B12 injections do not directly cause weight gain; in fact, correcting a B12 deficiency can improve metabolism and energy, potentially aiding weight management, but for those with sufficient levels, there's little evidence they cause weight loss or gain, with some observational links between low B12 and obesity, though causality isn't proven. The connection is complex: low B12 is linked to obesity, but injections mainly help those deficient, preventing issues like fatigue that hinder activity.
Vitamin B12 doesn't make you gain weight; it even helps you lose some!
There's no solid proof that vitamin B-12 shots, also called injections, help you lose weight. Vitamin B-12 is a water-soluble B complex vitamin. It's found naturally in many foods, such as meat, fish and dairy products. Vitamin B-12 is added to some foods and is available as a dietary supplement.
Common side effects
B12, vitamin B-12. supplementation can effectively reduce uric acid concentrations or can reduce the risk of hyperuricemia.
The worst symptoms of B12 deficiency involve severe neurological damage, including severe memory loss, confusion, dementia, psychosis, hallucinations, balance problems, trouble walking, and irreversible nerve damage (neuropathy), alongside serious mental health issues like severe depression or irritability, with physical signs including extreme fatigue, pale skin, and a sore, smooth tongue. These severe cognitive and neurological issues are the most concerning because they can become permanent if left untreated.
Recently, a randomized trial found that supplementation with 500 mg/day of vitamin C for two months reduced serum uric acid.
Your doctor likely stopped B12 injections due to following standard guidelines suggesting oral supplements or for reasons like cost/logistics (especially during the pandemic), but this can be risky; the main reasons are often a perceived 'normal' blood test (which doesn't always reflect cell levels) or a guideline shift, but you may still need injections for neurological symptoms or poor absorption, so discuss your symptoms urgently with your doctor and ask for clear evidence for the change.
If you feel dizzy after having it, do not drive, cycle or use any machinery or tools until you feel OK again. It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected. It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive. If you're in any doubt, do not drive.
What is vitamin B12 and what does it do? Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that helps keep your body's blood and nerve cells healthy and helps make DNA, the genetic material in all of your cells. Vitamin B12 also helps prevent megaloblastic anemia, a blood condition that makes people tired and weak.
Vitamin B12 injections may be administered in the arm or other regions with excess subcutaneous fatty tissues like the buttocks, thigh, or abdomen. The shots are usually administered by a medical doctor or a dietitian in weight loss clinics or medical spas.
Two of the most discussed weight loss injections currently on the market are semaglutide and tirzepatide, which are both FDA-approved for weight management.
But what many people don't know is that vitamin B12 also plays a role in weight management, so if you're low in B12, it could be making it extra hard to reach your weight loss targets.
But since you're curious about B12 and weight loss, you probably want to know: does vitamin B12 make you gain weight? Not quite. Rather, the question should be “Does B12 deficiency cause weight gain” as some evidence suggests low levels of B12 may be linked to weight gain and obesity.
Orally-swallowed B12 tablets are just as effective as injections in the vast majority of patients, except those with digestive issues that may hamper absorption. However, the rate at which the B12 is released can be a little slower meaning that if you need B12 quickly, injections will be the better option.
A vitamin D deficiency may also contribute to unintentional weight gain. Chances are you're familiar with vitamin D's effects on bone health. Higher levels of the vitamin can help your body support strong skeletal functions, while lower levels can lead to conditions like osteoporosis.
Helps Improve Sleep Patterns
Vitamin B12 is a major factor in the tryptophan production process. B12 injections can help you go from restless nights to getting a good night sleep.
Other common adverse effects are fever, itching or rash, tingling or numbness of joint, shortness of breath, rapid weight gain, polycythemia, hypokalemia, congestive heart failure, pulmonary edema, and vascular thrombosis.
Who may not be able to have hydroxocobalamin
Symptoms of vitamin B12 or folate deficiency
After getting B12 injections, people often wonder when they will begin to feel the positive effects. While the timeline varies for each person, it typically takes a few days or weeks before vitamin B12 levels improve, reducing symptoms such as extreme tiredness or lack of energy.
Taking doses of vitamin B-12 might cause: Headache. Nausea. Diarrhea.
Most uric acid dissolves in blood and travels to the kidneys. From there, it passes out in urine. If your body produces too much uric acid or does not remove enough of it, you can get sick. A high level of uric acid in the blood is called hyperuricemia.
Symptoms of high uric acid (hyperuricemia)
Lemon water:
Squeeze fresh lemon juice into a glass of warm water and drink it in the morning on an empty stomach. Lemon water can help alkalize the body and support the elimination of uric acid.