[Update of oral vitamin B12].
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this review is to evaluate the usefulness of oral cobalamin (vitamin B12) treatment.


METHODS
PubMed was systematically searched for English and French articles published from January 1990 to January 2007.


RESULTS
Prospective randomized studies (n = 3), a systematic review by the Cochrane group (n = 1) and prospective studies in well-determined population (n = 5) provide evidence that oral cyanocobalamin therapy may adequately treat cobalamin deficiency in elderly patients. However, the current literature may not suggest a strategy in terms of the form (hydroxy- or cyanocobalamin), frequency and duration of the treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
This present review confirms the previously reported efficacy of oral cyanocobalamin treatment in elderly patients.
Andres
E
E
Service de médecine interne, diabète et maladies métaboliques, clinique médicale B, hôpital Civil, hôpitaux universitaires de Strasbourg, 67091 Strasbourg cedex, France. emmanuel.andres@chru-strasbourg.fr
Serraj
K
K
Mecili
M
M
Ciobanu
E
E
Vogel
T
T
Weitten
T
T
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D007437:Intrinsic Factor; D008286:Malabsorption Syndromes / Q000150:complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
D007437:Intrinsic Factor; D014805:Vitamin B 12