Find yourself feeling like you don’t have the energy you need? Low levels of vitamin B12 might be the reason. Below is a breakdown of the things you need to know about the vitamin, and whether B12 injections might be right for you.

What does B12 do?
Vitamin B12 is critical to your health by helping in the formation of your DNA, as well as your Red Blood Cells. It is also important in maintaining healthy nerves. There is research supporting its benefit for numerous conditions, especially in those with documented suboptimal B12 levels. These include fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome, anemia, migraine headaches, tinnitus, numerous mental health disorders, chronic pain, and more.

Symptoms of deficiency
Lethargy, constipation, loss of appetite, weight loss, neurological symptoms (numbness, tingling), and megaloblastic anemia could all be due to low B12 levels. Other, albeit rare symptoms can include issues with balance, mental confusion, poor memory, dementia, and soreness of the mouth or tongue.

Dietary sources of B12
Beef liver, clams, red meat, eggs, fish, milk and other dairy products all have B12 to varying degrees. Some food items are fortified with B12, but they are often fortified with cheaper and less effective forms of the vitamin.

How is B12 absorbed
In order for B12 to be absorbed, sufficient stomach acid is required to isolate the B12 from other food components. It then combines with a protein called intrinsic factor for absorption into the body.
Note: some people lack intrinsic factor altogether, which causes a condition called pernicious anemia.

B12 injection
The process itself is quick and relatively painless, injecting 1 ml of fluid into your shoulder muscle.

Are B12 injections right for you?
The beauty of the injections is even if your B12 levels are already at capacity, your body will simply rid itself of the excess through urine. While we can look at bloodwork and observe for some of the symptoms listed above to determine a plan specific to you, there’s no real harm in trying an injection and seeing how you respond. Even better, the cost of the injection may be covered under your insurance plan!