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Why Take Vitamin B12 Shots?

by Doug Desjardins

Overview

Vitamin B12 is one of the eight B Vitamins that provide the foundation for good health. B12 is found in many common foods and most people have no trouble getting an adequate amount each day. But some people have conditions or unorthodox diets that prevent them from getting the B12 they need and require occasional B12 injections.
About Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is a key cog in the production of nerve cells and red blood cells. B12 is also important in the production of DNA. It's found naturally in foods like meat, shellfish and dairy products, which makes it easy to get adequate amounts through a normal diet. There are many symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency including weakness, shortness of breath, fatigue, numbness in the hands and feet and, in extreme cases, anemia.

People with No Intrinsic Factor

Some people need B12 because they're unable to absorb B12 through the food they eat. This could result from an auto-immune disorder or trauma that damages the parietal cells of the stomach and prevents the production of the intrinsic factor, which the body needs to absorb B12. If not treated, this condition can produce pernicious anemia, a serious condition that inhibits the body's ability to create red blood cells and can lead to permanent damage to the heart and nervous system.
Strict Vegetarians

It's rare for eating habits to produce a B12 deficiency, but there are cases in which strict vegetarian diets can lead to a deficiency that requires B12 injections. This can result from diets that eliminate all the primary sources of B12 like meat, shellfish and dairy products. Since the body stores enough B12 to last a normal person three to six years, this rarely happens but is possible in people who practice strict vegetarian regimes for many years.
Whipple's Syndrome and Crohn's Disease

In some cases, B12 deficiency may be caused by diseases that inhibit absorption of B12. Whipple's Syndrome is a rare bacterial infection in the digestive system that interferes with B12 absorption. Crohn's Disease has a similar effect on absorption and people diagnosed with either of these diseases would require B12 injections.
Parasites

In very rare cases, B12 deficiency can be caused by tapeworms or other parasites that invade and take up residence in the intestines. There are also cases where severe alcoholism damages the digestive tract and makes it difficult for the body to absorb B12. Overall, it's rare for people to require injections of Vitamin B12 but it does happen.