Neurosol-M Injections

Neurosol-M Injections
The RED revolution

Composition:
Each 1 ml contains:
Methylcobalamin 500 mcg

Pack: 5 x 1 ml injections







Introduction

Methylcobalamin is one of the two coenzyme forms of vitamin B₁₂ (the other being denosylcobalamin). It is a cofactor in the enzyme methionine synthase which functions to transfer methyl groups for the regeneration of methionine from homocysteine.

Pharmacokinetics

Evidence indicates methylcobalamin is utilized more efficiently than cyanocobalamin to increase levels of one of the coenzyme forms of vitamin B₁₂. Experiments have demonstrated similar absorption of methylcobalamin following oral administration. The quantity of cobalamin detected following a small oral dose of methylcobalamin is similar to the amount following administration of cyanocobalamin; but significantly more cobalamin accumulates in liver tissue following administration of methylcobalamin. Human urinary excretion of methylcobalamin is about one-third that of a similar dose of cyanocobalamin, indicating substantially greater tissue retention.¹

Clinical Applications

Bell’s Palsy: Evidence suggests methylcobalamin dramatically increased the recovery time for facial nerve function in Bell’s palsy.²

Cancer: Cell culture and in vivo experimental results indicated methylcobalamin inhibited the proliferation of malignant cells.³ Research indicated that methylcobalamin enhanced survival time and reduced tumor growth following inoculation of mice with Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.⁴ Methylcobalamin has been shown to increase survival time of leukemic mice. Under the same experimental conditions, cyanocobalamin was inactive.⁵ Although more research is required to verify findings, experimental evidence suggested methylcobalamin might enhance the efficacy of methotrexate.⁶

Diabetic Neuropathy: Oral administration of methylcobalamin (500 mcg three times daily for four months) resulted in subjective improvement in burning sensations, numbness, loss of sensation, and muscle cramps. An improvement in reflexes, vibration sense, lower motor neuron weakness, and sensitivity to pain was also observed.⁷

Eye Function: Experiments indicated chronic administration of methylcobalamin protected cultured retinal neurons against N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor-mediated glutamate neurotoxicity.⁸

Deterioration of accommodation following visual work has also been shown to improve in individuals receiving methylcobalamin.⁹

Heart Rate Variability: Heart rate variability is a means of detecting the relative activity and balance of the sympathetic/parasympathetic nervous systems. Methylcobalamin produces improvements in several components of heart rate variability, suggesting a balancing effect on the nervous

system.¹⁰

HIV: Under experimental conditions, methylcobalamin inhibited HIV-1 infection of normal human blood monocytes and lymphocytes.¹¹

Homocysteinemia: Elevated levels of homocysteine can be a metabolic indication of decreased levels of the methylcobalamin form of vitamin B12. Therefore, it is not surprising that elevated homocysteine levels were reduced from a mean value of 14.7 to 10.2 nmol/ml following parenteral treatment with methylcobalamin.¹²

Male Impotence: In one study, methylcobalamin, at a dose of 6 mg/day for 16 weeks, improved sperm count by 37.5 percent.13 In a separate investigation, methylcobalamin, given at a dose of 1,500 micrograms per day for 4-24 weeks, resulted in sperm concentration increases in 38 percent of cases, total sperm count increases in 54 percent of cases, and sperm motility increases in 50 percent of cases.¹⁴

Sleep Disturbances: The use of methylcobalamin in the treatment of a variety of sleep-wake disorders is very promising. Although the exact mechanism of action is not yet elucidated, it is possible that methylcobalamin is needed for the synthesis of melatonin, since the biosynthetic formation of melatonin requires the donation of a methyl group. Supplementation appears to have a great deal of ability to modulate melatonin secretion, enhance light-sensitivity, normalize circadian rhythms, and normalize sleep-wake rhythm.^15-20

Dosage

The dosage for clinical effect is 1500-6000 mcg per day. No significant therapeutic advantage appears to occur from dosages exceeding this maximum dose. Methylcobalamin has been administered orally, intramuscularly, and intravenously; however, positive clinical results have been reported irrespective of the method of administration. It is not clear whether any therapeutic advantage is gained from the non-oral methods of administration.

Safety, Toxicity, and Side Effects

Methylcobalamin has excellent tolerability and no known toxicity.

References

1. Okuda K, Yashima K, Kitazaki T, Takara I. Intestinal absorption and concurrent chemical changes of methylcobalamin. J Lab Clin Med 1973;81:557-567.

2. Jalaludin MA. Methylcobalamin treatment of Bell’s palsy. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 1995;17:539-544.

3. Nishizawa Y, Yamamoto T, Terada N, et al. Effects of methylcobalamin on the proliferation of androgen-sensitive or estrogen-sensitive malignant cells in culture and in vivo. Int J Vitam Nutr Res 1997;67:164-170.

4. Shimizu N, Hamazoe R, Kanayama H, et al. Experimental study of antitumor effect of methyl-B₁₂. Oncology 1987;44:169-173.

5. Tsao CS, Myashita K. Influence of cobalamin on the survival of mice bearing ascites tumor. Pathology 1993;61:104-108.

6. Miasishcheva NV, Gerasimova GK, Il’ina NS, Sof’ina ZP. Effect of methylcobalamin on methotrexate transport in normal and tumorous tissues. Biull Eksp Biol Med 1985;99:736-738. [Article in Russian]

7. Yaqub BA, Siddique A, Sulimani R. Effects of methylcobalamin on diabetic neuropathy. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 1992;94:105-111.

8. Kikuchi M, Kashii S, Honda Y, et al. Protective effects of methylcobalamin, a vitamin B₁₂ analog, against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in retinal cell culture. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1997;38:848-854.

9. Iwasaki T, Kurimoto S. Effect of methylcobalamin in accommodative dysfunction of eye by visual load. Sangyo Ika Daigaku Zasshi 1987;9:127-132.

10. Yoshioka K, Tanaka K. Effect of methylcobalamin on diabetic autonomic neuropathy as assessed by power spectral analysis of heart rate variations. Horm Metab Res 1995;27:43-44.

11. Weinberg JB, Sauls DL, Misukonis MA, Shugars DC. Inhibition of productive human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection by cobalamins. Blood 1995;86:1281-1287.

12. Araki A, Sako Y, Ito H. Plasma homocysteine concentrations in Japanese patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: effect of parenteral methylcobalamin treatment. Atherosclerosis 1993;103:149-157.

13. Moriyama H, Nakamura K, Sanda N, et al. Studies on the usefulness of a long-term, high-dose treatment of methylcobalamin in patients with oligozoospermia. Hinyokika Kiyo 1987;33:151-156.

14. Isoyama R, Kawai S, Shimizu Y, et al. Clinical experience with methylcobalamin (CH3-B₁₂) for male infertility. Hinyokika Kiyo 1984;30:581-586.

15. Uchiyama M, Mayer G, Okawa M, Meier-Ewert K. Effects of vitamin B₁₂ on human circadian body temperature rhythm. Neurosci Lett 1995;192:1-4.

16. Tomoda A, Miike T, Matsukura M. Circadian rhythm abnormalities in adrenoleukodystrophy and methyl B₁₂ treatment. Brain Dev 1995;17:428-431.

17. Yamada N. Treatment of recurrent hypersomnia with methylcobalamin (vitamin B₁₂): a case report. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 1995;49:305-307.

18. Ohta T, Ando K, Iwata T, et al. Treatment of persistent sleep-wake schedule disorders in adolescents with methylcobalamin (vitamin B₁₂). Sleep 1991;14:414-418.

19. Mayer G, Kroger M, Meier-Ewert K. Effects of vitamin B₁₂ on performance and circadian rhythm in normal subjects. Neuropsychopharmacology 1996;15:456-464.

20. Hashimoto S, Kohsaka M, Morita N, et al. Vitamin B₁₂ enhances the phase-response of circadian melatonin rhythm to a single bright light exposure in humans. Neurosci Lett 1996;220:129-132.