Vitamin B12, deficiency symptoms, and treatment

Question
I tested my B12 Level in local laboratory. its level is 158 pg/ml (normal shown in test page is 208-964). i am taking injections from last week. doctor giving me 1 dose 1.5 ml per 2 days. total 3 dosage completed.

 I had some symptoms like i was forgetting many things very easily,my body sometimes get warm without having fever,i m not gaining more weight or muscular body,(i am 24 yrs old (male)(single)(174 cms height)(62 kg weight),
cant sleep properly because too much dreams comes while sleeping,cant concentrate on things easily and many more

are all this because of lack of b12 ? i eat veg food.sometimes eggs. no meat n sea food and all.

If possible tell me till how long i have to take those injections ? or is there any alternative to gain weight and B12 level ?? cant multivitamene tablets help me ?

waiting for reply

Thank You for your valuable time
   Ankit Patel
    (India)

Answer
Hello,

B12 or cyanocobalamin deficiency usually indeed causes tiredness, impaired concentration and memory, irritability, depression, migraine headache, and sleep disturbances.

Oral or sublingual replacement of B12 injections is now accepted when large doses 1 to 2 mg daily are prescribed: 2 mg/day orally is as effective as monthly intramuscular 1 mg injections. The duration depends on the treatment progress checked by blood tests.

Here are B12 content in foods that you might want to consider:

                           Micrograms          Percent DV
Yogurt, plain,
1 cup                           1.4                       25

Cheese, Swiss,
1 ounce                       0.9                       15

Egg, large,
1 whole                        0.6                       10

Breakfast cereals,         1.5                       25
fortified with 25% of
the DV, 1 serving   


Sources:

Butler CC, Vidal-Alaball J, Cannings-John R, et al. (2006). "Oral vitamin B12 versus intramuscular vitamin B12 for vitamin B12 deficiency: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials". Fam Pract 23 (3): 279?5.

Sharabi A, Cohen E, Sulkes J, Garty M. Replacement therapy for vitamin B12 deficiency: comparison between the sublingual and oral route. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2003 Dec;56(6):635-8.

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