Vitamin B12 is often associated with energy, but its role in the body goes much further than simply helping you feel less tired.
It is an essential vitamin involved in healthy red blood cells, the nervous system and DNA production. Unlike some vitamins, your body cannot make B12 itself, so it needs to come from your diet or supplements.
Why is Vitamin B12 important?
Vitamin B12 helps your body:
- Produce healthy red blood cells
- Maintain normal functioning of the nervous system
- Support normal energy metabolism
- Produce DNA
- Process certain amino acids and fatty acids
A genuine B12 deficiency can therefore affect several different systems in the body.
What can low B12 feel like?
Symptoms vary and can have many other causes, but B12 deficiency may be associated with:
- Unusual tiredness or weakness
- Pins and needles
- A sore or red tongue
- Mouth ulcers
- Problems with memory or concentration
- Changes in vision or balance in more significant deficiency
Because these symptoms aren’t specific to B12 deficiency, feeling tired doesn’t automatically mean that you need B12.
Will B12 give everyone an energy boost?
Not necessarily.
If your B12 levels are adequate, having additional B12 isn’t a guaranteed way to suddenly feel more energetic.
Persistent tiredness can have many causes, including poor sleep, stress, iron deficiency, thyroid problems and other medical conditions. It is important not to assume B12 is responsible without appropriate assessment.
Who is more likely to become deficient?
Some people are at greater risk of B12 deficiency, including those who eat little or no animal-derived food and people whose digestive system cannot absorb B12 effectively.
Certain medicines and medical conditions can also affect absorption.
If deficiency is suspected, appropriate medical assessment and blood testing can help establish whether B12 is actually the problem.
What about Vitamin B12 injections?
B12 injections can be an appropriate way of replacing B12 in people who require them.
However, they shouldn’t be viewed simply as a universal energy treatment. Whether B12 supplementation is appropriate depends on the individual and the reason it is being considered.
How Skin Tone Clinic can help
At Skin Tone Clinic, we believe treatments should be appropriate for the individual rather than offered simply because they are fashionable.
We provide professional advice and will discuss whether a treatment is suitable for you, as well as when assessment by your GP or another healthcare professional may be more appropriate.
Find Out More
If you’d like to discuss Vitamin B12 or the treatments available at Skin Tone Clinic, please contact us.
We’ll be happy to answer your questions and provide clear, professional advice about the options appropriate for you.
