The Benefits and Risks of B12 Injections Part 2
The Benefits and Risks of B12 Injections Part II
B12 Injection Benefits
- B12 is the only water-soluble vitamin that can be stored in the liver, however, B12 is water-soluble and all unused excess is flushed from the body. Therefore poses no, too little risk. In healthy individuals, no adverse effects has been reported from excessive vitamin B12 intake from food and supplements.
- Helps lower fatigue by restoring B12 to healthy levels.
- Helps Increase muscle mass by helping in the production of creatine.
- Touted for increasing metabolism and helping people with weight loss. Regulates hormonal production and might increase energy, improve sleep, enhance athletic performance and possibly change appetite.
- Many persons regularly injecting vitamin B12 state that it improves skin, hair, and nails.
- Increases cognitive abilities, might reduce depression, and that B12 might fight cognitive decline such as Alzheimer’s disease. Some studies back the claim of reducing depression and helping elderly persons boost their cognitive functioning.
- Protects the heart against cardiovascular diseases, strokes and heart attacks.
- Boosts immune system.
- Helps with stress.
- May improve sperm counts.
- Assists in fetal development during pregnancy.
B12 Issues and Warnings
- Absorption issues are one of the main issues. Although a person receives high doses of vitamin B12, their body cannot always utilize the whole dose. This can be due to the person lacking the proper acids or metabolic functions to utilize part or all of the B12. This is most common with oral supplementation.
The NIH states that healthy people only absorb about 10mcg of a 500mcg B12 oral supplement.
- Interactions with medications are the other potentially negative factor in B12 supplementation. Antibiotics such as tetracycline should be taken at different times because B12 interferes with the absorption and effectiveness of the drug.
Other drugs that to discuss with your healthcare provider before undertaking vitamin B12 supplementation are below.
- Anti-seizure medicines such as Dilantin®, phenobarbital and mysoline.
- Chemotherapy medications.
- Colchicine used to treat gout.
- H2 blockers such as Pepcid AC®, Zantac® and Tagamet®.
- Bile acid sequestrants used to lower cholesterol, including colestipol, Questran, and Welchol (colsevelam).
- If you are not deficient in vitamin B12 or do not address the reasons for your deficiency, injections might not do much for your quality of life. Managing your B12 deficiency should be a multi-pronged approach. One needs to correctly diagnose their cobalamin deficiency, treat and reverse the deficiency and causes, and then prevent relapse.
Signs and Symptoms of B12 Deficiency
- Fatigue.
- Numbness, tingling sensation in fingers and toes associated with nerve problems.
- Nervousness.
- Shortness of breath.
- Diarrhea, nausea and constipation.
- Increased depression or anxiety.
- Bleeding gums or mouth sores.
- Cognitive problems usually associated with aging that can show in poor concentration and memory.
- Vision loss.
Candidates for vitamin B12 deficiency
- Persons who have had gastrointestinal surgeries.
- People with intestinal disorders such as crohn’s disease, celiac, gastritis, achlorhydria / hypochlorhydria (low or absent hydrochloric acid in gastric secretions)
- Vegans and vegetarians
- Diabetics.
- People with genetic issues that cause poor intrinsic factor production.
- Individuals of advanced age especially those over sixty.
- Individuals with autoimmune disease such as HIV.
- People taking acid lowering medications.
What foods are high in B12?
Foods high in B12 are beef, lamb, poultry, liver, clams, fish, poultry, eggs, milk and other dairy products. Cereals, yeasts, legumes, oysters, mussels, caribou and more.
Final thoughts
People should try to intake enough B12 from their diets, but if for any reason this is not possible, then supplementation can be the answer. Those that have a medical reason for not absorbing enough B12 should also consult with their healthcare professional and find out if injections are a viable option to treat their symptoms. Please check that none of your medications or herbal supplements will interfere with vitamin B12 supplementation.
The benefits are many compared to little risks. Vegans, vegetarians and any persons with intestinal issues should have their B12 levels tested to be sure that their levels are where they should be. If they are not in the healthy range or your symptoms continue to point to B12 deficiency, find a reliable source of quality B12 supplements and see if you begin to feel better.
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