Can B12 Shots Help with Depression?
What is B12?
Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin that is synthesized within the human body by bacteria. Although vitamin B12 plays a critical role within our bodies, it is not naturally produced or naturally occurring. B12 is mostly gained through the consumption of animal products such as eggs, dairy, or meats. This is typically why many vegetarians and vegans may find that they are B12 deficient. However, for those who find they have lower than average levels of B12, there are other options such as taking an oral supplement or receiving B12 injections.
As mentioned prior, the human body doesn’t naturally produce vitamin B12, and although it is typically consumed through animal products, many people also discover they are B12 deficient due to other underlying health concerns they struggle with. Examples would include ailments that impact how your body digests and processes food, such as Crohn’s disease or IBS. Underlying health concerns such as these impact how the body processes and absorbs foods, as well as vitamin B12. In this scenario, vitamin B12 injections would be a great supplementation for you.
Can B12 shots help with depression?
According to the National Library of Medicine, cognitive impairment can result from B12 deficiency and may result in neurological and psychiatric problems. Ultimately these can develop into depression, memory loss, irritability, and personality changes. The worst part? You don’t need to be extremely B12 deficient to suffer from these problems, as even a slight B12 deficiency can commonly result in these symptoms for patients.
As vitamin B12 plays a critical role in producing brain chemicals that affect our overall mood and brain function, supplementing your B12 deficiency with vitamin B12 injections helps to boost your B12 levels and stabilize the impacts the deficiency was having on you. The link between B12 deficiency and depression isn’t fully understood, however, according to Healthline, a possible connection is the effects vitamin B12 has on the levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin helps to regulate your mood, so when levels of serotonin drop, it can have a direct impact on how you feel and may even lead to depression.
Vitamin B12 also plays a significant role in our body’s overall energy production. If you find that you have been suffering from vitamin B12 deficiency for an extended period of time, you may find yourself to be drowsier and have less energy and motivation. These lower energy levels are also thought to be a direct link between B12 deficiency and depression.
Are B12 injections or supplements better?
For those who are suffering from a B12 deficiency, you may find yourself stuck with the choice between receiving B12 injections or taking a daily B12 supplement. Although taking vitamin B12 tablets may have the same effects as injections, vitamin B12 injections are absorbed much quicker into the body. This is because they are administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly. The best part? They can be self-administered. In this scenario, you would want to consider a company that specializes in prescription therapies such as AgelessRx. They offer vitamin B12 shots that you can administer yourself from the comfort and safety of your own home. Injections also don’t require being administered nearly as often as taking an oral tablet requires.
What are other benefits associated with B12 shots?
If you find that you are vitamin B12 deficient, you may also discover that you suffer from other side effects associated with the deficiency. Listed below are other health concerns individuals with a B12 deficiency may go through and the benefits B12 shots play with them.
Brain Health
B12 deficiency is linked to brain atrophy, otherwise known as the loss of neurons in the brain. If the deficiency goes unaddressed for an extended period, it can lead to memory loss issues or even dementia. However, B12 injections help to restore your vitamin B12 to the required level, thus improving overall brain function and health.
Risk of Macular Degeneration
Low B12 levels also decrease the homocysteine levels in the bloodstream, which is the amino acid linked to age-related macular degeneration. However, by receiving B12 injections, you’re helping to decrease your body’s chance of developing macular degeneration in the future.
Poor Bone Health
For those who are B12 deficient, healthcare professionals typically discover they have a lower-than-average bone mineral density. If not properly addressed over time, the body’s bones will continue to decrease in mineral density and become more and more fragile.
Poor Red Blood Cell Formation
Last, but not least, vitamin B12 deficiency has been directly linked to poor red blood cell formation. This is primarily due to B12’s critical role in red blood cell production. It prevents red blood cells from forming properly, meaning there aren’t enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to all of the body’s vital organs.
Vitamin B12 deficiency isn’t anything new, however, it may be something new that you are experiencing. If you suffer from depression-like symptoms, you may find that you are vitamin B12 deficient. The good news is that there are so many direct health benefits linked to receiving vitamin B12 injections, and it’s never too late to get started!
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