Researchers from Tuff’s University, Boston recently found that an estimated 39% of Americans are deficient in Vitamin B12, regardless of age group.
Why Do We Need Vitamin B12? Vitamin B12 is essential for DNA replication, forming red blood cells, maintaining a healthy nervous system, and metabolizing protein and fat in the body.
Effects of Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Unfortunately, deficiencies in Vitamin B12 can cause a list of ailments from pericous anemia, nerve damage, memory loss, low energy, weight gain, chronic cough, and upper respiratory infections to infertility, hyperactive reflexes, nervousness, and mild depression.
Who is at Risk of a Vitamin B12 Deficiency? If you are a vegetarian (especially a vegan), then you are at the highest risk for Vitamin B12 deficiency because Vitamin B12 is found mainly in meat and dairy, and is not freely available in vegetarian sources. Other people who are at risk for Vitamin B12 deficiency include people who have trouble absorbing Vitamin B12 due to taking Prilosec or other antacid medication, digestive surgeries, inflammation, pancreatic diseases, stomach infections, or the effects of AIDS. Birth Control Pills, certain medications, alcohol and stress also inhibit absorption of Vitamin B12. And, people over 50 are also often low in B12 as they are low in what’s called Hydrochloric acid (produced in the stomach). Hydrochloric acid is needed to help in absorption of B12 as well as other vitamins and minerals.
How Can a Vitamin B12 Shot Help? Because Vitamin B12 is the largest known vitamin, it is very difficult for the body to absorb. Once someone has a deficiency, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible to bring storage levels of Vitamin B12 up to healthy levels even after a diet rich in meats and dairy combined with supplements. While supplements may offer a significant amount of Vitamin B12 in the pill, because it has to go through the digestive system, most of the vitamin in the pill is not ever absorbed. A vitamin B12 shot, on the other hand, bypasses the digestive system and gets the much-needed vitamin into your blood and into your thirsting cells.
How Can a Vitamin B12 Boost Benefit You Even if you are not deficient? Even if you are not deficient, Vitamin B12 shots are a safe and effective way to increase energy, increase metabolism for more effective weight loss, elevate mood, and prevent blood clots.
Is a Vitamin B12 Shot Safe? Because Vitamin B12 is water soluble, it is virtually impossible to overdose on a vitamin B12 shot and there are no known adverse effects from the high dosages found in Vitamin B12 shots. Most Naturopaths, will choose a dosage that fits your needs depending on your blood panel, general health and ailments, as well as your desired reasons for getting the Vitamin B12 shot boost. The Vitamin B12 shot is fast, painless, and produces immediate results. The energy and mood elevation are felt within a couple of hours of taking the Vitamin B12 shot and can last days. I give a form of B12 called Methylcobalamin as I find this more effective to help with energy, detoxification, immune system, neurotransmitter support, etc. I also give the B-12 cocktail which includes B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12 and folic acid for an added boost!
How Often Should You Get a Vitamin B12 Shot? It is recommended, depending on your needs, to get a Vitamin B12 shot as often as once or twice a week for the one to two of months and then just once a month thereafter to maintain levels and positive effects.