Do You Need Vitamin B-12 Supplements or Shots?

Mind is All

You may have heard of people taking vitamin B-12 supplements of shots. Do you need to take supplements, and are the shots truly of value?

The reason why your body needs vitamin B-12 is to produce new red blood cells, to maintain healthy nerve function, and to fight anemia. You also need vitamin B-12 for the manufacturing of DNA.

Some weight loss clinics tout vitamin B-12 shots as weight loss tools, but there is no evidence this works. If you think your might be B-12 deficient, ask your doctor for a test; most people have stored enough B-12 to last them for years. While a vitamin B-12 shot may help you if you are truly anemic or deficient (which can be determined by a blood test), it will not improve your metabolism or make your more energetic if you are already getting enough vitamin B-12. Ask your doctor before you start taking vitamin B-12 shots or taking large doses of supplements, because too much B-12 can interfere with the effectiveness of particular medications.

You can get vitamin B-12 naturally by eating animal products. You don't need to worry at all if you eat meat, eggs, fortified products, dairy products, or shellfish. Vegans—people who do not eat any animals products at all—are particularly susceptible to vitamin B-12 deficiency. Fortified cereals also provide vitamin B-12, making them a good source for vegans.

If you get between 2.6-2.8 micrograms of vitamin B-12 a day, you're probably getting enough. You will get enough vitamin B-12 for the day if you eat a simple breakfast meal of a cup of milk and a bowl of fortified cereal. Usually people with B-12 deficiencies are actually having trouble using the B-12 they’ve ingested. Your intestines may not be absorbing B-12 or your body might not be releasing B-12 that you've absorbed and stored. Most Americans are not B-12 deficient because they eat a diet rich in animcal products, and their bodies naturally store the B-12 for years.