Vitamin B12 or cobalamin is a water-soluble nutrient essential for the body. It is vital for many bodily processes and helps with DNA production, red blood cell formation, cognitive performance, nerve function, protein metabolism, and mood.
Vitamin B12 is naturally found in many animal foods like meat, poultry, eggs, fish, milk, and milk products. Other sources of vitamin B12 are cereals, multivitamins, and nutritional yeast products. The body can store vitamin B12 in the liver for years but its deficiency can result in various physical, psychological, and neurological problems.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause loss of balance, weakness, anemia, dementia, nausea, numbness in the arms and legs, constipation, and bloating. Vitamin B12 indeed provides various health benefits but there is a common misconception that B12 shots help with weight loss. However, there is no solid evidence that it helps directly with weight loss.
What Are B12 Shots?
Vitamin B12 shots, also known as cyanocobalamin injections are a vitamin supplement that helps treat or prevent vitamin B12 deficiency in the body. Since vitamin B12 is vital for the body to function properly, its deficiency can cause major health complications.
The healthcare provider prescribes B12 shots for those having trouble absorbing vitamin B12 from their diet or digestive tract, especially those who have undergone gastric surgery or gastrointestinal issues. If you have neurological symptoms such as tingling and numbness in the arms and legs, you will need to take B12 shots every two months.
Anemia is often caused by vitamin B12 deficiency and you might experience symptoms like fatigue, headaches, and stomach issues. The healthcare will prescribe B12 shots to treat it. Too much alcohol consumption and aging are other factors that contribute to vitamin B12 deficiency.
Alcohol dependency and aging will reduce the body’s ability to produce stomach acid and store B12 in the liver. Also, vegetarians and vegans are at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency as the B12 vitamin mainly occurs in aminal foods.
B12 shots help raise vitamin B12 levels and prevent deficiency. It allows the vitamins to go directly into the system. The healthcare provider will inject the shot into a muscle or deep under the skin, in the upper arm of the thigh. The dosage depends on the patient’s medical condition and its complications. Some conditions will require monthly infections until the symptoms improve.
The benefits of B12 Shots
Vitamin B12 injections are considered effective and beneficial as they aid the body in absorbing vitamin B12 directly into the tissues without going through the digestive system. The benefits of B12 shots include;
- Boosts energy
B12 shots help boost metabolism, which aids in weight loss. It helps the body convert food into energy, providing more energy. B12 shots can help one feel less tired and weak.
- Enhances mood
Vitamin B12 is essential to enhance mood as it is linked with the production of serotonin and dopamine. B12 shots help boost serotonin and dopamine levels, the neurotransmitters that regulate mood and sleep cycles. Thus, it helps reduce depression and anxiety.
- Supports immunity
Vitamin B12 is vital for the immune system. So, B12 shots help improve overall body function, energy, and wellness.
- Treats anemia
B12 helps prevent anemia by increasing the number of healthy red blood cells in the body.
- Promotes hair health
Hair loss can be caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. B12 shots help prevent hair loss and promote hair growth. It works to maintain red blood cell counts, which carry oxygen to the scalp and hair follicles.
B12 shots also help prevent and reduce the risk of the following conditions;
- Stroke
- Infertility
- Heart disease
- Memory and thinking problems
- Neurological disorders
- Vision loss
Do B12 shots help for weight loss?
The Mayo Clinic states that there is no direct link between vitamin B12 and weight loss. There is no solid evidence that B12 shots help with weight loss but it can be beneficial if combined with a healthy diet, lifestyle, and exercise.
B12 shots are prescribed for those with B12 deficiency or those struggling to absorb vitamin B12. They cannot be taken for weight loss. However, B12 shots may help with weight loss as it boosts metabolism and digestion. It also improves energy by converting food into energy and controls appetite.
Even though B12 shots do not directly enhance weight loss, they may help reduce weight. Also, some studies show that obesity can be a result of B12 deficiency but more research is needed.
Risks and side effects of B12 shots
Some of the side effects of B12 shots include pain or redness at the injection site, itching, swelling all over the body, and mild diarrhea. If any of these symptoms prevail or get worse, seek medical help quickly. It can also cause low potassium levels in the blood and its symptoms include muscle cramps, weakness, and irregular heartbeat.
Those with rare blood disorders might get symptoms from B12 shots, so get medical help if you develop any serious symptoms like chest pain, vision changes, shortness of breath, and trouble speaking. Allergic reactions to B12 shots are rare but if you experience any allergic reaction, do not delay getting medical help.
Other sources of B12
Other sources of vitamin B12 are;
- Animal products like meat, poultry, eggs, fish, oysters, clams, and beef liver.
- Dairy products (low-fat options) – milk, cheese, and yogurt.
- Fortified foods like breakfast cereals, non-dairy milk, and nutritional yeast.
- Other food items include peas, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, tempeh, and soy products.
Conclusion
Vitamin B12 or cobalamin is a water-soluble nutrient essential for the body. It is vital for many bodily processes and helps with DNA production, red blood cell formation, cognitive performance, nerve function, protein metabolism, and mood.
A deficiency in vitamin B12 can result in various physical, psychological, and neurological problems. It causes problems like loss of balance, weakness, anemia, dementia, nausea, numbness in the arms and legs, constipation, and bloating. Vitamin B12 is naturally found in many animal foods like meat, poultry, eggs, fish, milk, cereals, seeds, nuts, beans, and soy products.
Vitamin B12 shots, also known as cyanocobalamin injections are a vitamin supplement that helps treat or prevent vitamin B12 deficiency in the body. B12 shots are recommended for those with vitamin B12 deficiency, those struggling with absorbing vitamin B12, anemia, gastrointestinal disease, alcohol dependency, and age-related deficiency.
B12 shots help raise vitamin B12 levels and prevent deficiency. It allows the vitamins to go directly into the system. The benefits of B12 shots include boosting energy and mood, supporting the immune system, treating anemia, and prompting hair growth. It also helps prevent and treat conditions like stroke, heart disease, memory and thinking problems, vision loss, and neurological disorders.
It is a common myth that B12 shots help with weight loss. Many studies state that B12 shots do not support weight loss. However, it may have weight loss benefits as it helps improve metabolism, digestion, and energy. There is no solid evidence that B12 shots help with weight loss but it can be beneficial if combined with a healthy diet, lifestyle, and exercise.
Only take B12 shots after consulting a healthcare professional. It may cause risks and side effects like pain or redness at the injection site, itching, swelling all over the body, and mild diarrhea. If any of these symptoms prevail or get worse, seek medical help quickly.
Frequently asked questions:
There is no evidence that B12 injections directly help with weight loss. However, it might help with weight loss when combined with a healthy diet, exercise, and lifestyle as B12 shots help boost metabolism and digestion.
There is not enough evidence to confirm that B12 helps reduce belly fat.
Yes. B12 helps speed up metabolism if you are deficient.
B12 does not aid in weight loss but may improve metabolism.
The best time to take B12 is early in the morning but it does not help with weight loss.
Do not take B12 without a doctor’s prescription and taking B12 every day can result in headache, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, weakness, and diarrhea.
