VITAMIN B12
Vitamin B12 shots are often administered to address deficiencies or to boost energy levels.
Some potential benefits include:
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Increased energy
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improved mood
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Better cognitive function
Vitamin B12 is crucial for nerve function and the production of red blood cells, so addressing a deficiency can have positive effects on overall health.
Price: $25
What is vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 is an essential water-soluble vitamin that plays a role in many bodily functions, including:
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DNA production
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red blood cells
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nerve cells
Without vitamin B12, a person may feel tired and weak due to megaloblastic anemia.
What are vitamin B12 shots?
Vitamin B12 shots are a form of supplementation that contains a synthetic version of vitamin B12, or cyanocobalamin. A doctor at Miami Primary will inject the shot into the muscle.
How long do vitamin B12 shots last?
How often a person will require shots depends on what is causing their B12 deficiency. Initially, a person may need B12 supplementation shots every day for around two weeks or until symptoms improve.
If the cause of a person’s B12 deficiency is their diet, they may not require further shots or only require them once or twice per year.
In cases where a chronic condition is causing a deficiency, people may require B12 shots around every 2 months.
Who needs vitamin B12 shots?
Vitamin B12 shots are only available by prescription following a clinical diagnosis of low levels. However, low levels are rare in most healthy adults because the human liver stores vitamin B12 over time.
Some people’s bodies do not produce enough stomach acid or intrinsic factor if they have a condition known as autoimmune atrophic gastritis. These people may need vitamin B12 shots to reduce their risk of deficiency, which can lead to pernicious anemia.
Other people needing shots include those who have had gastrointestinal surgery if their digestive system cannot absorb vitamin B12 efficiently.
Benefits
A doctor at Miami Primary may recommend vitamin B12 shots for people at risk of a deficiency or its complications.
Vitamin B12 shots may help reduce the risk of the following conditions:
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neurological disorders
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problems with thinking and memory
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vision loss
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infertility
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neural tube defects in children born to those with a vitamin B12 deficiency