November 8, 2013
1 min read
Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAmAsk the Diva: Will B-12 Injections Boost Your Energy?
Nutrition Diva: Quick and Dirty Tips for Eating Well and Feeling Fabulous
By Nutrition Diva Monica Reinagel
Scientific American presents Nutrition Diva by Quick & Dirty Tips. Scientific American and Quick & Dirty Tips are both Macmillan companies.
Q. Getting B-12 injections seems to be a hot new fad. Can B-12 shots really boost your energy? Are they safe? Could you get the same benefit from an oral supplement?
A. Taking B-12 can definitely help boost your energy if you have a B-12 deficiency. Fatigue is a common side effect of B-12 deficiency. And injections are more effective than oral supplements for people whose bodies don’t manufacture “intrinsic factor” because this substance is required for absorption of the nutrient through the digestive tract.
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The real question is how many of the starlets and reality show stars who swear by their weekly B-12 shots are actually deficient in B-12 and unable to manufacture intrinsic factor? My guess is very, very few.
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