by: JoAnna Lagownik

What is Vitamin B12?

B12 (cobalamin) is a water-soluble vitamin that is important for the normal functioning of the nervous system, the circulatory system and in making DNA. B12 is naturally present in animal food products, including meats, seafood, dairy products, and eggs.

Types of B12

In dietary supplements, the most common type of vitamin B12 is cyanocobalamin, an inactive form of B12 the body must convert before it can be absorbed.

Methylcobalamin, an active form of B12, is more effective, better absorbed by the body, and retained in higher amounts in bodily tissues.

(Methylcobalamin is the type of B12 in the vitamin shots at Cordova Weight Loss)

Symptoms of B12 Deficiency

Vitamin B12 deficiency may cause a number of different problems, including tiredness, weakness, headache, joint pain, and brain fog. Other symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include problems with balance, depression, and poor memory. A vitamin B12 deficiency can damage the nervous system even in people who don't have anemia, so it is important to treat a deficiency as soon as possible.

Groups at higher risk of B12 deficiency

• Adults over 60. (Many older adults do not have enough hydrochloric acid in their stomach to absorb the vitamin B12 naturally present in food.)

• Vegans and vegetarians.
  
• People that had gastrointestinal surgery, such as weight loss surgery.
• Individuals with stomach and small intestine disorders (such as celiac disease and Crohn’s disease).
• People with pernicious anemia.
• People who take medications that hinder the body's ability to absorb B12 naturally, including acid reflux medications, peptic ulcer medications, and diabetes medication.
  

Vitamin B12 Shots

Typically, a vitamin B12 deficiency is treated with vitamin B12 injections because a shot is absorbed by the body right away, bypassing any issues with absorption in the small intestine.

Most of the vitamin shots at Cordova Weight Loss contain some B12, but the $20 B12 shot contains the highest concentration at 5000 mcg/ml.

(There is 330 mcg/ml of B12 in the Vitachrom shot and 1000 mcg/ml of B12 in the Lipotropic shot.)

On its own, the cost for a single B12 shot is $20, but you can add a B12 shot to any of our other injections for just $10!

How often can you get a B12 shot?

The B12 shot lasts around 7-10 days in your system so you can get an injection as often as once a week if you want to!

Can you get too much B12?

B12 is a water-soluble vitamin, so the body absorbs what it needs and passes the rest into the urine. Because the body does not store excess amounts, vitamin B12 is widely considered safe even at high doses.

For more information, click here for a Vitamin B12 Fact Sheet by the National Institutes of Health.