To answer this question a little back ground is in order. A healthy adult with a well balanced diet never has to worry about Vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 is found in all animal based food products, meats, dairy, eggs, fish, cheese and any other product that comes from animals. So in absence of illness that would prevent the absorption of Vitamin B12, deficiency is unlikely.

Vegetarians
Of all the represented groups that do not have a disease, vegetarians run the greatest risk of suffering from Vitamin B12 deficiency. The onset is typically about two years after the person becomes a vegetarian. Some vegetarians never realize the health implications of abstaining from animal products. There are important nutrients that the body cannot function without found in animal products. Supplementing the diet with Vitamin B12 supplements will prevent the Vitamin B12 deficiency. In some cases the vegetarian is faced with a twofold problem, a low ability to absorb Vitamin B12 that was preexisting and the lack of animal products in the diet, which supplies no Vitamin B12 at all. The vegetarian that suffers two fold will very likely face a Vitamin B12 Deficiency.

The onset of the illness will occur in about two years from the time the decision is made to abstain from animal products, a smart medical professional will do a brief history and once it is determined that the sick person is a vegetarian a simple blood test will be taken to determine the Vitamin B12 levels. In some instances the vegetarian will be misdiagnosed because of a too brief background investigation. Treatments will probably include Vitamin B12 shots to regulate the levels. The shots will be given every other day for around two weeks than on a monthly basis.

Disease and Medication
There are a couple of diseases that are linked to the inability to absorb Vitamin B12. Pernicious Anemia is one of those diseases. Pernicious Anemia destroys the cells in the stomach that absorb Vitamin B12, in the case of Pernicious Anemia the Vitamin B12 deficiency is immediate, the treatment is Vitamin B12 shots in high doses which sometimes help and sometimes does not help, the theory is that if the Vitamin B12 is present at very high levels at least some of it will be absorbed. Some folks have very high levels of homocysteine an amino acid (although not actually a disease) that also prevents the absorption of Vitamin B12.

There are some medications that are used for the treatment of heartburn and ulcers that also may cause trouble with the absorption of Vitamin B12 resulting in Vitamin B12 deficiency, typically the onset of the Vitamin B12 deficiency will occur within about twelve months of starting the medication. The medication slowly erodes the body’s ability to absorb Vitamin B12.

Vitamin B12 deficiency usually goes undetected for a great deal of time, many people are misdiagnosed with other diseases, because it is rather rare unless the previous situations listed exist. It is very difficult to pinpoint exactly how long it takes to become deficient in Vitamin B12. There is usually no baseline information to compare the results to, so it is purely guess work.

The benefits of Vitamin B 12 have been long known. During the nineteen sixties and seventies Vitamin B 12 shots were frequently offered at the family Doctor’s office to assist with a list of ailments, it was a very common practice than during the nineteen eighties and nineties it was kind of shelved as other products were more prevalently offered to treat ailments. Vitamin B12 is a complex combination of necessary nutrients that sustains metabolism and assists in the production of red blood cells, a Vitamin B12 deficiency is often misdiagnosed as a slew of illnesses. A simple blood test can determine if there is a Vitamin B12 deficiency but it is often overlooked. There are primarily two ways to insure that the Vitamin B12 levels are sufficient. The first way is the simplest, through a well rounded diet; the second way is through supplements.

Delivery Methods of Vitamin B12
There are quite a few delivery methods of Vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 can be delivered via, tablets, capsules, sublingual drops, patches and shots. The most common form of delivery is through tablets, capsules and pills. It is the simplest and most common way for folks to take a Vitamin B 12 supplement. Oddly enough it is the least effective way of taking Vitamin B 12. The body usually does not recognize the pill as nutrients and it passes through the system without much absorption taking place. There are some Vitamin B12 tablets that are manufactured from crushed food particles, studies show that the crushed food particle tablets are absorbed better than the traditional tablets.
Vitamin B12 sublingual drops are one of the most effective delivery methods of Vitamin B 12. The drops are placed under the tongue and quickly absorbed into the blood stream by the many arteries that are located under the tongue. The most effective artificial delivery method of Vitamin B 12 is the Vitamin B 12 shots. All of these methods will deliver supplemental Vitamin B 12 to the body, but they are all artificial methods of delivering Vitamin B 12. Most people will get all the Vitamin B 12 they need from the food they eat as long as they eat it in appropriate quantities.

List Of Foods
Vitamin B 12 is generally found in foods that are derived from animal products, it is not generally found in vegetation. The following is a brief list of food that naturally contain Vitamin B 12:

1 Beef Liver
2 Beef Steak
3 Ground Beef
4 Trout
5 Salmon
6 Haddock
7 Tuna
8 Ham and Other Pork Products
9 Chicken
10 Cheeses
11 Eggs
12 Whole Milk

As part of a well rounded diet Vitamin B 12 can be easily absorbed and processed by the body. The body easily recognizes the nutrients when they come from food. Diets that are high in low fat animal products will supply the body with an ample amount of Vitamin B12 and in absence of a medical condition should be a sufficient supply according to the Recommended Daily Allowances according to published reports by the US Department of Agriculture.

Vitamin B12 benefits have been proven scientifically. The science behind the vitamin b12 benefits has prompted vitamin b12 to be produced in all types of forms. There are injectable forms of vitamin b12 and there are ingestible forms of vitamin b12. The use of vitamin b12 as an elixir for all types of physical maladies is nothing new. The practice of using vitamin b12 has been around for quite some time.

Vitamin B12 Benefits

Vitamin b12 benefits are numerous and span from the youngest members of society to the oldest. Vitamin b12 benefits for the body include:

• Keeping melatonin levels up
• Alleviating depression
• Treatment for Alzheimer’s
• Treatment of asthma in children
• Support and increase the immune system in adults and children
• Increased metabolic rate

It would seem that the vitamin b12 benefits run the gamut of health issues. Vitamin b12 benefits may also include the treatment of HIV, the precursor to AIDS.

How Does Vitamin B12 Work?

Vitamin b12 is actually separate b vitamins. There is thiamine, riboflavin, biotin and folic acid amongst others. These individual vitamins work on different structures of the human body. These vitamins are utilized by the body on a molecular level and are used in the production of red blood cells, immunity cells, muscle fibers and other molecular structures. The vitamin b12 is an integral part of the chemical makeup of the human body.

Where Does it Come From?

Vitamin b12 is normally received through food sources. Most diets provide enough vitamin b12 on a daily basis. There are some diseases that deplete the body of vitamin b12. Pernicious anemia is a condition where the vitamin b12 found in diets is not enough, and supplements need to be taken. With pernicious anemia the body does not process the vitamin b12 the way it is supposed to, so supplements are introduced to increase the amount of vitamin b12 in the body with the hope that the overwhelming amount will cause some of the vitamin b12 to be absorbed. Vitamin b12 benefits can be realized with the minimal amounts that are require each day. Supplementing vitamin b12 may or may not increase the benefits of vitamin b12. A medical professional is a good source to use to determine in vitamin b12 benefits will increase with the use of a supplement to the diet.

Vitamin B12 Supplements

Vitamin b12 supplements can be purchased at any health food store, grocery store, drug store or warehouse discount store. Supplements usually come in pill or liquid form. Vitamin b12 benefits are clear and if the diet is not providing the recommended daily allowance than supplements would be a good choice.

Vitamin b12 for anemia is a sound treatment option. Anemia is a disorder of the blood that affects almost thirty percent of all women – although it is not exclusively relevant to women it just seems to affect them more.

Anemia

Anemia is a deficiency in the blood it is a reduction in the red blood count. It is typically associated with an iron deficiency and the course of treatment usually involves prescribing iron supplements, but there is anemia that is completely caused by a vitamin b12 deficiency. Anemia can result in fatigue, dizziness and lowered immunity. Treatment applications usually can sure anemia over the course of a period of time.

Why Vitamin B12?

Anemia is thought to be caused by iron deficiency in the blood, but vitamin b12 is an intrinsic ingredient in the production of red blood cells. Vitamin b12 for anemia taken in conjunction with iron supplements can speed the recovery time. Vitamin b12 can also result in anemia that is not associated with iron poor blood. Vitamin b12 anemia is that there are simply not enough red blood cells in the blood to carry oxygen to vital organs. Vitamin b12 is an important nutrient and usually is sufficiently supplied to the body through the diet. Vegetarians may not receive enough vitamin b12 through the diet because vitamin b12 is not found in substantial amounts in non animal foods. There are other reasons that there may not be enough vitamin b12 in the body to help produce red blood cells. There may be a medical reason in the form of disease. Crohn’s disease prevents vitamin b12 from being absorbed along with bacterial growth in the small intestines and pernicious anemia. There are medications that may prevent the absorption of vitamin b12, typically these medications are associated with heartburn and stomach ulcer medications. Treating the type of anemia that is associated with vitamin b12 deficiency is simply upping the vitamin b12 intake.

Treatment Options

Vitamin b12 for anemia can be delivered in several different ways. There are inject able vitamin b12 supplements that usually require a doctor office visit, there are over the counter vitamin b12 supplements that come in a variety of delivery methods. The over the counter vitamin b12 for anemia options can include, pills, lozenges, drops and patches. There are also prescription strength vitamin b12 supplements and shots for anemia options. The prescription strength options will also require a visit to the doctor’s office.

Prevention

Preventing anemia that is related to vitamin b12 deficiency is a very simple task that can be accomplished by simply adjusting the diet to include foods that are rich in vitamin b12. Supplements can also be taken to head off any potential problems.

Vitamin b12 for anemia can solve the issue, and can result in feeling better and better overall health.

Vitamin b12 shots for weight loss are the new trend in weight loss programs. Vitamin b12 is vital to metabolism and energy.

The Theory

The theory behind vitamin b12 shots for weight loss is that many diets fail because the dieter feels sluggish during the diet; vitamin b12 raises the metabolism so the dieter will not have these side effects. In reality, this may or may not be true.

The Practice

Vitamin b12 shots for weight loss do not induce weight loss but instead assists the dieter with feeling motivated to stick to a diet. Vitamin b12 shots for weight loss are used in conjunction with a low carbohydrate diet. Typically carbohydrates provide the body with energy. Unfortunately most people do not seek out the healthy low-glycemic carbohydrates that release energy over time but instead choose the carbohydrates with high-glycemic values that release a burst of energy than store the rest as fat. This practice piles weight on. Low carbohydrate diets are geared toward teaching the body how to value the carbohydrates and to keep the body from storing the carbohydrates as fat. A low carbohydrate diet will initially result in less energy leaving the body craving for more carbohydrates, so in place of more carbohydrates the body is supplied additional natural energy in the form of a vitamin b12 shot for weight loss. The vitamin b12 shot for weight loss should satisfy the body’s desire for additional carbohydrates.

Does It Work?

Whether it works or not all depends on who is asked. If someone is asked that has lost weight whether the vitamin b12 shot for weight loss worked, they will agree that it does work. Asking someone who has not lost much weight if the vitamin b12 shot worked they may disagree. There is not enough scientific study to really determine either way.

How To Find the Vitamin b12 shot for Weight Loss

There are medical diet centers across the United States that are staffed with medical professionals that offer the vitamin b12 shot for weight loss. These centers can be located in the local yellow pages and online. Typing in vitamin b12 shot for weight loss into any online search engine will bring up additional information and a directory or providers.
Cost will include the vitamin b12 shot  and the visits that are needed to participate in the program.

Although food sources of B12 are considerably many and varied, most happen to be (if not all true sources) proteins, which means animal products. This is why so many vegans and vegetarians are at risk for a B12 deficiency. However, those items high in B12 are also fairly well known for their ability to add toxicity to the body. The RDA does not recommend much red meat or seafood high in mercury as part of the daily diet, but these are the items which possess the highest B12 values.

For example the items which are highest in the amount of B12 would be canned mollusks and clams in liquid – averaging 500 mcg of B12 (They average around 134 mcg of B12 if in a raw, unprocessed state). These widely popular foods are often extremely high in mercury and can actually be detrimental to your health if you eat too many.

Same sort of problems occur with meat. The meats highest in B12 would be lamb, beef and moose variety meats, by-products and internal organs such as kidneys, liver and even the brain (cooked and uncooked). These items average between 130 mcg to 85 mcg of B12 per type of protein. Most of these meat items however are too high in toxins to be consumed on a daily basis. In fact eating too many of these items too often will result in the individual developing a case of gout – arthritis like stiffening of the joints caused by the buildup of too many uric acid crystals.

Surprisingly however there are items which are both high in B12 and are safer to eat on a regular basis. Certain Alaskan fish such as whitefish and eggs each contain around 108 mcg of B12, while also providing omega-3s, healthy cholesterol and even choline. These are the sorts of items which may replace the unhealthier version of protein in your diet while delivering optimum dosages of the vitamin.

Ocean fish brings much less B12 – averaging around 2 mcgs of the vitamins. This is about the same as most cheeses, lean young fresh ground meat, crustaceans, and whey. The best option for a B12 rich diet is to consume plenty of dairy, egg and healthy fish sources very often, while enjoying the hotdog, the burger, the liver spread, ocean fish and mollusks should be left for a treat to keep your system healthy and strong.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Vitamin B12 is the only vitamin that is not known to have toxic effects even when taken in large doses. Patients with anemia have been given 1,000 mcg monthly injections to treat vitamin B12 deficiency without any side effects. However, for healthy individuals, large doses of vitamin B12 are not recommended. Healthy adults get enough of this vitamin from a balanced diet. Healthy adults are recommended to take one multivitamin daily that contains vitamin B12. Those at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency include the elderly and vegetarians. The elderly are at risk for atrophic gastritis, and vegetarians often need supplementation because vitamin B12 is found only in foods from animal products. A strict vegetarian diet which prohibits consumption of animal products can result in vitamin B12 deficiency.

Additional Supplementation

Patients with anemia cannot absorb vitamin B12 from food or oral supplements. Therefore, vitamin B12 injections are usually required to correct anemia and to prevent irreversible neurological damage. Patients who have had surgical removal of the stomach lack intrinsic factor which is produced in the stomach, so they cannot absorb vitamin B12 from food or supplements. Patients with resection of the small bowel may not be able to absorb vitamin B12 from food and supplements. Patients with a condition of food allergy to gluten that leads to atrophy of the small bowel lining may also not be able to absorb vitamin B12 from food and supplements. Also, some medications affect the absorption of vitamin B12 in the body. For example, medication used to control blood glucose levels with type II diabetes, treatment used to lower blood cholesterol levels, and also some medications used to control unexplained diarrhea have been known to inhibit the absorption of vitamin B12 from food.

The Need For Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is required for cell division and blood formation in the body. Neither plants nor animals can produce vitamin B12; it is produced by bacteria. Animals get the vitamin B12 they need by consuming food which contains the vitamin B12 producing bacteria. The plants we eat do not contain vitamin B12 unless the bacteria are present or vitamin B12 is added to them. Therefore, vegetarians need to look for fortified foods or supplements to get enough vitamin B12 in their diet. Though the daily amount of vitamin B12 needed is very small, vitamin B12 deficiency is a very serious problem that can lead eventually to anemia and irreversible nerve damage. Prudent vegetarians will include sources of vitamin B12 in their diet. Vitamin B12 is especially important during pregnancy and lactation, and for infants and children.

Sources of Vitamin B12 For Vegetarians

Some sources of vitamin B12 are vitamin B12 fortified soymilk, vitamin B12 fortified wheat gluten, and soybeans. These vegetarian products are often made to resemble meat, fish, or poultry. Also, there are vitamin supplements available that do not contain animal products. Vegetarians who choose to use a vitamin B12 supplement, either as a single supplement or in a multivitamin, must remember to use the supplements regularly for them to be effective. In order to meet the body’s needs, one should take a daily vitamin B12 supplement of approximately 5-10 micrograms, or a weekly vitamin B12 supplement of approximately 2000 micrograms.