What is Vitamin B12?
A water-soluble B complex vitamin
Found naturally in a variety of foods, including meat, fish and dairy products
Is added to some foods
Is available as a dietary supplement
Injections are commonly prescribed to help prevent or treat pernicious anemia and B-12 deficiency
Vitamin B-12 injections helpful for weight loss
There's no solid evidence that vitamin B-12 injections aid weight loss.
Vitamin B-12 is a water-soluble B complex vitamin found naturally in a variety of foods, including meat, fish and dairy products. Vitamin B-12 is also added to some foods and is available as a dietary supplement. Vitamin B-12 injections are commonly prescribed to help prevent or treat pernicious anemia and B-12 deficiency.
Some weight-loss clinics offer vitamin B-12 injections as part of their weight-loss programs. Proponents of vitamin B-12 injections say the shots give you more energy and boost your metabolism, helping you shed unwanted pounds. But unless you have a vitamin B-12 deficiency, vitamin B-12 injections aren't likely to give you an energy boost.
Metformin (Fortamet, Glucophage, Riomet) is a drug sometimes used as part of a weight-loss strategy for people with type 2 diabetes. Vitamin B-12 deficiency can be a side effect of this drug. If you take metformin, talk to your doctor about strategies to maintain adequate B-12 levels.
Getting large amounts of vitamin B-12 through vitamin B-12 injections isn't likely to harm your health. But vitamin B-12 can interfere with the effectiveness of some medications, so if you receive vitamin B-12 injections, be sure to let your doctor know.
If you're hoping to lose weight, resist the lure of quick and easy solutions. What counts is a healthy lifestyle. Enjoy healthier foods in appropriate quantities and include physical activity in your daily routine.
Evidence for B-12 and Weight Status
There's preliminary research showing adequate vitamin B-12 status may play a role in weight control. One study, published in 2013 in Medicinski Glasnik, observed B-12 levels in almost 1,000 people to look for links between B-12 levels and body weight. The authors found that people with low vitamin B-12 are more likely to be overweight and obese, while people with healthy B-12 levels tended to maintain a healthier body weight.
Another study found similar results in pregnant women. This study, published in a 2015 issue of PLoS One, found that pregnant women with low B-12 levels were more likely to be obese. And a 2014 study in Nutrients found the same association in overweight and obese adolescents.
While these studies show that low B-12 levels are correlated with a higher body weight, that doesn't necessarily mean getting more vitamin B-12 will make you lose weight. You'll still need a calorie-controlled diet and exercise program to do that.
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