neurological disorders. Therefore, careful management and treatment are pivotal. This deficiency is commonly treated with B12 injections in Primary Care. However, review of literature showed that oral B12 supplementation was as effective as parenteral treatment. To minimise ambiguity in administering B12 injections, several clinical guidelines were highlighted. Nevertheless, further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of oral B12 therapy.