Cobalamin for Weight Loss

Cobalamin, also called cyanocobalamin, is the name for the synthetic version of vitamin B12, a compound that, within the body, is important for growth and metabolic regulation. A number of weight loss centers administer cobalamin injections to dieters as a way to help stimulate and promote weight loss; however, there are a number of side effects and possible problems connected with these injections, and many critics claim the supplemental cobalamin does not have any effect on successful weight loss.

Cobalamin

Cobalamin is vitamin B12, a vitamin found in dairy products, meat and fish and poultry but which can also be manufactured in the laboratory. Cobalamin, and all other forms of Vitamin B12, contain the mineral cobalt as part of their essential structure. Cobalamin is essential for the body to function properly; if a person becomes deficient in the vitamin, he may suffer from fatigue, constipation, anemia, loss of balance, depression and neurological problems like poor memory, difficulty concentrating and dementia.

Function

Within the body, cobalamin is responsible for regulating growth, blood production and the reproduction and synthesis of cells, certain types of proteins and tissues. It is also needed as a cofactor in the synthesis of compounds that are required in fat and protein metabolism. Medically, it is often used to treat pernicious anemia, a disease in which the gastric tissues in the digestive system stop functioning and die, often resulting in serious vitamin B12 deficiencies because the vitamin can no longer be absorbed.

Cobalamin Injections

Since cobalamin's function is normally associated with the regulation of the metabolism, many weight loss programs offer injections of the vitamin as a way to boost your metabolic rate and increase your body's speed and efficiency at burning fat. Some also believe that cobalamin injections can increase your endurance when exercising and enhance your ability to lose more weight from exercise.

Side Effects

Common side effects of cobalamin use include an upset stomach, diarrhea, headache, weakness, dizziness, a numb or tingling sensation, fever, pain in the joints, the development of an itchy rash, nausea and redness and swelling at the place on the skin where the injection was given. Seek immediate medical attention if the symptoms of an allergic reaction develop after a cobalamin injection: difficulty breathing; a rapid heartbeat; muscle weakness; unusual and rapid swelling, especially of the face or tongue; chest pain; hives; and a feeling of extreme warmth or pain in one of your limbs.

Considerations

According to the Mayo Clinic, there is no clinical scientific evidence to support the idea that injections of cobalamin can help stimulate weight loss. Additionally, supplemental cobalamin can cause serious conditions to develop in certain individuals who suffer from Leber's disease, a condition that affects the function of the optic nerve. These individuals may damage their optic nerves and become blind if they use cobalamin. Those with an allergy to cobalt should also avoid the vitamin injections since they can result in a life-threatening reaction. People with an iron or folic acid deficiency, kidney disease, liver disease or people receiving treatment for bone marrow problems should avoid cobalamin injections, as well as anyone suffering from an infection.