Why Are Vitamin B12 Shots Given?
Vitamin B12 is a vital nutrient that is usually obtained from dietary sources such as meat, milk and eggs. It is an essential part of a healthy diet. When this vitamin cannot be obtained in sufficient amounts from food sources, B12 supplements can be taken to increase the individual's intake levels. Vitamin B12 supplements are also used therapeutically, often in the form of a B12 shot.
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Treating Symptoms of Shaky Leg Syndrome
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According to the National Institutes of Health, preliminary research shows that an injectable form of vitamin B12, called cyanocobalamin, may help to relieve symptoms of Shaky Leg Syndrome (orthostatic tremor). This finding may be supported by a case study in Madrid, Spain, involving a 68-year-old man who suffered from the syndrome. The patient's doctor credited B12 injections for the elimination of the patient's tremors.
Alleviating Vitamin B12 Deficiency
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Vitamin B12 shots are prescribed to treat patients who suffer from a vitamin B12 deficiency. This condition commonly results from an insufficient intake of the vitamin from food sources, and from poor B12 absorption into the body. Strict vegetarians who eat no meat as well as people over the age of 80 are at the highest risk of suffering a B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 shots help to correct the deficiency by increasing and normalizing the levels of B12 in the body.
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Treatment of Pernicious Anemia
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A lifelong condition referred to as pernicious anemia is commonly treated using B12 injections. This condition results when the body is unable to absorb vitamin B12 from the patient's gastrointestinal tract, due to a lack of a protein compound called "Intrinsic Factor." Vitamin B12 needs to bind with this compound in order to be absorbed and utilized by the body.
Pharmacological Treatment
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According to an editorial by the Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, vitamin B12 shots are the preferred treatment option when the vitamin is used for pharmacological purposes. This includes the use of vitamin B12 in the treatment of Bell's palsy, fatigue, asthma and diabetic neuropathy. The editorial cites clinical observations that oral doses are not as effective as B12 shots in treating these conditions.
Malabsorption Syndrome
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When the patient suffers from a malabsorption syndrome, the body is unable to absorb vitamin B12 from food or oral supplements. In this case, B12 shots are used treat and prevent a B12 deficiency. The shots deliver the vitamin directly into the patients system.
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