Vitamin B12 – also known as cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin, naturally found in some foods, added to others and synthesised by bacteria in the small intestine. It is involved in many vital processes in the body, including:

Producing red blood cells
Keeping the nervous system healthy
Releasing energy from food
Creating DNA and RNA (the building blocks of every cell in the body)

Vitamin B12 deficiency is quite hard to detect and can go undiagnosed for some time.

Symptoms can include fatigue, lethargy, shortness of breath, pale skin, mouth ulcers, sensations of pins and needles, disturbed vision, impaired mental function and depression. Many of these symptoms are not unique to vitamin B12 deficiency and not everyone who is diagnosed will experience them. A simple blood test can establish if you are deficient in Vitamin B12.

A more severe form of vitamin B12 deficiency is called pernicious anaemia. This autoimmune disease occurs due to issues with a specific glycoprotein called intrinsic factor (IF), created in the stomach and necessary to absorb vitamin B12.

Pernicious anaemia causes the immune system to attack the cells in the stomach which produce IF. Without IF, vitamin B12 cannot be absorbed and therefore deficiency can occur.

Potential Health Benefits

Given the vital roles that vitamin B12 plays in your body, a deficiency can have serious health consequences.

In fact, low blood levels of the vitamin have been linked to several health problems, some of these are:

Brain Function

Low levels of vitamin B12 have been linked to a decline in brain function.

Two recent reviews found that there may be a link between low blood levels and the development of dementia.

Depression

It’s been suggested that there may be a link between low vitamin B12 levels and depression. It has been suggested by experts that taking the vitamin on a long-term basis could help prevent a relapse into depression.

Currently, there is a lack of quality research in this area and higher-quality studies are needed to find out if there really is a link between vitamin B12 and depression, but many people say they really notice a difference!

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease in which the loss of bone mass results in weaker bones and an increased risk of bone fractures.
Interestingly, low blood levels of vitamin B12 have been linked with reduced bone mass, therefore, it’s been suggested that taking vitamin B12 may reduce your risk of osteoporosis.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration is a condition that causes you to gradually lose central vision, usually in both eyes.

In people aged 50 and over, adequate consumption of vitamin B12 is thought to be important for maintaining good vision and protecting against macular degeneration.
In one large study, 5,200 women received 1,000 mcg of vitamin B12 daily, as well as other B vitamins and folic acid. Seven years later, the study found a 35% lower risk of age-related macular degeneration among the women who took the supplements.

Other Potential Benefits

Recently, vitamin B12 injections and infusions have become popular among healthy people who don’t appear to have a deficiency. Advocates of this approach claim that regular injections can boost energy levels and help with weight loss and mood.

At The Collagen Therapy clinic, we can complete a comprehensive assessment and consultation and administer the B12 injections for you if required.

The injections consist of a course of 5 injections into the deltoid muscle of the upper arm, over a 2-week period, and every three months thereafter. This is a prescription item which would be tailored to you personally.

Please call today for more information and to book your consultation and treatment.