Do B12 injections really give us more energy?
The only time B12 actually gives you energy is if you’re deficient in the vitamin. So if you’re not lacking vitamin B12, it doesn’t matter how much B12 supplement you take or how many B12 injections you get, you aren’t going to immediately wake up and feel ready to run the world, Beyoncé-style.
Should you get a B12 injection?
Get a blood test drawn. It’s important to have data before getting an injection. While excess vitamin B12 isn’t necessarily harmful (unused vitamin B12 expels via urination), these injections can interact with other medications. Always consult your doctor beforehand. If you aren’t truly deficient in vitamin B12, an injection (or oral ...
Are there any side effects of B12 injections?
There are many common side effects associated with B12 injections that need to be reported to a health care provider only if they persist for an extended amount of time. Common side effects include headaches, upset stomach, pain or other abnormal sensation at the injection site, swelling at the injection site, nausea, diarrhoea and joint pain. 2.
How often should you get vitamin B12 injections?
Vitamin B12 injections are used to treat a range of ailments, and each user requires a unique dosage and frequency to ensure effectiveness. Doctors suggest various frequencies depending on the reason you are using B12. Some doctors recommend that anyone can use B12 injections, with a frequency of up to one shot weekly for 4 weeks.
Which is best injection for vitamin B12?
If you need regular injections of vitamin B12, cyanocobalamin would need to be given once a month, whereas hydroxocobalamin can be given every 3 months. Cyanocobalamin injections are not routinely available on the NHS as hydroxocobalamin is the preferred treatment.
What's the difference between methylcobalamin and cyanocobalamin?
Cyanocobalamin is a synthetic form of vitamin B12 found only in supplements, while methylcobalamin is a naturally occurring form that you can get through either food sources or supplements.
Which is better cyanocobalamin or hydroxocobalamin?
Compared to cyanocobalamin, hydroxocobalamin has a higher affinity to plasma protein and has a longer half life. This makes hydroxocobalamin last longer in the blood stream and therefore result to fewer injections.
Which form of B12 is most effective?
Methylcobalamin. Methylcobalamin is the most bio-available type of Vitamin B12 which means the body absorbs it more easily.
Who should not take methylcobalamin?
You should not use methylcobalamin if you are allergic to vitamin B12 or cobalt. Tell your doctor if you have ever had: Leber's disease or other form of optic nerve damage; an iron or folic acid deficiency; or.
Is cyanocobalamin made from cyanide?
Hydroxocobalamin combines with cyanide to form cyanocobalamin.
What are the side effects of cyanocobalamin?
Side EffectsAbdominal or stomach pain.bleeding from the gums or nose.blue lips and fingernails.chest pain.coughing that sometimes produces a pink frothy sputum.decreased urine output.difficult, fast, noisy breathing, sometimes with wheezing.difficulty with swallowing.More items...•
Is oral B12 as effective as injections?
In both studies, high-dose oral B12 was as effective as intramuscular injection at achieving neurologic and hematologic response. Vitamin B12 is available over the counter in the form of tablets (100, 500, 1,000, or 5,000 mcg) and lozenges (50, 100, 250, or 500 mcg).
Can you take both methylcobalamin and cyanocobalamin?
No interactions were found between cyanocobalamin / methylcobalamin and Vitamin B12.
Is methylcobalamin more effective?
Research has shown that methylcobalamin is more efficiently used and retained in the body than the cyanocobalamin form. Because of its role in the production of cellular energy, vitamin B12 deficiency is often characterized by fatigue and weakness.
What are the side effects of cyanocobalamin?
Side EffectsAbdominal or stomach pain.bleeding from the gums or nose.blue lips and fingernails.chest pain.coughing that sometimes produces a pink frothy sputum.decreased urine output.difficult, fast, noisy breathing, sometimes with wheezing.difficulty with swallowing.More items...•
What are the side effects of methylcobalamin?
Methylcobalamin is used to treat vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 is important for the brain and nerves, and for the production of red blood cells....Common side effects may include:nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;loss of appetite; or.headache.
1. Cyanocobalamin
Cyanocobalamin is cheap, stable and recommended for the majority of people.
2. Methylcobalamin
Methylcobalamin is one of the natural types of B12 found in our cells. (2)
5. Pseudo-B12
You’re at risk of B12 deficiency if you eat more ‘natural’ products you think are rich in B12.
Why is it important to take B12?
Ensuring that you have enough vitamin B12 is important for brain function and mental, bone and eye health. Injections are probably useless if you don’t have a deficiency.
What is the role of B12 in the body?
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin, also known as cobalamin. It plays a vital role in brain function and the production of DNA and red blood cells. Chemically, vitamin B12 can exist in a number of different forms, but all of them contain the mineral cobalt. ).
What is the best vitamin for macular degeneration?
In people aged 50 and over, adequate consumption of vitamin B12 is thought to be important for maintaining good vision and protecting against macular degeneration.
What diseases are at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency?
Those with diseases that affect the gut, such as Crohn’s disease or celiac disease, are also at risk ( 12. ). Those at greatest risk of vitamin B12 deficiency are vegans and vegetarians, who get little to no B12 from the diet. Deficiency can also be caused by poor absorption.
Why are vitamin supplements so popular?
Vitamin supplements are very popular. People often believe they’ll act as a safety net and help to ensure adequate nutrient intake. Supplementing with vitamin B12 is particularly common, because deficiency is widespread. In fact, many people regularly get injections with vitamin B12. These are claimed to help with energy levels, ...
How much B12 should I take daily?
The recommended daily intake (RDI) of vitamin B12 is 6 micrograms per day. Deficiency is common, especially in people who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet. In fact, it’s thought that up to 90% of people following these diets have a deficiency ( 2. Trusted Source.
What is the best source of vitamin B12?
Fortified foods vary from country to country, but often include milk alternatives or breakfast cereals. Some especially good sources of vitamin B12 include: Liver: 1/3 cup (75 g) provides 881% of the RDI. Beef kidney: 1/3 cup (75 g) provides 311% of the RDI. Trout: 1/3 cup (75 g) provides 61% of the RDI.
What are the two forms of B12?
Two other forms you may find are hydroxocobalamin and adenosylcobalamin. All these forms of vitamin B12 are present to some degree in the foods you eat, with the predominant ones being adenosyl B12 and hydroxo B12. Another B12 form found in foods is sulphitocobalamin.
Where is B12 stored?
Actuallly, our body stores most of our B12 reserves in the liver as adenosyl B12, and converts it to methyl B12 whenever needed.
How long does methyl B12 help with sperm count?
In one study, methyl B12 at daily doses of 6,000mcg for four months improved sperm count by 37.5%. In another one, at doses of 1,500mcg a day for 4-24 weeks, it increased sperm concentrations in 38% of cases, total sperm count in 54% of cases, and sperm motility in 50% of cases. This is incredible.
What is the donor of cobalamin?
The molecule that is attached to the cobalamin is called a donor . The two most common donors in supplements are cyanide (making the type of B12 known as cyanocobalamin, or cyano B12) and methyl (making methylcobalamin, or methyl B12). Two other forms you may find are hydroxocobalamin and adenosylcobalamin. All these forms of vitamin B12 are present ...
How long does it take for cyano B12 to convert to methyl B12?
It takes more than 48 hours for cyano B12 to convert to usable methyl B12. Even then, only a small amount is converted. And remember, when it does convert, it requires the interaction (possibly the depletion) of glutathione and other agents.
Where is methylcobalamin stored?
You’ll find methyl B12 in the blood plasma, cytosol cells, and certain fluids (like cerebral spinal fluid), and adenosyl B12 in cellular tissues where it is stored in the mitochondria.
Which vitamin is the best for absorption?
And the best vitamin B12 forms are…. Adenosyl B12 and methyl B12 are the native forms of vitamin B12, bypassing several steps in the absorption cycle. Both of them absorb, retain and increase tissue concentration much better.
Why do people get shots for B12?
This is because shots enable the body to absorb vitamin B12 without it having to go through the digestive system.
Who needs B12 shots?
Other people who may needs shots include those who have had gastrointestinal surgery if their digestive system cannot absorb vitamin B12 efficiently.
What are the benefits of taking B12 shots?
The most obvious benefit of receiving vitamin B-12 shots is treating a vitamin B-12 deficiency and avoiding its associated symptoms. In addition, B-12 shots reduce the risk of some serious complications associated with vitamin B-12 deficiency including: heart disease. neurocognitive disorders.
What is the recommended amount of B12 for pregnant women?
People who are unable to absorb vitamin B-12 properly may have pernicious anemia, which is a type of anemia characterized by a lack of intrinsic factor. , is 2.4 micrograms (mcg) for men and women over 14. Pregnant and breastfeeding women require slightly more, at 2.6 mcg and 2.8 mcg, respectively.
What are the symptoms of B12 deficiency?
Some common signs and symptoms include: decreased cognitive function, such as issues with memory or understanding. fatigue.
What happens if you don't take B12?
A deficiency in vitamin B12 can lead to various health problems, ranging from fatigue to permanent neurological changes.
How is B12 absorbed into the body?
Vitamin B-12 is separated from the protein during digestion and is absorbed into the bloodstream. Adequate stomach acid is required to release the vitamin from the protein, and a substance called intrinsic factor is necessary to ensure its absorption.
Vitamin B12 Injections – The most chemically complex of all the vitamins
Methylcobalamin, or vitamin B12, is a B-vitamin. It is found in a variety of foods such as fish, shellfish, meats, and dairy products.
How Are B12 Injections Administered?
Vitamin B12 is either injected under the skin or into muscle tissue. There are two types of synthetic B12. Synthetic B12 is simply the name for the vitamin when it is not found naturally in food. These two types are cyanocobalamin and hydroxocobalamin.
Additional Health benefits
Since vitamin B12 plays a vital roles in our bodies, developing a deficiency of the vitamin can have serious, adverse health consequences. In addition, B-12 shots reduce the risk of some serious complications associated with vitamin B-12 deficiency including:
What is B12 used for?
Vitamin B12 functions as a cofactor for two enzymes, methionine synthase and L-methylmalonyl-CoA mutase [ 1-3, 5 ] . Methionine synthase catalyzes the conversion of homocysteine to the essential amino acid methionine [ 1, 2 ].
What is B12 parenteral?
Parenteral administration is typically used to treat vitamin B12 deficiency caused by pernicious anemia as well as other conditions (e.g., tropical sprue, pancreatic insufficiency) that result in vitamin B12 malabsorption and severe vitamin B12 deficiency [ 5 ].
How much B12 is in a multivitamin?
Multivitamin/mineral supplements typically contain vitamin B12 at doses ranging from 5 to 25 mcg [ 22 ]. Vitamin B12 levels are higher, generally 50–500 mcg, in supplements containing vitamin B12 with other B-complex vitamins and even higher, typically 500–1,000 mcg, in supplements containing only vitamin B12.
How much B12 is in breast milk?
The average vitamin B12 level in the breast milk of women with vitamin B12 intakes above the RDA is 0.44 mcg/L [ 14 ]. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration specifies that infant formulas sold in the United States must provide at least 0.15 mcg vitamin B12 per 100 kcal [ 15 ].
What is the most common form of vitamin B12?
The most common form of vitamin B12 in dietary supplements is cyanocobalamin [ 1, 3, 22, 23 ]. Other forms of vitamin B12 in supplements are adenosylcobalamin, methylcobalamin, and hydroxycobalamin [ 22 ]. No evidence indicates that absorption rates of vitamin B12 in supplements vary by form of the vitamin.
How to determine vitamin B12 levels?
Vitamin B12 status is typically assessed by measurements of serum or plasma vitamin B12 levels . The cutoff between normal vitamin B12 levels and deficiency varies by method and laboratory, but most laboratories define subnormal serum or plasma values as those lower than 200 or 250 pg/mL (148 or 185 pmol/L) [ 2 ]. Levels of serum methylmalonic acid (MMA), a vitamin B12-associated metabolite, are the most sensitive markers of vitamin B12 status, and an MMA level greater than 0.271 micromol/L suggests vitamin B12 deficiency [ 6-8 ]. However, MMA levels also rise with renal insufficiency and tend to be higher in older adults [ 6, 9, 10 ]. Another marker is total plasma homocysteine levels, which rise quickly as vitamin B12 status declines; a serum homocysteine level higher than 15 micromol/L, for example, suggests vitamin B12 deficiency [ 11 ]. However, this indicator has poor specificity because it is influenced by other factors, such as low folate levels and, especially, by declines in kidney function [ 6 ]. Experts suggest that if a patient’s serum vitamin B12 level is less than 150 pg/ml (111 pmol/L), the patient’s serum MMA levels should be checked to confirm a diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency [ 7, 9 ].
How is vitamin B12 released?
Vitamin B12 is bound to protein in food and must be released before it is absorbed [ 5 ]. The process starts in the mouth when food is mixed with saliva. The freed vitamin B12 then binds with haptocorrin, a cobalamin-binding protein in the saliva. More vitamin B12 is released from its food matrix by the activity of hydrochloric acid and gastric protease in the stomach, where it then binds to haptocorrin [ 1 ]. In the duodenum, digestive enzymes free the vitamin B12 from haptocorrin, and this freed vitamin B12 combines with intrinsic factor, a transport and delivery binding protein secreted by the stomach’s parietal cells. The resulting complex is absorbed in the distal ileum by receptor-mediated endocytosis [ 1, 5 ]. If vitamin B12 is added to fortified foods and dietary supplements, it is already in free form and therefore does not require the separation step.
