In the metric system, micrograms (mcg or µg) are a measure of weight,
while cubic centimeters (cc) are a measure of volume. Thus you cannot
"convert" mcg to cc, any more than you can convert ounces to cubic
inches. However, since we're talking about a drug such as B12, it's
not difficult to determine equivalencies. The strength (meaning the
concentration of the solution) of your bottle of cyanocobalamin will
be marked on its label. I'm looking at a 10 ml vial of cyanocobalamin
right now. The vial I'm examining lists its strength as "1000 mcg/ml",
which means one thousand micrograms per milliliter. This is a very
common strength, and I am assuming that your cyanocobalamin is this
strength. If that is not the case, I'll be glad to recalculate for
you. Below is an explanation that leads to your answer.
One cc (cubic centimeter) is precisely the same as one ml (milliliter).
Phoenix 5 Glossary: Milliliter
http://www.phoenix5.org/glossary/milliliter.html
Assuming that your cyanocobalamin's strength is 1000 mcg/ml, that's
the same as saying that its strength is 1000 mcg/cc. So there are 1000
mcg of B12 in one cc of this solution.
You say you are taking "1.5/10ths of a cc." This is 0.15 cc, which
would be 150 mcg of cyanocobalamin. The current European Recommended
Daily Allowance (EC RDA or EU RDA) of B12 is 1 mcg, so your dosage is
150 times (or 15,000%) the European RDA. In your question, you mention
an RDA of 1000mcg. Although recommendations vary, I am not aware of
any established body that recommends so high a dosage on a daily basis
for healthy individuals. Very large doses of B12 are, of course, used
in treating illnesses such as pernicious anemia.
This is adapted from a chart that lists the European and United States
RDAs, along with other data:
Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin)
EU RDA 1 mcg
US RDA 2 mcg
Average from diet (EU) 6.2 mcg
Upper safe limit 3000 mcg
Tolerable upper intake level none
Toxicity threshold none observed
AIDS Info NYC:
http://www.aidsinfonyc.org/fiar/GusCairnsDS.html
The site above rounded down the US RDA for B12, which currently is 2.4
mcg for adult men and women, 2.6 mcg for pregnant women, and 2.8 mcg
for lactating women:
National Institutes of Health: Vitamin B12
http://www.cc.nih.gov/ccc/supplements/vitb12.html#rda
If anything I've said is not clear, or if your B12 is NOT the strength
I mentioned above (1000 mg/ml), please request clarification; I'll be
glad to offer further assistance before you rate my answer.
Best wishes,
pinkfreud |
