Vitamin B12 injections

Vitamin B12 injections

What is Vitamin B12 and What Does it Do?

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.

Many People Are Deficient

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. This is because B12 is only found naturally in animal foods. However, vegans and vegetarians are not the only ones who are deficient. Even some meat eaters don’t absorb it very well or in fact anyone with stomach absorption problems.

Unlike other vitamins, the absorption of vitamin B12 depends on a protein produced in your stomach, called intrinsic factor. Intrinsic factor binds to vitamin B12, so that you can absorb it into the blood. People who don’t produce enough intrinsic factor can become deficient.

Deficiency is particularly common in elderly people, because the ability to absorb vitamin B12 can decrease with age. Other people at risk of deficiency include those who have had intestinal surgery, including weight loss surgery. Those with diseases that affect the gut, such as Crohn’s disease or coeliac disease, are also at risk.

Left untreated vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to neurological problems which occurs when your body doesn’t have enough B12 to produce the amount of red blood cells it needs.

Vitamin B12 injections are very effective at replacing what we need and are the most common way to prevent or treat a deficiency. The injections are prescribed and given intramuscularly, or into muscle.

Injections are usually given as hydroxocobalamin or cyanocobalamin. These are very effective at raising blood levels of B12 and preventing/reversing a deficiency.