Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin B12 (cyanacobalamin)
For the health condition: Pernicious Anemia

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 5

Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) is strongly supported by scientific evidence for the treatment of Pernicious Anemia. Pernicious anemia is an autoimmune disease resulting in the destruction of gastric parietal cells, leading to a deficiency of intrinsic factor, which is necessary for the absorption of vitamin B12 in the terminal ileum. As a result, individuals with pernicious anemia cannot absorb dietary vitamin B12 efficiently, leading to megaloblastic anemia and neurological symptoms.

The administration of vitamin B12, typically via intramuscular or deep subcutaneous injection (as oral absorption is severely compromised in these patients), bypasses the need for intrinsic factor and directly corrects the deficiency. Numerous clinical studies and decades of clinical experience have demonstrated that vitamin B12 supplementation rapidly reverses the hematological and neurological manifestations of the disease. Without supplementation, pernicious anemia can be fatal, but with appropriate treatment, patients experience normalization of blood counts and prevention or reversal of neuropathic symptoms. The use of cyanocobalamin and other forms of vitamin B12 in this context is a standard of care, recommended by authoritative guidelines such as those from the American Society of Hematology and other professional bodies.

Therefore, the use of vitamin B12 for pernicious anemia is not only justified by tradition, but is underpinned by a robust scientific understanding of the disease mechanism and overwhelming clinical evidence of efficacy.

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