Vitamin B12 Injections

Vitamin B12 is an important component of a healthy diet, contributing to the functioning of the brain, nerves and blood cells. While everyone requires this vitamin for healthy functioning, pregnant women and nursing mothers require somewhat more than average.Vitamin B12 is found naturally in many foods, including fish, seafood, liver, beef and dairy products and is added as a supplement to foods like cereals, to help ensure proper nutrition.

The vitamin, which may also be produced in the laboratory, is usually injected into the muscle of the thigh, upper arm or hip when necessary. Dosage and frequency of injections varies depending on the patient’s condition.

Reasons For Vitamin B12 Injections

There are many reasons vitamin B12 injections may be prescribed or recommended. In some cases, patients may be deficient in the vitamin and suffering symptoms, while in others, B12 may be considered potentially helpful in preventing or treating certain conditions. 

Vitamin B12 Deficiencies

Vitamin B12 is necessary for patients with a low serum level of vitamin B12 because they take particular medications or because they suffer from:

• Pernicious anemia
• Gastrointestinal or autoimmune disorders
• Alcoholism

Patients may also have low levels of vitamin B12 if they have had bariatric surgery, are strict vegetarians, or have used antacids or proton pump inhibitors for a prolonged period. Vitamin B12 deficiency is also more frequently found in individuals of advanced age.

Conditions Vitamin B12 Prevents Or Improves

Vitamin B12 is believed to be helpful in preventing or improving the following conditions:

• Memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease, or other dementia
• Fatigue or lack of concentration
• Weakened immune system
• Heart, kidney and liver disease
• Infertility
• Osteoporosis
• Allergies or asthma
• Tinnitus
• Skin disorders
• Lyme disease

As an alternative to being injected with vitamin B12 for these conditions, patients are sometimes offered B12 supplements to be taken orally or applied as nasal gels. In many cases, though, patients’ disorders prevent them from absorbing the B12 unless it is administered by injection.

Symptoms Of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Vitamin B12 deficiency results in symptoms common to a variety of disorders, so blood work and other diagnostic testing may be necessary to rule out other problems. Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include:

• Anemia
• Intestinal disorders and weight loss
• Fatigue, weakness, lightheadedness
• Memory loss or confusion
• Depression or dementia
• Rapid heartbeat and respiration
• Mouth or tongue soreness or bleeding
• Excessive bruising 

Injections are the most effective means of administration of vitamin B12 since they do not depend on the body’s ability to absorb the substance through the gastrointestinal tract. Although vitamin B12 injections can increase energy and improve quality of life for individuals with a deficiency, patients whose vitamin B12 levels are normal will not have improved health from this treatment.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is an important nutrient that aids in overall health by keeping bones strong and healthy. The body requires vitamin D to absorb calcium and phosphorous, which are crucial in building and maintaining strong bones and teeth. Although some studies seem to indicate that adequate levels of vitamin D can strengthen the immune system and protect against various health conditions, including diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease and high blood pressure, there is no definitive data to support that conclusion.

The body can absorb vitamin D in three ways:

• Exposure to sunlight
• Eating vitamin D-fortified foods
• Taking vitamin D supplements

The amount of vitamin D a person requires varies based on age, weight, skin color, genetic makeup and chronic medical conditions (if any). Pregnant and nursing women, breast-fed infants, the elderly and people with certain medical conditions may require more vitamin D in their diets than is typically recommended.

A vitamin D deficiency may occur if there is an extremely low level of vitamin D in the body. When the body is low in vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus cannot be absorbed, which can cause serious health problems. Children who do not get enough vitamin D are at risk for developing a bone disorder known as rickets, which causes bones to soften and break easily. For those with vitamin D deficiencies, taking vitamin D supplements may be recommended.

Vitamin D can be consumed naturally through foods such as green leafy vegetables, eggs, dairy products, and fatty-fish.