Boost Your Health with Methylcobalamin: Discover the Power of Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is one of the 8 B vitamins that play an essential role in your health. B12 is needed for neurological function, metabolism, red blood cell production, and DNA synthesis.
B12 is a water-soluble vitamin. This means that your body does not store it in large amounts and excretes what it doesn’t need through the urine. Because B12 isn’t readily stored, your body requires a steady supply of B12 to perform vital processes like energy production and nerve function. Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin that your body needs, but cannot produce. It can be found naturally in animal products like fish, beef, liver, clams, eggs, and milk, and has been added to other plant based foods like fortified cereals. It is available through vitamin supplementation.
You can supplement B12 orally in both capsule or liquid form, there are also sublingual forms of B12 supplements, B12 patches, or it can be injected. B12 injections are done (intramuscularly). IM injections of B12 do provide for better absorption and bioavailability of nutrients. When vitamins are taken orally potency is lost and there is significant potential stomach upset, with an IM administration you will absorb 100% of the dose given. We only use high quality, FDA approved vitamins from Olympia Pharmacy for injection at Beauty Bar & Wellness.
There are 2 forms of Vitamin B12- methylcobalamin and cyanocobalamin. Unlike cyanocobalamin, methylcobalamin is naturally occurring in the food sources and is considered to be absorbed and retained better by the body. At Beauty Bar & Wellness we use methylcobalamin because it is more easily used by the body and does not have to be converted into a methylated form like cyanocobalamin has to be. We also like methylcobalamin because it is estimated that about half of the population has a MTHFR gene mutation that prohibits them from being able to convert vitamins into the methylated form and therefore they are unable to use vitamins.
Who May Be At Risk For B12 Deficiency
Certain medical conditions, dietary restrictions, medications, and normal aging can affect your vitamin B12 levels and your ability to absorb from food sources so it is beneficial to supplement.
People with certain medical conditions like inflammatory bowel disease may not properly absorb B12. Those who follow restrictive diets, such as vegan diets, often develop low B12 levels because they are not getting it through food sources. Additionally, commonly prescribed medications such as acid reflux medications, oral contraceptives, and antidiabetic drugs can deplete B12 levels.
As many as 30% of older adults are unable to properly absorb B12 from food due to changes in stomach acid and decreased production of a protein called intrinsic factor, both of which are needed for B12 absorption.
Potential Benefits of Methylcobalamin
Boosts Energy: B12 works as a coenzyme to convert fat and protein into energy. This helps you metabolize the foods you eat and use as fuel. It can also help facilitate weight loss.
May Benefit Your Brain and Memory: Improves brain function. Vitamin B12 deficiency has been linked to memory loss, especially in older adults. People with low B12 levels may have brian fog, lightheadedness, or have trouble concentrating.
May Boost Your Mood: B12 may help increase serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain which are neurotransmitters that help enhance mood.
Stress Relief: May help decrease the stress hormone cortisol and control the body’s stress response
Helps With DNA Synthesis: B12 helps make DNA, the genetic material in all cells.
Nerve Health: Helps keep nerve cells healthy.
Decreased Risk for Macular Degeneration: May reduce the risk of this condition.
Bone Health: May support bone health and prevent osteoporosis.
Healthy Skin, Hair, and Nails: B12 keeps these cells nourished and healthy
May Help With Sleep: B12 is involved in the production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep cycles. Some research suggests that a B12 deficiency may be linked to trouble sleeping, short sleep, or excessive daytime sleepiness
Helps With Red Blood Cell Formation and Anemia Prevention: Vitamin B12 plays a vital role in helping your body produce red blood cells. When you have anemia your body doesn’t have enough red blood cells to transport oxygen to your organs and tissues, this causes symptoms like fatigue and weakness.
Decreases Inflammation, and Risk For Disease: Homocysteine is an amino acid naturally found in your body in low amounts. B12 helps break down homocysteine and turn it into other compounds that your body needs. If you don’t have enough B12 in your system, homocysteine builds up in your blood.High homocysteine levels increase inflammation and oxidative stress, a condition caused when your body’s antioxidant defenses are overwhelmed by reactive oxygen species, which are substances that cause cellular damage when levels get too high in the body. High homocysteine has been linked to an increased risk of several health conditions, including heart disease, cognitive decline, and depression.
Should Someone Not Supplement Vitamin B12?
You shouldn’t take B12 supplements if you are allergic to them or have an allergy to cobalt. Our nurse practitioners will go through your medical history and determine if you are a good candidate for B12 injections.
How Often Should You Supplement With B12 Injections?
We generally recommend starting out with methylcobalamin IM injections weekly to get your levels to an optimal level. You could also do them every other week or monthly, or even when you just want a energy boost. B12 is generally considered safe, even at high doses. The body excretes extra B12 through the urine, so it doesn’t have the ability to build up and have excess in the body.