There’s been a lot of buzz about vitamin B12 lately! Increasingly in demand among wellness and fitness enthusiasts, B12 is being recognized for its numerous benefits in promoting weight loss.
But first, knowing what B12 is and how it works will help you separate facts from hype. Vitamin B12 is an important, water-soluble nutrient, also known as cobalamin. In addition to improving sleep, energy, metabolism and mood, B12 is needed to form hemoglobin in red blood cells (RBCs), which bind oxygen. Oxygenation, along with these other factors, has a strong influence on your energy level and ability to lose weight. This is why many people report better success with weight loss after starting B12 treatments
To head off a widespread misconception, vitamin B12 doesn’t directly cause weight loss, but instead supports weight management by playing a crucial role in energy production and metabolism, helping the body convert fats and proteins into energy. Adequate B12 levels are essential for maintaining proper metabolic function, which can lead to increased energy, improved physical activity and better motivation for weight loss efforts. A B12 deficiency can cause fatigue and a sluggish metabolism, hindering weight loss, while correcting a deficiency restores vital cellular functions needed for calorie burning.
The B12 Connection to Metabolism and Energy
Vitamin B12 is crucial for metabolism and energy because it acts as a coenzyme for enzymes that convert food into usable energy, including the breakdown of fats and carbohydrates, and aids in producing red blood cells that transport oxygen.
Boosts metabolism – B12 helps convert food (fats and proteins) into energy, which is vital for a healthy metabolism. A more efficient metabolism burns calories more quickly. Vitamin B12 is involved in hundreds of biochemical reactions in the body that control fat and carbohydrate metabolism. Recent research has discovered an inverse association between Vitamin B12 status and obesity – which means that the higher your weight, the more likely you are to be deficient in Vitamin B12. Low B12 levels can negatively impact how the body processes and uses fats.
Increases energy levels – By ensuring proper energy production at the cellular level, B12 can improve overall energy and vitality. This makes it easier to engage in regular exercise and maintain an active lifestyle. One of the most common symptoms of B12 deficiency is fatigue. As you may recall from biology class, mitochondria (the “powerhouses” of cells) produce cellular energy in the form of ATP. It so happens that vitamin B12 is required in the production of ATP. In other words, if there is a lack of Vitamin B12, there is a lack of ATP, resulting in fatigue. The reverse is also true – adequate B12 levels can reinvigorate and re-energize your daily routine.
Additional vitamin B12 benefits include the following:
Immune system boost – Vitamin B12 also plays a role in white blood cell (WBC) production. White blood cells defend against viruses and bacteria that come into contact with the body. Therefore, low levels of B12 have an impact on your ability to fight off infection.
Improved sleep quality – If you’re having difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, it may be due to problems with your circadian rhythm. This is the process that helps regulate your quality of sleep. Studies have shown that vitamin B12 can help resynchronize your circadian rhythm, resulting in more restful sleep and less daytime drowsiness. Moreover, when you don’t get enough sleep, your body produces more of the hormone ghrelin, which stimulates hunger. Conversely, adequate sleep increases levels of the hormone leptin, which signals fullness. This can lead to reduced calorie intake.
Improved motivation – The combined effect of higher energy and a boosted metabolism can increase motivation and consistency in your weight loss journey. You’ll be more enthusiastic about sticking with your exercise program, and being more physically active overall!
Who Can Benefit from B12 Supplementation?
The benefits of B12 supplements or injections for weight loss are most significant for individuals with a vitamin B12 deficiency. Those most at risk for a deficiency include:
Vegans and vegetarians – B12 is found naturally in animal products, so those on plant-based diets need to supplement their intake.
Older adults –The body’s ability to absorb B12 from food can decrease with age.
People with certain medical conditions – Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, pernicious anemia and other chronic conditions can cause malabsorption of B12.
Individuals on certain medications – Long-term use of drugs like metformin and some heartburn medications can interfere with B12 absorption.
Why Food Sources and Over-the-Counter B12 Supplements May Not Be Effective
The recommended daily intake (RDI) of vitamin B12 is 6 micrograms per day. Vitamin B12 is naturally found in animal products, including fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products. It is estimated, however, that 85% of us don’t receive the daily recommended requirement of B12 from our diet.
One reason for vitamin B12 deficiency is poor absorption during the digestive process. Basically, you can be consuming B12 in your diet and even supplementing with B12 tablets, but your body isn’t completely absorbing it. Moreover, as mentioned earlier, the capacity to absorb vitamin B12 diminishes with age.
Vitamin B12 injections are the most effective way to achieve optimum B12 absorption so that you get its full benefits. By taking an injection, you are bypassing the GI tract and allowing for 100 percent absorption and bioavailability (available to be used by the body). There are several forms of B12. Solutions Weight Loss prefers to use Methylcobalamin, the most active and most stable form of B12.
B12 can be injected intramuscularly or subcutaneous. While less common, subcutaneous injections are much easier to do and equally effective. With subcutaneous injections, the needle is inserted just below the skin into abdominal fat. Because our B12 is more concentrated, you will only need to inject a small amount to get the full dose of 500 mcg. If you choose to make vitamin B12 injections part of your personalized Solutions Weight Loss program, we will teach you to self-inject at home. While a weekly injection is typically recommended, there may be some exceptions that require fewer or more injections.
Don’t be Average! B12 with Solutions Weight Loss!
Vitamin B12 injections are a safe, proven, effective way to support your medical weight loss program. As mentioned earlier, over-the-counter supplements in pill or capsule form aren’t completely absorbed by the body, and their quality can be inconsistent among manufacturers. Most importantly, your B12 injections will be part of your personalized, individual medical weight loss program planned by William E. Newsome, M.D. – Medical Director and co-owner of Solutions Weight Loss
Dr. Newsome will tailor a weight loss program based on your individual needs during an in-office appointment. During your first appointment, he will measure your body mass index (BMI), take your vital signs (body temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure) and talk with you about your medical history to learn about any health conditions you’ve had or currently have.
During this appointment, Dr. Newsome will also have an in-depth conversation with you about your weight loss goals. If you feel frustrated by the lack of results and setbacks from previous weight loss programs you’ve tried, Dr. Newsome has been where you are – and knows that losing excess weight is a difficult and emotional process.
He also knows that the doctor-patient relationship is essential to successful, sustainable weight loss. Dr. Newsome and our entire Solutions Weight Loss team are with you on every step of your medically supervised weight loss journey! You’ll never feel that you’re on your own. You will know us, and we will know you – which allows us to give you the individual help and advice you need, whenever you need it!
Our team is committed to offering safe, effective and personalized weight loss solutions to help you achieve lasting results. We offer brand-name GLP-1 medications, including Zepbound® and Wegovy® through our GLP-1 Prescription Program! This allows you to receive a written prescription for popular medications that are FDA-approved for chronic weight management. Simply take the prescription to the pharmacy of your choice.
For those who have a medical need requiring a more tailored approach, we offer high-quality, compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide. This treatment is customized to meet individual needs on a case-by-case basis and can be easily dispensed right in the office.
If a GLP-1 medication is not suitable for you, we offer Phentermine, the most well-known FDA-approved oral appetite suppressant for over 60 years, which has helped countless people achieve substantial weight loss throughout the years.
Our Record in Getting Results for Our Patients
Solutions Weight Loss internal results prove our medically supervised program is effective at driving long-term improvements to metabolic health and weight loss, with an average of 21% weight loss at 12 months; 19.1% at 18 months, and 18.9% at 24 months. Our members have also decreased their waist circumference by 7 inches, on average. These results are superior to the weight loss seen in clinical trials for GLP-1 medications. Regardless of which medication they take, our members have demonstrated significant and sustained results!
See what makes Solutions Weight Loss the #1 weight loss clinic in Florida! Schedule your consultation with Dr. Newsome here, or call 407-413-5503, and experience the benefits of his approach to sustainable weight loss! Don’t wait another day to start living your best life!
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