Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that works to keep our nerves and blood cells healthy and functioning. It also helps to build the DNA, which is the genetic material found in cells. Vitamin B12 cannot be made by the body and must be sourced from diet or supplements. 

It is bound to protein in foods and is released and absorbed when the food is exposed to saliva and stomach acids during digestion. When it is added to fortified foods or taken as a supplement, it is in a form that is more easily absorbed without requiring the action of digestive enzymes.  

When there is a deficiency of vitamin B12, it can be due to difficulty in absorbing the vitamin B12 from food, failure to eat enough vitamin B12-rich foods, or a health condition.

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While various groups can be affected by this deficiency, those that follow a plant-based diet are particularly prone. This is because the richest sources of vitamin B12 are animal products like meat and dairy. Excluding animal products from your diet will require another intervention to get enough quantities of this essential nutrient.

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Vitamin B12 injections are the most effective way to treat this deficiency. More so than dietary supplement pills that may be affected by digestive system problems or medications that can inhibit their absorption. Intramuscular injections can deliver a healthy dose of vitamin B12 that can remain usable to the body for weeks or months at a time. If you believe you may have a vitamin B12 deficiency, this can be a viable solution to your condition and its effects.

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Having a vitamin B12 deficiency can negatively affect your health and quality of life. The symptoms can, however, take a long time to appear as the body can store large amounts of vitamin B12 in reserve. Some of the common symptoms of this condition include: 

• extreme tiredness or weakness

• lack of energy

• pale skin

• heart palpitations

• lack of appetite

• disturbed vision

• sore of the tongue

• mouth ulcers

• weight loss

• depression

• impaired cognitive functions

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Risks and Benefits of B12 Injections

There is minimal risk associated with taking vitamin B12 injections. They are generally considered a safe and effective treatment for vitamin B12 deficiency, pernicious anaemia, and other health conditions. The injections bypass the digestive system, ensuring that the body can absorb as much of the essential nutrients as efficiently as possible. By helping to restore good health and boost energy levels, vitamin B12 injections may also be a support to weight loss. 

 

Like any other medication, the injections may, however, also cause side effects in some people. Some of the common side effects associated with vitamin B12 injections include:

• pain at the injection site

• nausea and dizziness

• stomach upset

• headaches