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. (1) 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.Even more serious is that B12 deficiency can disturb red blood cell formation and elevate homocysteine levels, which negatively impacts neurological and cardiovascular health, in addition to posing risks during pregnancy.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? Vitamin B12 benefits and 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 injections are shots that contain high doses of vitamin B12, used to quickly elevate levels in someone with a deficiency.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: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). Vitamin B12 shots are normally available by prescription only and are administered into a patient’s muscle tissue about once monthly, although dosage varies depending on age and medical history.Studies show that most people living in industrialized nations tend to get enough vitamin B12, although not all. (3) Vitamin B12 shots are administered most often in those with genetic conditions that block absorption and people with the disorder called pernicious anemia, which can result in severe malabsorption and deficiency.
Pernicious anemia is caused by a decrease in red blood cells when the body can’t absorb enough vitamin B12, greatly raising the risk for neurological complications.According to the National Institute of Health, the two forms of vitamin B12 that are “active” within the human body are called methylcobalamin and 5-deoxyadenosylcobalamin. Because vitamin B12 contains the mineral cobalt, various compounds within vitamin B12 activity are sometimes referred to as “cobalamins.” Vitamin B12 supplements usually contain the type called cyanocobalamin, which easily converts to the vitamin’s active forms (although this doesn’t always mean that absorption is high). (4) The absorption of vitamin B12 requires something called intrinsic factor, which is found in stomach acid.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. 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, injections likely won’t do much to improve overall quality of life. As researchers from Cornell University Medicine put it, “Management requires correctly diagnosing cobalamin deficiency, reversing it, defining its underlying causes, preventing relapse, managing the underlying disorder and its complications, and educating the patient.”
Signs and symptoms that you might be suffering from B12 deficiency can include: (11)Why might you be low in vitamin B12, even if you eat a relatively healthy diet? One reason is being low in a type of compound produced within the stomach called intrinsic factor (a type of glycoprotein), which combines with vitamin B12 once consumed in order to allow it to be absorbed. Research shows that around 50 percent to 60 percent of ingested vitamin B12 is usually absorbed when enough intrinsic factor is present in relation to B12, but absorption decreases drastically when this ratio changes.Older people usually produce less stomach acid and therefore less intrinsic factor, increasing their risk for deficiency. People who take medications regularly that decrease stomach acid production can also become deficient in vitamin B12 for this reason, whether they consume enough from their diets or not.Because of how vitamin B12 is absorbed, the most common risk factors for B12 deficiency are:The ideal and safest way to consume enough of any nutrient is getting it naturally through whole food sources.
However, sometimes due to other health conditions or food preferences, this isn’t always possible. But if you can, you should consume foods that provide this valuable vitamin.The foods highest in vitamin B12 are:When it’s not possible to get enough vitamin B12 from your diet, perhaps due to genetic conditions or taking necessary medications, someone might choose to boost intake of vitamin B12 in several ways other than receiving injections. These can include taking oral dietary supplements and now even a new form of prescription vitamin B12 medication available in gel form. Studies show these seem to work in similar ways to improve symptoms.Gel formulations of vitamin B12 are somewhat new and applied into the nostrils (intranasally). They’re now considered an alternative to vitamin B12 injections that some prefer because they require no needles. There is not as much evidence regarding long-term efficacy or safety of gel vitamin B12 compared to injections, but at this time it appears B12 gel works similarly to raise blood levels.