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Drugs & Aging
Published in: Drugs & Aging 11/2008

01-11-2008 | Review Article

Update on Oral Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) Treatment in Elderly Patients

Authors: Dr Emmanuel Andrès, Thomas Vogel, Laure Federici, Jacques Zimmer, Georges Kaltenbach

Published in: Drugs & Aging | Issue 11/2008

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Abstract

The objective of this review is to evaluate the usefulness of oral cobalamin (vitamin B12) treatment in elderly patients. PubMed was systematically searched for English and French articles published from January 1990 to January 2007. Prospective randomized studies (n = 3), a systematic review by the Cochrane group (n = 1) and prospective studies in a well defined population (n = 5) provide evidence that oral cobalamin therapy may adequately treat cobalamin deficiency in elderly patients. However, the current literature does not suggest a strategy in terms of the form (hydroxy- or cyanocobalamin), frequency and duration of the treatment. This review confirms the previously reported efficacy of oral cobalamin treatment in elderly patients. Oral cobalamin treatment avoids the discomfort, inconvenience and cost of monthly injections.
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Metadata
Title
Update on Oral Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) Treatment in Elderly Patients
Authors
Dr Emmanuel Andrès
Thomas Vogel
Laure Federici
Jacques Zimmer
Georges Kaltenbach
Publication date
01-11-2008
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Drugs & Aging / Issue 11/2008
Print ISSN: 1170-229X
Electronic ISSN: 1179-1969
DOI
https://doi.org/10.2165/0002512-200825110-00003

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