Vitamin B-12 is a water-soluble vitamin we naturally get from animal foods, such as meat, poultry, eggs, dairy products, and shellfish. The body uses vitamin B-12 to increase its metabolic rate, help form red blood cells, and maintain the efficient function of the central nervous system.

Most young people do not have problems with their body’s vitamin B-12 stores. However, as we age, we tend to have a diminishing ability to absorb vitamin B-12 from the food we eat. In fact, according to MedLinePlus, it is common for people aged 60 years old and above to have an impaired absorption of vitamin B-12, resulting in:

• anemia
• neurologic problems
• slow metabolism
• loss of balance
• weakness
• tingling or numbness of the extremities

High quality vitamin testing can help you and your medical professionals determine if these and other symptoms you may be experiencing are due to micronutrient deficiency. But, since studies show that more than four out of ten Americans are low in B-12, a vitamin B-12 injection is often the solution for people who want to have an energy boost and improve their metabolism (the body’s chemical and physical processes that use blood glucose and stored fats for energy). Vitamin B-12 injections are so effective in improving metabolism it can be used as a weight loss shot. However, when combined together with lipotropic agents they can be even more effective. Lipotropics are chemical compounds that help catalyze the breakdown of fat and prevent fatty deposits on the liver. Some common lipotropics that are combined with B-12 are methionine, choline, and inositol.

Meet the lipotropics

Lipotropics are special body chemicals, also known as metabolites, that help liquefy fats within the body. Three kinds of lipotropics are used together with vitamin B-12 to produce a weight loss effect, namely:

Methionine

Methionine is one of the essential amino acids not produced by the body. It is important for the body’s normal metabolism and growth [2]. Because methionine is also a lipotropic agent, it helps the liver process fats, thereby preventing the accumulation of excess fats on the liver. Aside from its metabolic effect, methionine can also help prevent delayed skin hypersensitivity reaction (an inflammatory reaction), says a study published by ActaDermato-venereologica[3].

Choline

Choline is not just a lipotropic agent that improves liver health by helping it process and dispose of chemical wastes and cholesterol , but it also helps to metabolism fat within the body. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) now recognizes choline as an essential nutrient needed to preserve cell structure and facilitate brain chemical synthesis [4]. Studies show that the majority of people have less than optimal intake of choline from their diet. As a result, many are suffering from debilitating health problems, such as neurological diseases, muscle damage, atherosclerosis, and liver diseases.

Inositol

Inositol is a basic component of vitamin B complex. It plays an important part in the development of cell membranes, metabolism of fat, and reduction of cholesterol levels within the blood. Inositol also aids in the regulation of serotonin, a brain chemical that controls the appetite and mood. Studies reveal that inositol can help improve patients with mood problems (such as bipolar mood disorder and panic attacks) who have concomitant psoriatic lesions, a skin condition that causes the skin cells to build up and become scaly and itchy [5].

Conclusion:

A weight loss shot that contain vitamin B-12 and lipotropic agents is an effective aid for people who want to lose weight – especially with proper weight loss nutrition. However, aside from weight loss, people who use B-12 shots can also reap other healthful benefits, such as:

• Improved mood and disposition
• Better energy
• Reduced skin hypersensitivity
• Improved sleep
• Healthier immune system
• Healthier skeletal muscles
• Better cardiovascular health

If you are experiencing symptoms such as these, or others, it may be wise for you to have get good micronutrient testing or nutrition testing to confirm if your body is getting what it needs for optimal health.