B12 Therapy
Cobalamin (B12) Injections
Required by your nerve and blood cells for DNA synthesis, energy production, nerve cell health and function, red blood cell formation and for proper neurological function. B12 is such an essential nutrient that injections are often prescribed by doctors to treat an array of health problems. At MagnifaSkin, our B12 therapy injections will ensure your body has all of this essential micronutrient it needs.
While present in some of the foods we eat, it’s easy to be deficient in B12, especially if you're vegan or vegetarian, as meats are the best source.
Benefits
B12 Therapy
While younger people with a healthy diet are unlikely to be deficient in B12, for older individuals or those with any of the associated risk factors listed above, B12 supplementation is often the best and most practical way to address a deficiency. While it might be nice to think that we can just ‘clean up our diet’, as we’ve already seen, it’s not that simple. There is a long list of risk factors that may make your body less efficient at absorbing and using B12.
B12 therapy is, therefore, often the most practical method of making sure we have enough of this essential vitamin. Injection is highly effective, as it bypasses the stomach where bad bacteria may use up a substantial amount of it, and directly enters the bloodstream where it can be efficiently delivered to those areas of the body where it is needed.
Free Consultation
Is your skin seeming to age faster than it should? Do you get sick frequently? Feeling stressed? Taking far too long to recover your energy after that intense workout? All of these conditions and more could be the result of a deficiency of key vitamins and nutrients in your body. IV Therapy, Injection Therapy and Micronutrient Testing can restore healthy levels of these nutrients and effectively treat these conditions, sometimes in a remarkably short period of time. Think minutes, not days!
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The Many Benefits of Cobalamin (B12)
Treatment
Brain Fog
If you often suffer brain fog (difficulty focusing or concentrating) this may be caused by Cobalamin deficiency. B12 is an essential precursor for the important neurotransmitters norepinephrine and GABA. Low levels of these can result in cognitive impairment.
Confusion
As with memory loss and brain fog, neurological damage resulting from Cobalamin deficiency can lead to episodes of confusion, especially in older adults.
Heart
Palpitations
Your heart beats regularly as a result of a constant signals from your parasympathetic nervous system. Nerve damage resulting from B12 deficiency can result in heart palpitations. This is very serious, as, left untreated, a heart attack can result.
Blurred Vision
This can result from damage to the optic nerve as a result of B12 deficiency. This is both a warning sign and serious issue. If you have blurred vision you should see a doctor immediately. If the cause is low B12, the effect can be reversed with supplementation.
Sore, Swollen Tongue
This is another common sign of B12 deficiency. The tongue can swell, become smooth and appear beefy-red in color.
Canker Sores
Doctors often recommend supplementation of B12, Folic Acid (B9), Zinc and Iron to treat frequent canker sores. These are hereditary (non-contagious) sores in the mouth, especially common in teens and younger adults.
Chronic Headaches
While the relationship is not clear, studies show that chronic migraine sufferers are more likely to have low levels of Cobalamin. You can read one of these studies here.
Prevention
Memory Loss
Long term memories are hard coded, that is, they are the result of established neuron pathways in the brain. B12 deficiency will result in the body being unable to make new neurons to replace aging ones. This can easily result in the erasure of previously established memories.
Chronic Fatigue
Fatigue and weakness are common symptoms of B12 deficiency. A lack of B12 means that your body can’t effectively make new red blood cells to replace aging ones. This results a poor iron levels and oxygen delivery to the body’s tissues.
Low Energy Levels
Much the same cause as fatigue and weakness. Low levels of red blood cells mean poor oxygen delivery. This will result in a lack of physical and mental energy.
Constipation
The nerve damage that can result from B12 deficiency can lead to an array of gastrointestinal problems, including constipation, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, abdominal bloating, excessive gas, loss of appetite, and unhealthy weight loss.
Dizzy Spells
B12 is essential in the formation of neurons. If your body can’t make new neurons to replace aging ones, a broad spectrum of neurological problems will result. These may include dizziness and disorientation.
Parasthesia
The sensation of pins and needles is another common indicator of Cobalamin deficiency. The nerve damage that results can cause nerves to fire randomly, resulting in this unpleasant sensation.
Optimization
Cognitive
Function
Supplementation with B12 and Folic Acid (B9) has been shown to reduce cognitive impairment, especially in older adults. B12 appears to slow brain atrophy through cellular degeneration.
Depression
B12 is a precursor for the essential neurotransmitters dopamine, orexin and serotonin. These three together are vital for maintaining a positive mood.
Irritability
Low levels of dopamine and serotonin can also lead to irritability in some people. B12 supplementation can be vital in ensuring healthy levels of these neurotransmitters.
Balance
/Coordination
Because B12 is essential in the formation of nerves, a deficiency can lead to nervous system degeneration. Fortunately, if you are suffering a loss of balance and/or coordination as a result of B12 deficiency, supplementation can reverse this.
Mood
Enhancement
We don’t just want to avoid depression. We want a positive outlook. This makes it much easier to enjoy life and deal with challenges. Optimized levels of dopamine and orexin, two neurotransmitters essential for a positive mood, can be partially ensured with Cobalamin supplementation.
risk factors
Self Evaluation
More Benefits of Cobalamin (B12)
anti aging
Slow the Clock
In addition, it seems our body becomes less efficient at storing and using B12 as we age. If you are over 50, or over 40 and know you have a poor diet or any of the conditions listed above, you may be at higher than normal risk for B12 deficiency.
As we age, many of us produce less stomach acid. These acids are essential not only for breaking down food, but for keeping down the levels of unhealthy gut bacteria. These bad bacteria use B12 themselves and thus reduce the amount of this essential vitamin available for our body.
The Institute of Medicine recommends that those over 50 should be supplementing B12. B12 therapy via injection is the most effective form of supplementation.
Vegetarian or Vegan
Keep the Diet. Lose the Deficiency.
As already stated above, if you are vegan or vegetarian you are at higher risk for B12 deficiency. A study of 232 vegans showed that over half were deficient in B12. This is less prevalent in vegetarians, although almost 10% of them were deficient as well. Those who eat meat in their diet were far less likely to be deficient in B12.
Supplementation via injection is the best way to ensure you’re getting enough. Pregnant or breastfeeding women who are vegan or vegetarian need to be especially vigilant in maintaining healthy B12 levels. Infants who are deprived of adequate levels of B12 are at risk of developing severe and permanent neurological damage.
Pernicious Anemia
Effective Treatment
Pernicious anemia, a life-threatening genetic disorder, is caused by an inability of the body to absorb B12. Fortunately, this disease is very rare. The most common and effective treatment for pernicious anemia is B12 therapy via injections. In short, you simply need to add enough that the small percentage your body is able to absorb is adequate.
Risks and Contraindications
Risks of B12 Injections
Possible Side Effects
There is no effective upper limit on B12 intake. The amount required to be toxic to the body would be so high as to be practically impossible to take in, even through B12 Therapy supplementation.
However, there may be some side effects you should be aware of. These side effects are rare, but let us or your doctor know if you experience any of them following a B12 injection.
- Redness or itching at the injection site (rare)
- Mild diarrhea
- Swelling sensation in the body
- Moderate
- Muscle cramps
- Heart dysrhythmia
- Unusual weakness or tiredness
- Swelling of the lower extremities
- Severe (very rare) itching or swelling of the face, throat, or tongue
- Breathing difficulties
- Severe dizziness
- Sudden vision changes
- Slurred speech
Drug Interactions
Possible Contra-Indications
Some medications may cause adverse reactions when combined with B12 supplementation. If you are taking any of the following, consult with your doctor or with Dr. Cucuzzella before taking any B12 shots.
If you are using oral contraceptives, it may be inadvisable to take B12 injections. Please inform us if you are taking...
- Aspirin (taken regularly)
- Antibiotics
- H2 receptor agonists
- Metformin
- Oral contraceptives
- Proton pump inhibitors
Medical Conditions
or Allergies
Some allergies or medical conditions may cause adverse reactions to B12 injections. Please be sure to inform us if you have any of these.
- Cyanocobalamin or cobalt
- Hypokalemia (low potassium levels as B12 can cause your potassium levels to drop further)
- Kidney disease
- Polycythemia vera (a rare blood disorder)
- Leber’s disease (an eye disease)
- Deficiencies in folic acid and/or iron