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What Are B12 Injections?

B12 injections are shots that contain high doses of vitamin B12, used to quickly elevate levels in someone with a deficiency. According to the USDA, Vitamin B12 deficiency is believed to be one of the most common nutrient deficiencies in the world, especially among people taking stomach acid-altering medications and antibiotics frequently, along with the elderly and sometimes vegetarians/vegans. For this reason, B12 injections are sometimes used to offset the many symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, such as fatigue and weakness, poor moods, and low concentration.

What does vitamin B12 do exactly?

Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin that’s crucial for many vital metabolic and hormonal functions — including the production of digestive enzymes and carrying important nutrients into and out of cells. Due to how it helps convert and synthesize many other compounds within the body, it’s needed for well over 100 daily functions. Some of the roles that are attributed to vitamin B12 include:

• Forming red blood cells
• Playing a role in DNA/RNA synthesis
• Acting as a cofactor for methionine synthase (helping with methylation or the conversion of homocysteine to methionine,
• which protects cardiovascular health and more)
• Facilitating metabolic conversion of protein and fats
• Carrying out neurotransmitter functions and helping with production of hormones
• Helping convert amino acids and make creatine
• Producing myelin sheath (the coating of nerves)
• Helping with synthesis of hemoglobin
• Playing a role in fetal development during pregnancy

Vitamin B12 levels are usually tested with a blood serum test, and values below approximately 170–250 picogram per milliliter in adults are considered signs of deficiencies. However, it’s common for blood tests to reveal inaccurate information regarding B12 levels since a high percentage is stored in the liver and not always revealed through testing (for example, taking large amounts of folic acid has been found to mask vitamin B12 deficiency in some patients). (National Institute of Health or NIH)

Vitamin B12 shots are normally available by prescription only, although dosage varies depending on age and medical history. While foods like grass-fed beef, dairy products and fish supply a good dose of vitamin B12, some people abstain from eating these foods or have a harder time absorbing and actually utilizing this nutrient due to digestive/metabolic limitations. Sometimes certain genetic conditions can hinder the body’s use of vitamin B12, and other times low dietary intake plus unhealthy lifestyle habits are to blame. Plus, because B12 vitamin is bound to amino acids (found in protein foods) and is only released when certain enzymes and stomach acids are present, it’s possible to consume enough but still remain somewhat deficient.

So are B12 injections the answer to restoring health in those with low levels? Benefits of receiving B12 injections can include improved moods, protection against cognitive decline and better energy, but as you’ll learn, there are also risks involved. Secondly, B12 shots don’t always resolve the underlying problem of deficiency, so they’re not the be-all and end-all when it comes to treating symptoms.

B12 Injection Potential Benefits vs. Risks

The NIH reports that in those with confirmed deficiency, B12 injections can have important benefits. However, it’s been found that oral B12 supplementation when taken in high doses can have similar protective effects. For example, one study found that taking 1,000–2,000 micrograms orally in properly timed doses helped improve levels as much as injections.

Benefits of B12 Injections:

1. Might Reduce Depression, Cognitive Decline and Dementia: Some studies show that, especially in older people, supplementing with vitamin B12 can prevent depression, restore better mood control and retain healthy memory/mental functioning.
2. Helps Lower Fatigue: Restoring vitamin B12 to healthy levels can treat anemia, help with conversion of macronutrients and production of creatine (beneficial for building muscle mass), and reduce muscle weakness.
3. Can Help Improve Your Metabolism: Some people turn to vitamin B12 shots to overcome a sluggish metabolism and even help with weight loss. Because injections might give patients more energy and regulate hormone production, it’s possible to experience changes in appetite, improved sleep and better exercise performance. Some even claim B12 shots improve the appearance of their skin, hair and nails.
4. Protects the Heart: Elevated homocysteine levels have been identified as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the No. 1 killer of adults in industrialized nations. Vitamin B12 is needed for conversion of homocysteine and therefore can prevent conditions or complications like heart attack, stroke or coronary heart disease.
5. Improves Low Sperm Count
6. Helps with Fetal Development During Pregnancy
7. Helps Prevent or Treat Diabetic Neuropathy

Risks/Drawbacks of B12 Injections:

1. Problems with Absorption: Even if someone receives high doses of vitamin B12, it doesn’t necessarily mean that his or her body has the ability to properly absorb and use the whole dose. That’s because utilization of vitamin B12 (especially from supplements) depends on levels of other metabolic cofactors and acids. The NIH reports that only about
2. 10 micrograms of a 500-microgram oral supplement is actually absorbed in healthy people due to limitations of stomach acid and intrinsic factor.
3. Interactions with Medications: Vitamin B12 has the potential to interact with certain medications, including diabetic prescriptions, metformin, proton pump inhibitors, antagonists and antibiotics. High doses might also possibly interfere with levels of other vitamins, enzymes and minerals, which is always a potential problem when taking any nutrient in
4. very large quantities.

Wondering if it’s dangerous to take too much vitamin B12?

Because it’s a water-soluble vitamin, any excess that isn’t used should be flushed from the body and not pose too much risk (not the case with fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin A). The Institute of Medicine reports that “no adverse effects have been associated with excess vitamin B12 intake from food and supplements in healthy individuals.”

However, if you’re not deficient in vitamin B12 to begin with or you don’t address the underlying reasons you might be deficient, i.e. improve your overall lifestyle and diet choices, injections likely won’t do much to improve overall quality of life.

The medical staff at Venture Weight Loss will gladly discuss any questions you may have regarding the use of B-12, Lipotropic-B-12, and Super B-12 Lipotropic as a dietary supplement with you. We have made high-quality injections available for our clients. On special requests, we can also order different amino acid blends for you and have them shipped directly to your home. Last but not the least, Venture is proud to offer a Super-B12 preparation in the form of a daily Sublingual (under the tongue) Spray that lasts you for a month. Many patients use the spray as a supplement with one -a-day spray along with once a week shot. The spray is a great solution for those who fear the injections or those who do not want the inconvenience of either the weekly self-injections at home or having to come to the clinic every week for them.

• We will go over the information about the use of B-12, Lipo B-12 and Super B12 injections as well as a B-12-Amino Blend Sublingual Spray
• We will go through the consent forms, pros and cons
• Before and after the shot in your upper arm, which is given ONLY BY our doctor or trained and licensed medical professional we check your vital signs for your safety.
• The injections, whether B-12, Lipo-B12 or Super B-12, are to be given as intramuscular injections, ONCE A WEEK (5 to 7 days okay for optimal utilization, 4 to 8 days interval is either too early or too later)
• If you want, you can take the 5 or 10 shot injection kit of any kind home for self-administration; or you may take a spray bottle home

Statements on this page are not validated by the US FDA. Individual results may vary.