What supplements do you take? Have you considered taking vitamin injections? Or have you heard of the rumors that some vitamin injections, like vitamin B12, cause weight gain?
This post focuses on shedding light on the truth about vitamin injections. Specifically, we will discuss the ins and outs of vitamin B12 injections and whether it causes weight gain or not.
The Role Vitamin B12 Plays in the Body
Before we get into whether vitamin B12 injections lead to weight gain or not, let’s first understand how the body uses vitamin B12. Knowing the function of this vitamin helps shed light on its effects.
Vitamin B12 is Essential for Various Bodily Functions
Vitamin B12, also scientifically referred to as cobalamin, plays a role in multiple body processes. It is a water-soluble vitamin used to create DNA and replenish red blood cells. But perhaps the most well-known function of vitamin B12 is it increases the body’s energy levels.
Additionally, the body uses vitamin B12 to keep the brain and the nervous system functioning correctly. It can even affect your mood and disrupt your memory if you are deficient in vitamin B12.
Here’s a list of the core functions of vitamin B12:
- Assists produce red blood cells
- Combats anemia
- Lowers risk of pregnancy complications
- Prevents macular degeneration (an eye disease)
- Keeps neurons healthy
- Fights heart disease by reducing homocysteine
- Elevates mood and lowers chances of depression
- Strengthens bones
- Encourages healthier hair, skin, and nails
- Increases energy
But none of those functions of vitamin B12 play a role in how much a person weighs. Is there any function of vitamin B12 that affects weight, or, at least, body fat?
Vitamin B12 Affects Metabolism
Yes, vitamin B12 affects metabolism. But that does not mean vitamin B12 injection lead to weight gain. Several animal studies actually lean toward the contrary.
Many studies found that it is vitamin B12 deficiency that leads to higher chances of weight gain and obesity. An increased amount of vitamin B12, whether or not through vitamin injections, does not seem to lead to weight gain.
However, there are yet human studies and testing that conclusively prove the effects of vitamin B12 injections on weight gain or loss. But as far as science knows, vitamin B12 deficiency among animals leads to weight gain, and an increased intake of the vitamin reduces weight gain.
What Happens to Your Metabolism with Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Vitamin B12 Deficiency Causes Weight Gain
Several observational studies discovered a link between obesity or being overweight and lower vitamin B12 levels. People who are overweight commonly have lower-than-average vitamin B12 in their systems.
On the other hand, there exists a connection between taking vitamin B12 supplements or injections and minimal weight gain in a decade. Individuals who take vitamin B12 regularly, either as oral supplements or via vitamin injections, gain fewer pounds in a decade compared to people who don’t take the vitamin.
But these connections are only found observationally. There is no conclusive study that examines the direct link, if any, between vitamin B12 injections and weight gain or loss.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can indeed lead to weight gain. But the weight gain is not a direct result of the deficiency. Instead, vitamin B12 deficiency causes lethargy or lack of energy, and in turn, inactivity causes weight gain.
When you lack the energy to move, you don’t burn fat. And when you don’t burn fat, you gain weight.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency Also Causes Weight Loss, for Some People
Although the common trend among overweight people is that they lack vitamin B12, vitamin B12 deficiency also seems to cause weight loss in some people.
A lack of vitamin B12 also affects the appetite. People who have vitamin B12 deficiency tend to lose their appetite to eat. Vitamin B12 deficiency can even cause nausea, which is a pretty big appetite downer.
Animal Studies Have Something to Say
A few animal studies have shed light on this topic. It’s discovered among rats that vitamin B12 deficiency causes weight gain.
A study administered vitamin B12 to rats and fed them food rich in fat. However, these rats did not gain as much weight as their counterparts who did not receive vitamin B12.
Unfortunately, there are no human tests with the same premise. Therefore, we can’t honestly say that taking vitamin B12 supplements through vitamin injections leads to weight gain.
What Then? Do You Need to Take Vitamin B12 Injections?
Since there is no direct correlation between vitamin B12 injections and weight gain, you should not be afraid to take an increased amount of the vitamin.
You can’t have too much vitamin B12 in your system. But you can have too little of it. Therefore, taking more of the vitamin makes better sense than less of it.
If you have fewer vitamin B12 than your system needs, there are repercussions. These repercussions include:
- Depression
- Lethargy or lack of energy
- Mouth ulcers
- Appetite loss
- Nausea
- Imperfect vision
- Pale yellow skin
- Breathlessness
- Fatigue
- Palpitations
- Headaches
- Irritability
- Cognitive decline
But if you have “too much” vitamin B12 in your body, there’s no known harm. There is no radiation in vitamin B12. Due to its incredibly low level of toxicity, there is no tolerable upper intake level (UL) for vitamin B12.
Additionally, it is water-soluble, so you can quickly get it out of your system if it ever rises to unhealthy levels (which has never happened in medical history before). It is impossible to overdose on vitamin B12 because any excess you intake just gets flushed out through the urinary system.
Get Enough Nutrients Through Vitamin Injections
You never know when you are running low on essential vitamins. Now and then, you might need a little pick me up. Fortunately, vitamin injections are easily accessible.
Besides, you don’t only need vitamins when you feel down in the dumps. You need vitamins just to maintain your health. Vitamin injections are the quickest and best way to give your body what it needs.
You absorb around 95% of the vitamin, which is double the amount of taking vitamins orally (approximately 25%-50%). So, give yourself a break from bad health. Take vitamin injections today!
Talk to EC Medical Group for your vitamin injections needs. You can reach us at (619) 444-3264 or [email protected] or through our Contact Us page.
