Ask TAPN: Should I get a B12 shot?

 I saw an advert for vitamin B12 shots at a doctor’s office. Should I get it if I want to lose weight?

T.L. Canada

TL,

Vitamin B12 helps in weight loss by increasing metabolism and helping in the release of energy. The best sources of Vitamin B12 in the diet are poultry, eggs, fish and dairy. For this reason, people who eat animal products are rarely deficient in the vitamin and therefore do not need any supplementation. Vegans (people who do not consume any animal products) however, tend to be deficient since they have very limited sources of Vitamin B12. With the exception of fortified cereals and brewers’ yeast, there are not that many non-animal vitamin B12 sources. Consequently, vegans would benefit from Vitamin B12 shots or supplements. Is there any benefit of getting the shot if you consume animal products and are not deficient? Probably not! Vitamin B12 is water-soluble meaning that your body does not store it. It only absorbs what it needs and excretes the rest in urine. Talk about flushing money down the toilet!