Vitamin B12 injections are given to patients to treat deficiencies of the vitamin. Proponents of the injections also claim the vitamin B12 treats fatigue, increases immunity and eases anxiety. Vitamin B12 deficiency is a common condition that occurs most frequently in older people. It can also be found among people who have trouble absorbing nutrients in their digestive systems. Additionally, patients with high rates of drug and alcohol consumption tend to use B12 at a faster rate and can consequently experience a deficiency of the vitamin as well. Vitamin B12 is absorbed through the digestive system if taken orally, but injections can provide a more efficient means to treat a deficiency.
Identification
Vitamin B12 injections are a dietary supplement used to treat deficiencies. They have also been shown to have a calming and energizing effect on patients whose blood levels did not indicate any deficiency of the vitamin. Vitamin B12's chemical name is cyanocobalamin in the United States and hydroxycobalamin in Europe.
Deficiency Effects
Diagnoses of low levels of vitamin B12 in patients have been associated with low sperm counts, fatigue, anemia, and even tinnitus. Treatment of a deficiency is a challenge because only a small percentage of the vitamin is absorbed through the digestive system. This makes vitamin B12 injections the more effective treatment.
Prevention and Proactive Treatment
Long-term deficiencies of vitamin B12 can induce a condition called pernicious anemia, which is characterized by an enlargement of the red blood cells. The condition can manifest itself in symptoms of dementia and memory problems. It could also cause headaches and, in some cases, may even cause a stroke. Pernicious anemia can be life-threatening and patients need to make sure they receive enough supplementary B12 throughout their lives. Their treatment should be under the supervision of a doctor.
Theories/Speculation
Tinnitus is a condition that causes the sufferer to hear a ring, hum, whoosh or buzz in the ear with no outside cause. It is theorized that the enlarged blood cells associated with a vitamin B12 deficiency might contribute to the development of tinnitus in patients.
Studies on the effect of vitamin B12 injections in cases of tinnitus showed that the vitamin helped the patient's body rebuild myelin, a fatty material that helps cover and protect the nerves. Researchers thereby theorize that vitamin B12 injections help treat tinnitus by replacing the protective myelin that the patient had been missing.
Features
Vitamin B12 helps the body turn glucose into energy, so a lack of the vitamin can put you at risk of acquiring chronic fatigue syndrome. In related studies, it has been shown that patients who received B12 injections improved their energy levels by as much as six times greater than those patients who received only a placebo. None of the subjects of these tests were vitamin B12-deficient.
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