Vitamin B12 injections are an injectable form of vitamin B12. Normally, vitamin B12 is absorbed via the gastric tract including within the small intestine from the food which we eat, examples of foods rich in Vitamin B12 include Eggs, Fish, Red Meat and more. In order for the gut to absorb Vitamin B12 from the foods which we eat, it has to bind to a protein called Intrinsic Factor which is found naturally within our gut. Vitamin b12 is important for our metabolism, red blood cells, DNA and the development of our brain and nerve health.
Certain Individuals are more at risk of deficiency include:
1) People who either don’t eat foods which contain Vitamin B12, or eat very little, such as people who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet.
2) People who have Pernicious Anaemia - this is an autoimmune disease that attacks and destroys Intrinsic Factor within the gut, which means these individuals cannot therefore absorb Vitamin B12 from the foods they eat - Even if they eat Vitamin B12 Rich foods!
3) People who have have had surgery on their gastric tract/bowel where the intrinsic factor is produced
4) People with diseases of the Gastric Tract, such as Coeliac disease, Colitis
5) Certain medications such as ant acid medication such as Omeprazole, Lanzoprazole, Esomeprazole, Cimetidine, Famotidine, Nizatidine. Ranitidine, other over the counter antacids medication to relieve heartburn and indigestion , Metformin (a drug used in diabetes) & anti-histamines for hay-fever and other allergies can all factor the absorption of b12 from the foods we eat.