Clinician Resources

Clinical Resources for B12 Deficiency

Evidence-based guidelines, educational resources, and clinical tools to support the diagnosis and management of vitamin B12 deficiency in your patients.

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Key Clinical Alerts

Neurological symptoms can occur without haematological abnormalities

Serum B12 can be normal despite functional deficiency - consider MMA/homocysteine

Folate supplementation can mask B12 deficiency while allowing neurological damage to progress

Nitrous oxide exposure (including recreational use) can precipitate acute B12 deficiency

Key Guideline Highlights

NICE Clinical Knowledge Summary

Investigate if macrocytic anaemia OR neurological symptoms suggesting B12 deficiency

2024

British National Formulary

Hydroxocobalamin 1mg IM three times weekly for 2 weeks, then every 2-3 months

2024

BSH Guidelines

Treat if symptomatic even with borderline serum B12 (below 300 ng/L)

2014