Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin that the body needs for normal bodily functions. Vitamin B12 helps your body produce more protein and helps your body use fat and carbohydrates for energy. But the problem with Vitamin B12 is that, it is not produced by the body and the body doesn’t store Vitamin B12 for a long period of time. The bigger issue with Vitamin B12 is that if a person has an imbalanced diet then they are susceptible to becoming Vitamin B12 deficient. When someone becomes Vitamin B12 deficient they increase the risk of becoming Anemic, cause stomach problems and even nerve damage. So how can someone who doesn’t have a balanced diet or is on a special diet such as a Vegan Diet, make sure that they are getting enough Vitamin B12 in their system?

Well, up until the past decade, the only way that a person could have gotten Vitamin B12 is through food sources or supplements. But with medical advancements, we can now get Vitamin B12 through injections which can be done conveniently at a person’s own home and be administered to themselves. But before a person can even begin doing Vitamin B12 injections, they would need to see a physician that specializes in vitamin deficiencies so that they can have a full evaluation of their medical history as well as have a full blood panel performed. It is important to see a physician and have a full blood panel performed because it will not only allow the physician to determine if you are Vitamin B12 deficient but also allows the physician to determine if there are any other underlying deficiencies that they might have and not know about.

Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

As we increase in age, Vitamin B12 becomes harder to absorb, especially if you are a heavy drinker or have had any weight loss surgeries. Your risk to developing Vitamin B12 deficiency increases if you have Crohn’s disease, Celiac disease or any immune system disorders, such as Graves’ Disease. When someone acquires vitamin b12 deficiency, they may experience weakness, heart palpitation, shortness of breath, pale skin, constipation diarrhea, muscle weakness, numbness or tingling, vision loss and in some cases, depression or memory loss.

Treatment for Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Los Angeles

The best treatment for Vitamin B12 deficiency is to first deem that you have Vitamin B12 deficiency. Seeing a physician that specializes in vitamin deficiencies is highly recommended so that way they can create a perfect customized plan of care specific to you. Once it is deemed that you do have Vitamin B12 deficiency, the best ways to treat it is to change your eating diet or habits or by getting vitamin b12 through supplements or injections.

• Changed Diet: If you have Vitamin B12 deficiency, the best way to assure that you are getting enough Vitamin B12 is by adding foods that are rich in Vitamin B12 such as dairy products, eggs, fish, red meat and poultry (chicken).
• Supplements/ Injections: In some cases, some people restrict themselves from eating certain foods such as individuals that are strictly Vegan. With that, they can make sure that they get enough Vitamin B12 in their diet by supplementing it with Vitamin B12 pills or getting Vitamin B12 injections. They are both convenient and ideal for an individual who is always on the go and who is not highly conscious of their eating habits. And although they are more convenient and ideal, they are also a more expensive approach.

Although both methods are fine, it is recommended to do both to assure that you are getting enough Vitamin B12 and because it also has a lot of health benefits. Vitamin B12 plays a vital role in protein production and converting fat and carbohydrates into energy which can inhibit weight loss. Contact our weight loss clinic in Los Angeles to learn more.