2 Important topics, both covered on Inside Health on 4th September, with interesting opinions and research from 2 specialists.
Firstly, a study showing taking Vitamin D can improve recovery from TB and a discussion about how Vitamin D might be modulating immune response. Apparently one of the first ever randomised controlled trials, conducted by the Brompton Hospital in the last century found patients recieving sunlight or cod liver oil were more likely to survive TB than those who didn't.
Secondly, a specialist who feels we under diagnose and under treat B12 deficiency. He feels anyone with a level under 300 mcg is deficient or at least has an indadequate level. He also believes we should treat with im hydroxycobalamin not to BNF recommended doses in every case- we should be administering more frequently in certain people and using response to treatment instead to judge the amount needed.
This is timely for me as I'm just starting an audit in measuring B12/FBC in patients taking metformin- at Wincobank that is over 400 patients. Other drugs to consider B12 deficiency include phenytoin, h2 receptor antagonists and PPis.
Finally a new resource recommended in the back of the MPS magazine- an app for the iPhone called Medscape. It's from the States, is a free resource and is an encyclopaedia of pretty much everything- Drugs, Conditions, Procedures Drug interactions & calculators. Looks pretty useful, navigated around the app quite easily and have used it to check a drug interaction. I note it also has information about herbal medicines in this category, so could be very useful. I will report back!
www.medscape.com
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