9 Amazing Benefits of B12 Injections You Never Knew

Dr. Constance Odom, MD

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Constance Odom, MD

Dr. Constance Odom, MD

About

Constance Tambakis Odom, MD graduated in 1987 with her Doctorate of Medicine from the New York Medical College, and was an Anesthesiologist Resident from 1988 to 1991 at the Brookdale Medical Center PGY II (CA-I)-PGY IV (CA-III). She is Board Certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology since 1998 and American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine since 2002. Constance Odom, MD is affiliated with the American Medical Association, American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, American Society of Anesthesiology, Georgia Society of Anesthesiology, Hellenic Medical Society of New York, North Carolina Society of Anesthesiology, and Society of Ambulatory Anesthesia.

Credentials

Medical Director At:

• Nu Image Medical
• MetroMedispa P.A.

Staff Anesthesiologist at:

• Betsy Johnson Regional Hospital in Dunn, NC
• Onslow Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, NC
• Duplin General Hospital in Kenansville, NC

Director of Anesthesia Services at:

• Jacksonville Surgery Center in Jacksonville, NC

Written by our editorial team.

Last Edited 4 years ago · 5 min read

Vitamin B12 is essential for your body, but your body cannot produce it. Humans take this in through animal products, other foods, or the well-known B12 injection.

There are many B12 injection benefits that you should look through if you're considering this great solution to your B12 needs.

Read on to learn about these scientifically-based vitamin B12 shot benefits.

1. Encourages Red Cell Formation

Vitamin B12 is one of the key players in helping your body produce red blood cells. If you don't have enough B12, you will start noticing a change.

Those with low levels of vitamin B12 have lower hemoglobin counts, which means that they have a low red blood cell count. If you have a low red blood cell count, you are known as being anemic.

Having anemia can be dangerous, as this means that your body does not have enough red blood cells to transport oxygen throughout your body. People with anemia may have symptoms like fatigue, weakness, and paleness.

Having too little vitamin B12 can also cause red blood cells to form irregularly, which produces larger cells that cannot move through the body properly.

2. Diminishes Your Risk of Macular Degeneration

Maintaining proper levels of vitamin B12 can reduce your risk of macular degeneration, an eye disease that affects your central vision. Macular degeneration may occur naturally over time, but this may be due to diminishing B12 levels over time.

Getting a B12 injection can ensure that you're getting the right amount of B12 for you. 

A study of 5,000 women at or over the age of 40 years showed that a regimen of B12, folic acid, and vitamin B6 reduces the risk of age-related macular degeneration.

3. Reinforces Bone Health

People with a vitamin B12 deficiency have also been shown to have decreased bone density. Having poor bone density can lead to fragile bones that are prone to breaking.

This increasing fragility over time can lead to a common condition by the name of osteoporosis. 

Maintaining proper vitamin B12 levels over time is essential to reinforce your bone health. Getting vitamin B12 injections is a great, quick way to ensure that you're getting enough vitamin B12 to ensure proper bone health.

4. Decreases Cardiovascular Risks

Vitamin B12 reduces the presence of homocysteine, a common amino acid found in the human body. This amino acid is connected to heart disease. The more homocysteine in your system, the higher the risk of heart disease.

If you don't have enough vitamin B12 in your body, your homocysteine levels become elevated. This may also increase your risk of heart disease.

More research needs to be done on this subject, but research so far indicates that there may be an actual relationship here.

5. Improves Your Memory

I know we keep bringing up problems with aging, but I promise there are some positives to aging. However, even though your ability to recall facts betters with age, your overall memory does not.

As you age, you may begin having brain atrophy, which is the loss of brain neurons. This is normal, but the resulting memory loss can be scary. It can even lead to dementia.

Getting B12 injections can help your cognitive function.

6. Reduces Symptoms of Depression

Vitamin B12 has been shown to improve your mood and reduce your symptoms of depression and other mental health issues. As with other connections, this one needs to be studied more.

However, we do know that vitamin B12 plays a role in creating serotonin in the body. Serotonin is the chemical that regulates our mood. The connection here is clear.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is connected to depression while having vitamin B12 supplementation like B12 injections were shown to have improved depressive symptoms. These results were equal to and even better than antidepressants. 

7. Supports Your Hair, Skin, and Nails

The number one recommendation for better hair, skin, and nails has been water for the longest time. While water is fantastic for your body in general, vitamin B12 is also very beneficial. 

Low B12 levels have been shown to cause symptoms like hyperpigmentation and nail discoloration. Supplementing patients who exhibit these dermatological symptoms with B12 has been shown to improve them noticeably.

However, the supplementation will not help those who are not deficient. This is why having your B12 level checked is crucial before assuming that the effects of B12 shots will work for you.

8. Boosts Your Energy

The number one advertised effect of B12 injections has always been the boost of energy that they give you. While vitamin B12 does play a part in the body's production of energy, it does not provide energy for the body itself. All B vitamins play a role in producing energy for the body.

Taking vitamin B12 supplementation without actually needing vitamin B12 supplementation will not make a difference in your energy levels. This said, you will most likely experience a difference in your energy level if you take vitamin B12 while being deficient.

9. Prevents Major Birth Defects

Vitamin B12 levels are even more critical if you're currently pregnant or looking to become pregnant. The mother's B12 levels heavily influence the development of the fetus.

Vitamin B12 deficiencies in early pregnancy can cause premature birth, miscarriage, or congenital disabilities. 

Because B12 is crucial in the development of the fetus' brain and nervous system, a B12 deficiency in the mother can cause significant damage to both vital human systems. The most common congenital disability that can come from a vitamin B12 deficiency is a neural tube defect.

Being sure to have appropriate levels of B12 throughout pregnancy is essential for both mother and baby.

Taking Advantage of B12 Injection Benefits

As you can see, there are many B12 injection benefits. From something as small as your neurons to something as crucial as your energy, B12 levels play a big role in the way your body functions on a day-to-day basis.

To read more of our wellness guides and recommendations, be sure to check out our wellness blog.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your physician about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Nu Image Medical may not offer the medications or services mentioned in this article.