Waiting For the B12 Kick!

by | Apr 17, 2023 | Running With Your Dog

Waiting For the B12 Kick!

I recently had a full medical examination; the results were good, except the blood tests identified that I had extremely low Vitamin B12.
Over the last two months, I knew something wasn’t right as I have felt very tired and quickly exhausted from office work. Given my running schedule, preparing for an Ultra Marathon in May, I had put this down to the demands of rigorous training.

I just started a series of B12 injections. My Dr. said I should feel it immediately, given my current levels. If you are vegan or vegetarian or don’t pay close attention to your diet, be sure to get regular blood tests so you can catch any issues quickly and rectify them.

Research has shown that female athletes may perform better with higher levels of B12.  Research has shown that athletes with poor absorption of B12 may see a decrease in performance across high-intensity activities.

  • What Role Does Vitamin B12 Play in the Body

    Vitamin B12 is essential for energy. It is also necessary for the development of

    • neural tissue and function,
    • folate metabolism
    • DNA synthesis
    • energy metabolism
    • new cell growth
    • conversion of homocysteine to methionine
    • immune system function
    • and red blood cell synthesis

How Do You Know If You Are Deficient in B12

First, most problems arrive from B12 absorption and not a deficiency in the diet.

Deficiency symptoms include:

  1. Pernicious anemia
  2. Fatigue
  3. Irritability
  4. Loss of appetite
  5. Constipation
  6. Headache
  7. Sore tongue. and sore tongue.

(Pernicious anemia is a disease that develops from inhibited absorption of B12. It can be treated with intravenous injections of B12.
Food Sources)

Dietary sources of vitamin B12

Primarily in animal products.

  • Lamb, beef, herring, mackerel, pork livers, oysters, poultry, clams, and eggs.

Vegans may need to supplement vitamin B12. Monitor your levels through blood testing to make sure if your levels are low you catch it before you feel the symptoms!