5 Reasons Why You Might Need a B12 Injection

While it’s best to get your vitamins and minerals through a healthy and balanced diet, sometimes our work and personal obligations make eating right on a regular basis a difficulty. Also, people with certain medical conditions, or who practice restrictive dietary regimes for health reasons, can become vitamin deficient, making supplements a necessity. In particular, people with Crohn’s or Celiac disease, and some vegans might be vitamin B12 deficient.

If you’re deficient in vitamin B12, you might fatigue easily, have difficulty concentrating, and suffer from severe mood swings. A chronic vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to significant neurological issues, as well as pernicious anemia. It is extremely important that you visit a physician in order to determine whether or not your symptoms are due to a lack of vitamin B12, and if so, to diagnose the cause. If it is discovered that you aren’t getting enough vitamin B12, the most efficient delivery system is a direct injection. Here are a few reasons why you might need a vitamin B12 injection.

Dairy products, eggs, milk, and meat (particularly beef liver, and fatty fish) are all rich in vitamin B12. However, vegetarians, vegans, and others following dietary programs that severely limit or restrict the above foods and who fail to eat fortified foods, are at great risk for vitamin B12 deficiency.

If you’re currently taking medication that reduces your ability to produce stomach acid, you might need a vitamin B12 injection. Vitamin B12 taken through oral supplements or in food is released upon contact with stomach acid. B12 injections are introduced directly into the bloodstream, making them the most efficient delivery method for people needing immediate replenishment.

Some women who’ve been taking oral contraceptives regularly might experience difficulties absorbing vitamin B12. Some studies have found that supplementing estrogen levels can lead to B-vitamin deficiencies.

People who’ve had issues with the over-consumption of alcoholic beverages may find their ability to produce stomach acid is compromised. Furthermore, liver impairment can compromise its ability to store B12.

Certain types of bariatric surgery – gastric bypass and duodenal switch – can lead to permanent problems absorbing vitamin B12, since the body’s ability to digest food is permanently changed.

Physical symptoms of long-term vitamin B12 deficiency are swollen tongue, mouth sores, and persistent fatigue. Many might also experience mental confusion – sometimes to the point where dementia is suspected.

Call 209 Urgent Care in Modesto today for a B12 shot 209-846-9429.