MTHFR (or methylenetrahydrofolate reluctase, if you want the complicated version!) is a type of gene that helps produce the MTHFR enzyme. This enzyme is responsible for breaking down a common amino acid found within our blood - homocysteine.

MTHFR mutations can lead to the enzyme’s inability to effectively break down homocysteine. High levels of homocysteine within the body can lead to a number of health issues, such as vitamin B12 deficiency and heart disease

This means it’s sometimes recommended that people undergo testing to see whether they have a MTHFR mutation. The test is usually ordered by a doctor when it is discovered that a patient:

• Has elevated homocysteine levels
• Has a family history of conditions relating to the heart and blood, such as cardiovascular disease or thrombosis
• Has a close relative with the MTHFR mutation

The MTHFR test can help determine whether you should undergo treatment for conditions caused by having heightened levels of homocysteine in your blood. High

Instructions to inject vitamin B12 into your arm

B-12 injections are often given in the arm and especially, in medical terms, the deltoid part of the shoulder.
 
See the image for the exact spot

The name for injections in this area are called “intramuscular” because the needle must penetrate the muscle to deliver your vitamin B-12 so that it is quickly delivered where your body needs it.

Why many people and doctors choose the deltoid part of the shoulder to give intramuscular injections is because there is less fat tissue there than in other areas such as the buttocks and hips.

This makes it easier to ensure your B12 gets right into the muscle and not into the fat or lost somewhere in between.

Proper training is very important for intramuscular injections in the shoulder (deltoid). There are some nerves running through the shoulder and there is always a slight chance a needle may hit a nerve if the injection location is incorrect. Therefore, we always recommend professional training before

If you need guidelines, or plan on injecting B-12 into your belly area, here’s how to do it.

Well, injecting into the belly area is a simple and basically painless procedure, so it isn’t much to worry about in that regard. Just follow the correct steps and you’ll do just fine. The Abdomen is an easy place for most people to access when self-injecting vitamin B-12, which is why it is a very common area for B-12 injections. The name for the method of injecting into the belly (abdomen) area is subcutaneous injection. It is named that because the B12 is delivered into the fat below your skin and above your muscle. See example image.

Proper cleanliness and safety are the two main principles to always keep at the forefront for any injection and by following the basic, easy to follow instructions; you can quickly learn to inject yourself in the comfort of your own home.

The step by step is outlined in the link for performing a subcutaneous injection, and we strongly recommend thoroughly reading

Cautions and Tips for Proper Injecting

Throughout my many years as a nurse I picked up quite a few helpful tips to alleviate my patients anxieties and minimize their discomfort. I also self-inject and found these tips helpful for myself, so I wanted to share them with you.

1. Take caution if you only use one needle to withdraw and inject your B-vitamins. Needle tips are very fragile, and they can easily be bent or dulled with just one use such as withdrawing your vitamins. The slightest bump to the side of an ampule or vial can damage the needle tip.

If you hit the outside of a vial or ampule with your needle, start over with a fresh needle to limit any risk of potential infection. If you damage your needle there is greater risk of pain upon insertion into your skin and can damage the tissue below.

2. It’s a good idea to buy an 18 or 20 gauge needle for drawing your vitamin B12 and B-Complex from vials and ampules, and then change to a new needle to inject. For the best injecting experience,

How to Inject Vitamin B

My Experience with B12 Injections

I recall years ago in nursing school when my lab supervisor asked me to give her routine insulin shot. This would be my first actual injection that I would administer as a nurse in training, and I must say, at the time it was quite nerve racking. As a student of nursing, I had become very acquainted with the nervousness that came with performing certain tasks under the scrutiny of professors, veteran nurses and other supervision. So, with a mild background noise of familiar anxiety, I retrieved the supplies, washed my hands and then pulled opened the insulin specific needle-syringe combination packaging, tore open two swabs then laid it all out on a clean surface.

After positively identifying my patient (my lab supervisor), and double checking that the insulin type (rapid acting Humalog) was accurate and not expired, I proceeded to uncap the needle, picked up the vial of insulin and then promptly botched the draw by ramming the tiny