When it comes to improving one’s health, vitamin B12 is a popular supplement because this water-soluble vitamin plays a major role in many of the body’s essential functions. One of its most important tasks is in the forming of DNA, which are the very building blocks of life. It also has a hand in the production of red blood cells, brain function, heart health, weight management, energy production, and more.
Despite B12’s immense importance in maintaining good health, a large percentage of people are deficient in the vitamin. In particular, vegans, vegetarians, older adults, and people with gastrointestinal disorders routinely do not get enough B12 and as a result, these groups can be at a higher risk level of developing a host of problems if they don’t supplement their daily requirements.
Humans get most, if not all of our B12 requirements from our diet. This vitamin is found naturally in animal products like beef, organ meats, fish, shellfish, eggs, and dairy products, and it is added to certain other products to fortify them, such as non-dairy milk, cereals, and nutritional yeast. Vitamin B12 is also available in supplement form, both in capsule and injectable formulations.
In recent years, B12 injections have become more closely associated with their ability to improve weight loss and weight management. But is there a correlation between these shots and losing weight? Can B12 shots help you lose weight or are the claims a myth? In this post, we will unravel the connection between vitamin B12 and weight management.
Unraveling the Connection Between Vitamin B12 and Weight Management
When your metabolism is sluggish, fat and bile do not flow as freely from the liver, and this causes the body to store fat instead of using it for fuel, making you feel tired and weak. Vitamin B12 is well known for its ability to enhance metabolism and it is for this reason that so many people who receive B12 injections report feeling a boost of energy. This sudden increase in energy is caused by the body burning fat for fuel in a more effective and efficient manner.
Vitamin B12’s energy and metabolism-boosting properties are why it is commonly included in so many weight loss plans, but these aren’t the only ways the vitamin can help you manage your weight.
Because B vitamins help balance the nervous system, getting regular injections can play a significant role in regulating mood swings. Having a positive outlook is extremely important in staying motivated because losing weight doesn’t happen overnight and it can be all too easy to get depressed. Therefore, getting more vitamin B12 can help lower your risk of depression and help keep you in a positive mood.
As much as B12 helps increase energy, it is not a magic bullet that can overcome poor habits. One of the biggest contributors to a slow metabolism besides diet is not getting enough quality sleep. Following a proper sleep pattern is very important to keep your metabolism on track. Another benefit of getting enough vitamin B12 is that it has been proven to aid in the production of melatonin, the hormone that the body produces to help people sleep better.
So, when you look at vitamin B12 in this capacity, it not only increases your energy during the day, which is needed if you want to stick to an exercise program, but it also helps you maintain natural and full sleep patterns at night.
Plus, unlike other weight management products, vitamin B12 is a natural, non-toxic nutrient. Receiving highly concentrated injections of B12 is a natural alternative that will help you enjoy increased energy, more restful nights, and enhanced metabolism, all of which are essential on any weight loss journey.
Examining the Scientific Research on the Role of B12 in Weight Loss
Although there hasn’t been a lot of research dedicated to B12’s impact on weight loss in humans, studies have been conducted on how vitamin B12 affects fat metabolism in animals. In one study, it was concluded that vitamin B12 does play a key role in fat metabolism, noting that a deficiency of the vitamin could be linked to increased fat accumulation and obesity.[1]
In another study conducted on pregnant mice, it was found that severe vitamin B12 deficiency led to a significant increase in body fat percentage and cholesterol levels.[2]
Yet another animal study revealed that after giving B vitamins to rats that were fed a high-fat diet, the rats lost weight and produced blood test results showing increased levels of several enzymes that influence metabolism, compared with a control group.[3]
Addressing the Potential Benefits of B12 Injections for Weight Loss
Being deficient in vitamin B12 can bring on a range of serious health consequences because this vitamin is vital for many body processes. So, as promising as B12 injections can be to helping people lose weight due to their ability to boost the metabolism, they also deliver a wide range of other benefits that can greatly improve other areas of one’s health, including:
- Helps Prevent Anxiety and Depression
- Increases Red and White Blood Cells
- Promotes Healthier Hair, Skin, and Nails
- Slows Down Memory Loss
- Strengthens the Immune System
- Promotes Eye Health
- Improves Fetus Health in Pregnant Women
- Helps Keep Bones Healthy
- Provides Better Sleep Quality
Exploring the Risks and Considerations Associated with B12 Injections
B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that is found in a wide range of foods that we ingest every day, so it is very safe in its injectable form. But despite this, adverse reactions can still occur. A very small percentage of people may be more at risk of experiencing certain rare side effects, like an allergic reaction, which can include symptoms such as:
- Itching
- Rash
- Anaphylaxis (a life-threatening condition that can cause a fast heartbeat and difficulty breathing)
Other, even rarer side effects that can occur include:
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid weight gain
- Swelling of the legs
- Congestive heart failure
- Blood clot
- Hypokalemia (low potassium levels that can cause irregular heartbeats and muscle weakness
- fever)
- Tingling or numbness
- Joint pain
- Swollen tongue
- Polycythemia (an increase in the red blood cell mass)
With vitamin B12, toxicity concerns aren’t warranted. It has a very low potential for toxicity even in very large amounts, because the body does not store excess amounts of it.
Additionally, B12 may interact with certain medications, the two most common being metformin and gastric acid inhibitors. If you have any reservations about being a possibly high-risk patient, then you should discuss your concerns with your doctor, so the best and safest weight loss plan can be created for you.
Providing Guidance on Determining if B12 Injections are Suitable for Individual Weight Loss Goals
Vitamin B12 injections provide the body with the purest form of the nutrient and because it immediately enters the bloodstream, the body absorbs it fully, so its full benefit can be experienced. However, it is important to note that while these injections can provide you with faster weight loss results, their results are at their best when they’re used in conjunction with a healthy, balanced diet and regular exercise.
Understandably, some people may not be ideal candidates for B12 injections due to certain health conditions, but for most people, these injections are completely safe. If you are being treated for any health conditions, it is always recommended to discuss your weight loss plans with your doctor.
If you want to learn more about B12 injections or are looking for a reliable provider for your Office, Clinic, MedSpa, Wellness Center, or Weight-Loss Clinic, then contact National Medical Resources, Inc. today. We can help you establish your program.
[1] Boachie J, Adaikalakoteswari A, Samavat J, Saravanan P. Low Vitamin B12, and Lipid Metabolism: Evidence from Pre-Clinical and Clinical Studies. Nutrients. 2020 Jun 29;12(7):1925. doi: 10.3390/nu12071925. PMID: 32610503; PMCID: PMC7400011.
[2] Ghosh S, Sinha JK, Putcha UK, Raghunath M. Severe but Not Moderate Vitamin B12 Deficiency Impairs Lipid Profile, Induces Adiposity, and Leads to Adverse Gestational Outcome in Female C57BL/6 Mice. Front Nutr. 2016 Jan 22;3:1. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2016.00001. PMID: 26835453; PMCID: PMC4722109.
[3] Zheng Y, Ma AG, Zheng MC, Wang QZ, Liang H, Han XX, Schouten EG. B Vitamins Can Reduce Body Weight Gain by Increasing Metabolism-related Enzyme Activities in Rats Fed on a High-Fat Diet. Curr Med Sci. 2018 Feb;38(1):174-183. doi: 10.1007/s11596-018-1862-9. Epub 2018 Mar 15. PMID: 30074168.