Humans do not make their own vitamin B12, so it is vital that we have adequate intake from food sources, supplements, or injections. Unfortunately, as we age, we produce less and less hydrochloric acid in our stomach, an essential chemical for the activation and absorption of vitamin B12. This makes it very challenging to acquire adequate vitamin B12 through diet and supplementation alone. Therapeutic injections of Vitamin B12 bypass the stomach and go directly into circulation, immediately being put to use within the body.
Assessing B12 status is especially important for people with immune function abnormalities, such as Grave’s disease, hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, vitiligo, and Addison’s disease. Additionally, people over 45 years old, African-American of Northern European descent, diabetics, or those who suffer from autoimmune conditions are especially likely to have lower levels of B12 and a more challenging time meeting their B12 needs.
How Does B12 Become Depleted?
Symptoms of low B12:
If low B12 persists for long periods of time it can a serious impact on health, including:
B12 is important for:
Treatment Options:
B12: Just the activated form of B12. $25
B COMPLEX: Includes activated B12 with Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B7, and Folate. $35
METABOLIC BOOST: Includes B vitamins, folate, B12, Carnitine, Methionine, Inositol, and Choline. $45
Treatment Regimen: 1 injection/week for 4 weeks and then monthly as maintenance.