When the family doctor determines a vitamin B12 deficiency or an undersupply of the vitamin, the question often arises for those affected: Should I take the vitamin B12 as an injection or in the form of tablets?Even people who regularly take dietary supplements with vitamin B12 sometimes wonder whether a vitamin B12 injection would not actually be better.This article discusses the differences between vitamin B12 injections and intake as a dietary supplement.Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that is absolutely necessary for our body.A lack of it can lead to irreparable damage, including to the nervous system.For this reason, it is important to ensure the supply of vitamin B12.Although the topic is often discussed in connection with a vegan diet, many meat eaters and vegetarians are also affected by vitamin B12 deficiency.Many commercially available B12 supplements are also not vegan.Elderly people and patients with type 2 diabetes should be particularly careful, as certain diabetes medications severely limit the absorption of vitamin B12.See our interview with Prof. Dr.medicalAndrew Michalsen.Once a vitamin B12 deficiency has occurred, the family doctor usually recommends a vitamin B12 cure lasting several weeks with regular injections, i.e. injections.This is intended to bring the vitamin B12 status back to a normal level.In such a vitamin B12 cure, the vitamin (usually in the chemical form cyanocobalamin) is injected into a muscle in high doses ("intramuscularly").Depending on your needs, z.B. once a week B12 injected with 1,000 µg.This is often followed by a "maintenance cure", for example monthly injections.Vitamin B12 injections are considered a safe way to administer vitamin B12.And: If you want, you can inject yourself with vitamin B12.Drugs and utensils are usually readily available in pharmacies and are comparatively inexpensive.It is important to get sound instructions from a doctor, otherwise there is a risk, e.g.B. injuring a nerve or becoming infected with germs.At the same time, injections are not very painful, but they are not particularly pleasant either.So instead of an injection, can you simply take dietary supplements such as tablets, capsules, lozenges, drops or sprays?This question can not be answered generally.It also depends on whether the body has the basic ability to absorb vitamin B12 from food.For the utilization of B12 from food, the body needs a transport protein, the so-called "intrinsic factor".If absorption is disrupted, vitamin B12 from food cannot (or only to a small extent) be utilized.Often too little.High-dose dietary supplements are sometimes also absorbed directly through the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat.This biological process is called "passive diffusion".Whether the amount is enough can differ from patient to patient.If you have an acute vitamin B12 deficiency, you should definitely consult your family doctor.Injectable administration is considered one of the safest ways to administer B12.Therefore, in the case of an acute vitamin B12 deficiency, the family doctor will usually start with it first.In order to maintain the B12 supply, vitamin B12 can usually be taken as a dietary supplement - if there is no B12 absorption disorder.It is generally recommended to have the intake of food supplements such as vitamin B12 checked regularly by a blood test, because this way you can see whether the intake as a food supplement is sufficient or whether the vitamin B12 should be better injected with a syringe.It is very important not only to look at the B12 value in the blood serum, but also to take other values ​​such as "Holo-TC" and, if necessary, methylmalonic acid into account.See also: What to look for in the B12 blood test.Please discuss with your family doctor how best to manage your vitamin B12 supply.A B12 injection is a very safe way to improve B12 supply in the short term.Whether taking supplements is sufficient in the long term depends in part on your individual health condition.It is often possible after a period of time to stop the injections and take supplements instead.By the way: You can find out here which vitamin B12 preparation we think is best (and why).>>> Already more than 6,900 readers: vegan newsletter!Latest articles, vegan tips and more once a week.Information ✓ Cancellation possible at any time.Data protectionShould vegans supplement vitamin B12 - and does a vitamin B12 deficiency actually also occur in meat eaters?Prof. Andreas Michalsen answers these questions in an interview.MoreDoes health insurance pay for vitamin B12 preparations - or do patients have to pay for them themselves?Find out here whether you are left with the costs of vitamin B12 supplements yourself.MoreA B12 blood test shows how good the supply of vitamin B12 is.It is not enough to simply measure the level of vitamin B12 in the blood.In this article we explain what is important.MoreWhich dosage of vitamin B12 is actually correct?After all, the information differs from source to source - and often outright overdoses are recommended.So what to look out for?MoreHow natural is it to be vegan?And are people even made for this?Here you can find out why veganism is state-of-the-art and yet natural.MoreWhat is important in vitamin B12 supplementation?For this we have the nutritionist Dr.Markus Keller questioned.Here is the interview excerpt!MoreWhen examining a possible vitamin B12 deficiency, the value of methylmalonic acid in the blood can also provide important conclusions.But does the test make sense?MoreShould vegans supplement vitamin B12 - and does a vitamin B12 deficiency actually also occur in meat eaters?Prof. Andreas Michalsen answers these questions in an interview.MoreWhere to Buy the Best Vitamin B12 Supplements?The pharmacy is a good starting point - but sometimes there are better sources!MoreWhat foods contain vitamin B12?Animal products like milk and eggs contain less vitamin B12 than you might think.And what about plant sources?Find out here!MoreStudies have shown that long-term intake of high doses of B vitamins can increase the risk of lung cancer.Does vitamin B12 cause lung cancer?What should vegans pay attention to?More