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What is Vitamin B12? Vitamin B12 is an essential compound that we get from animal based food sources. It's essential to maintain the normal functioning of the brain, nervous system and the processes involved in producing red blood cells. Sub-optimal levels of B12 can lead the body to express symptoms of tiredness, fatigue, malaise, poor memory and reduced mental function, also referred to as 'mental fog'. Found naturally in meat, poultry, eggs and milk, Vitamin B12 is also a key component of many oral vitamin supplements, aimed at increasing energy levels. Because the vitamin is water-soluble it quickly leaves the body in our urine via our kidneys, meaning that we need regular amounts. It's not harmful in high doses and plays a vital role alongside other vitamins and minerals in optimising the various processes within the body. Vitamin B12 supplementation is essential for those following a plant based diet. Why an injection? Vitamin B12 can be found in animal based foods, fortified foods such as cereals and through oral vitamin supplements. The problem can be, however, that the digestive system isn't always efficient at absorbing the compound, meaning a large amount can simply pass straight through unabsorbed. Taking certain medicines regularly can cause this, just as having certain bowel complaints can too. If we deliver the medicine directly into the deltoid muscle at the top of the arm we dramatically increase the usable amount available to the cells in our body; this is the benefit of intramuscular supplementation. One injection may provide several weeks and months worth of benefit without the need to take a daily vitamin B12 supplement, given the amount administered each time. Browse our FAQ page for more information. How much do we need? The recognised 'normal' level of B12 in the UK is considerably lower than the 'normal' levels suggested in countries such as America, Canada and Japan. It's also quite common for people with a blood test reading above these 'normal' levels to still experience the symptoms of a deficiency. That's why VitaJab provides intramuscular supplementation for non-medicinal purposes to those that pass our medical screen and feel as though they have symptoms of malaise, fatigue or mental fog. Our ethos is that being free of disease does not mean we are optimally healthy. Combining this mantra with the above information leads us to suggest that we should aim for our bodies to be rich in B12. If you are leading a healthy lifestyle that involves balanced nutrition, exercise and rest, but still feel tired, fatigued or not quite as mentally sharp as you’d like to be, why not see if a regular B12 injection can help you?