By PETA BEELast updated at 10:06 04 December 2007Vitamin B12 jabs have become almost de rigueur for the rich and famous, with everyone from Geri Halliwell and Robbie Williams to actress Charlize Theron and Tara Palmer-Tomkinson reportedly swearing by the energising effects of the treatment.It's claimed that mega-doses of vitamin B12 - sometimes up to 600 times the daily 1.5mcg recommended by health authorities - provide a sustained energy rush lasting up to two weeks.Proponents say the jabs leave you not only more alert but able to exercise harder and concentrate better. It sounds extremely tempting, and it's not surprising to learn that a growing number of private health clinics in London and elsewhere in the UK are now offering the jabs.At one London clinic the typical B12 clients are high-flyers in their 30s and 40s. At around £90 a shot it's not cheap - but is it safe? Usually the 1mg of B12 you get in a jab is made from bacteria produced during the fermentation of plant products, but experts are concerned that it's the method of delivery that poses a risk.
Vitamin B12 is found naturally in eggs, meat and dairy, as well as in fortified breakfast cereals. It is a vital component of our diet, essential for a healthy nervous system and the formation of blood cells.Fatigue is one symptom of deficiency, as is a type of anaemia - megaloblastic anaemia - along with a pins and needles sensation in the extremities. A chronic B12 deficiency, prevalent in the Third World (and seen in some vegetarians in the UK), can result in gradual degeneration of the nervous system. This is easily reversed by taking the vitamin, but otherwise leads to lasting damage.But can you have too much of a good thing? 'Usually the body excretes excess water-soluble vitamins such as vitamin C and vitamin B12 in urine and sweat,' says Lisa Miles, a nutrition scientist with the British Nutrition Foundation.This is not the case with the fatsoluble vitamins A, D, E and K.'Excessively high intakes of some vitamins and minerals can be highly toxic, causing problems ranging from stomach cramps to kidney damage and nausea
, even death in extreme cases,' she says.In theory, though, even people who take excessive amounts of vitamin B12 through conventional routes - that is, food or supplements - are unlikely to harm themselves, although this is not guaranteed.However, the real worry is injecting the vitamin. Catherine Collins, chief dietician at St George's Hospital in London, says: 'The digestive system ordinarily acts as a filter with food and to some extent oral supplements, making it actually quite difficult to overdose on nutrients. But by bypassing the gut and going straight into veins, the body is unable to perform its natural screening process.' A review of all the evidence on B12 conducted by the Government's food watchdog, the Food Standards Agency, a few years ago, was inconclusive about injections of high doses of B12 into the bloodstream because not enough was known about the long-term effects.'Since meat and dairy are the main source of vitamin B12, in some cases, non-meat eaters like Madonna might be doing themselves a favour by taking these shots
, provided they do so on the recommendation of a medical person or dietician,' says Collins.'But this is not something that should be introduced lightly. I would certainly not recommend anyone taking injections unless on the advice of a dietician.' The problem is that anyone could set themselves up as a nutritionist and administer the jabs - without having any medical training. There are other concerns, including the use of B12 jabs to mask heavy alcohol use.Alcohol reduces the body's levels of B vitamins and the jab has been nicknamed the 'Morning After Shot' as have it to negate the effects of the A-list party circuit.Dr Sabena Toor, of the Cedars Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles, says around 30 people a week request the jabs, including actors and actresses who've been drinking heavily without eating.Vitamin B12 has also gained a reputation as a weight loss nutrient - people sometimes have the shots in the belief that it will help them survive on a minuscule amount of Lifesaver on a minuscule amount of calories and maintain their size zero figure, Collins believes.
She says that, for some B12-ers, injections 'are another justification not to eat and to continue surviving on a very low calorie intake'. It is not a healthy approach.'Foods that carry vitamins also contain other substances beneficial to health, such as polyphenols and antioxidants, that fight disease,' says Collins. 'If you get your vitamin in a shot, all you get is that vitamin, nothing else.'Professor Madelyn Fernstrom, director of the Weight Management Centre at the University of Pittsburgh, has studied the effects of B12 and says there is no evidence it results in weight loss.She does report, however, that many people feel more energised with vitamin B12 shots and so might increase activity levels, which would lead to them shedding pounds. But if people begin to view B12 as the reason they are losing weight, Fernstrom adds, they could become obsessed with its effects, 'addicted' even.Collins' overall verdict is that B12-ing, as regulars call it, is 'an expensive fad of limited benefit'.
That doesn't stop many wanting to try it. Dr Steven Hajioff, a GP at the Alive and Well Clinic in London, offers vitamin B12 shots and says the effects should last two weeks, with a course of three usually being sufficient.'If a patient is still tired after that, we need to look more closely at their diet,' he explains.Hajioff conducts nutritional analyses and questionnaires before deciding whether a client should have the injections, and stresses that they should be used more as a temporary boost when someone is feeling particularly stressed or exhausted.'They are not a long-term answer to all problems,' he adds. CALL TODAY TO BOOK YOUR DRIP! 480-725-0466 or 1-877-930-DRIP (3747) Weekdays – 10am – 5pm At The Drip Room we provide IV Vitamin Drips for health and wellness in a social environment. We’ve taken a traditional medical treatment and given it a modern twist which we call Dripcraft. Come and check out our vitamin bar for the “cocktails” that are good for you.
We’ve got drips, shots, boosters, wellness packages and more. Chat with friends in The Lounge or relax in one of our fabulous massage chairs. Visit with one of our Dripologists to find your perfect drip. No co-pays, no consult fees and no waiting for appointments! Experience the most effective way to go beyond the basic requirements and reach maximum vitality in about 30 minutes! When you learn about Dripology, you’ll wonder why you didn’t visit us sooner. If you want a jump start to your visit, here are some terms you’ll hear us use: Dripcraft – The exclusive practice of creating our proprietary blend of vitamin drips, booster and b12 shot combinations. Immediate effects of Dripcraft include energy, better sleep and glowing skin. Dripologist – A medical expert specifically and specially trained in IV Vitamin Drips who will guide you through your visit and help you choose the perfect drip. A Dripologist may be a fancy name for our Doctors and Nurses but there is much more to it than that.
As leaders in the IV Vitamin Drip World our Dripologist team possess unique and advanced knowledge of Dripcraft and can provide you with the ultimate drip and experience. Dripology – Through Dripcraft our Dripologists practice Dripology. The in-depth study of IV Vitamin Drips. Vitamin Drips have been helping people since the 1950’s and inspired by John Myers an MD who created The Myers Cocktail. Dripology takes a traditional medical treatment and adds a modern twist. Intravenous (IV) Vitamin Drips deliver vitamins, minerals and amino acids directly to the body for maximum absorption. This allows the nutrients to flood your body and nourish itself at the cellular level. By using this method we can safely deliver larger doses that would not otherwise be tolerated orally. IV vitamin drips can be used both proactively to maintain optimum wellness and also to treat acute and chronic conditions. Our Dripologist can assist in selecting the best drip for your needs. Some of the specific benefits people may experience from Dripology include increased energy, enhanced mood, improved sleep, decreased stress and anxiety, increased immunity, hydration, and muscle recovery.