What is
Injection Therapy ?
Current health trends are proving we need something more than the traditional approach to “supplementing” a healthy diet. The diagnosis of disease both physical and mental is on the rise while our nutritional status continues to decline. This pattern has put our society at the unhealthiest state in history, and it is getting worse!
We are now at a point where nutritional supplements are becoming requirements due to nutrient deficiencies. Ongoing research is finding injectable nutritional therapies are important for many disease states and could be essential to slow the steady decline of societal health. Over the last 10 years there has been a change in the approach to handling nutrient deficiencies.
At first glance, oral dietary supplements appear to be the most convenient and effective method of correcting nutritional deficiencies, but recent investigation into the nutrient supplement industry found that not all supplements are created equal. Many consumers are finding comfort in vitamin injections because of their better absorption, and the compounding pharmacies that are manufacturing them are highly regulated.
Why Vitamin Injections?
Better Absorption/Bioavailability: Oral supplements must first be broken down in the digestive tract and absorbed by the body before the active ingredients can begin to exert their effects. In addition, low quality nutrients and cheap fillers can decrease the bio-availability of supplements, greatly reducing intestinal absorption, resulting in unpredictable levels of the active ingredients reaching the bloodstream.
Vitamin Injections, however, provide direct delivery of nutrients into the body’s tissues, ensuring 100% absorption of the active ingredients. When administering Vitamin Injections, you can be assured that your patients are receiving the exact dosage of the nutrients you have prescribed which are immediately available for utilization by the body.
Rapid Onset of Action: Oral supplements must first undergo digestion, absorption and metabolism before any nutrients are released into the bloodstream. This process can take hours before the active ingredients start to become available to target tissues.
Unlike the oral route, the injectable administration of nutrients is a rapid method of dietary supplementation. Following the injection of vitamin supplements, the body can start to utilize the active ingredients immediately in order to correct dietary deficiencies.
In contrast, vitamin injections avoid the first-pass effect. Consequently, the active ingredients are not subjected to the extensive metabolism encountered by oral supplements, resulting in higher levels of nutrients actually reaching their target tissues.
No First-Pass Metabolism: Once absorbed by the digestive system, oral supplements are heavily metabolized by gastrointestinal tissues and liver before being released into systemic circulation. This process, called first-pass metabolism, greatly reduces the amount of active ingredients available to the body.
In contrast, vitamin injections avoid the first-pass effect. Consequently, the active ingredients are not subjected to the extensive metabolism encountered by oral supplements, resulting in higher levels of nutrients actually reaching their target tissues.
Less Frequent Dosing: Because of low bioavailability and extensive metabolism, oral supplements must be dosed frequently to be effective while still not correcting micronutrient deficiencies. Depending on the brand, some supplements require the patient to take several pills per day.
Vitamin injections, on the other hand, are completely absorbed and avoid extensive metabolism, providing higher concentrations of nutrients available to target tissues. In addition, intramuscular injections create a depot effect in which the active ingredients are released progressively over time in a steady-state manner. Therefore, vitamin injections require less frequent dosing than oral supplements.
Value in Quality: In summary, unlike oral dietary supplements, vitamin injections contain the highest quality ingredients at the correct potencies without fillers or contaminants. Following administration, the active ingredients are completely absorbed by the body and do not undergo first-pass metabolism. The nutrients are immediately available for utilization to correct nutritional deficiencies. Because of the depot effect and the fact that more of the nutrients reach target tissues, vitamin injections require less frequent dosing than oral supplements.
In our medical clinics, we do micro-nutrient testing and many of the clients that have diagnostic test results showing nutrient deficiencies are on regular regimens of oral supplements. Once on nutrient injections or intravenous therapies, these deficiencies can be overcome.
Our Vitamin Injection Menu
*Keep an eye out for this menu to change!
Happy B: $30
Improve mood, memory, sleep, and reenergize with B12.
B12 Blast: $45
Get twice the benefits of the B12 shot plus Folate.
Sunshine: $35
25,000 IU Vitamin D3 - Kick your immune system into gear and avoid getting sick.
Meta-Boost: $50
Get energized and jump start your metabolism to burn fat.
Detox: $45
Increase your body’s ability to detox and recover from stress.
Energy Blast: $45
Increase vitality and get that energy flowin’!
Vitamin Injection FAQs
What is Vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin that is water-soluble and not produced in the body. Your body does not make vitamin B12; it must come from your diet. For the body to utilize vitamin B12, it must be absorbed in the ileum of the small intestine with the help of intrinsic factor, a substance secreted by the stomach.
Why Get A Vitamin B12 Injection?
Injections bypass the digestive tract and can cross the blood-brain barrier. As a result, injectable vitamin B12 has a direct route to the cells, it is readily metabolized, and you will feel the benefits faster.
Benefits of Vitamin B12 injections:
· Increased energy and metabolism
· Enhanced neurological health
· Minimized seasonal and environmental allergies
· Decreased irritability (PMS, hormonal imbalances)
· Enhanced vascular health
· Improved athletic endurance
· Helps stabilize symptoms associated with depression, anxiety and mood disorders
· May benefit patients with nervous system or endocrine disorders such as; MS, diabetes, seizures, restless leg syndrome, thyroid disorders, and adrenal fatigue
What are symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency?
Fatigue, nerve pain, sleep disturbances, mood disorders, cognitive decline, and tremors.
Who is most likely to have low Vitamin B12 levels?
Vegetarians, vegans, people 50 years old and older, people who drink alcohol, people with digestive issues, anyone who is regularly taking medications known to affect B12 absorption such as Prilosec/Tums, or anyone who has recently had a medical procedure using nitrous oxide.
Do I need to make an appointment to get an injection at Niwot Natural Medicine?
No. We do not schedule appointments specifically for injections. They are offered on a “walk in” basis. However, you can always add an injection on to your previously scheduled appointment.
How long does it take to get an injection?
Clients are usually in and out within 5-20 minutes. However this can vary day by day.
New to injections and not sure what shot to get?
Dr. Malcolm or Kat Dunbar will do a brief intake where she will listen to your health concerns, allergies and health goals and will recommend a shot for that visit. These recommendations may vary week to week.
I want to speak more in-depth with Dr. Malcolm, when is a good time to do that?
Doctor Malcolm wants to speak more in-depth with you, too! Unfortunately, during a walk-in there is only time for a 5 minute consultation. If you would like to speak with Doctor Malcolm about specific health issues, goals and ailments, schedule an appointment at the front desk!
Who administers the injections?
Dr. Janine Malcolm, RND, L.Ac. and Kat Dunbar, L.Ac. administer the injections at Niwot Natural Medicine.
Can kids get B12 injections too?
While vitamin B12 is completely safe and necessary for kids, Niwot Natural Medicine does not administer injections to people under 13 years of age. All patients under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a guardian. All children should consult with Dr. Janine Malcolm during a patient care appointment.
How much Vitamin B12 do I need?
Everyone’s optimal level of vitamin B12, obtained through a blood test is unique. On average the value of >600 pg/ml is sufficient, but at Niwot Natural Medicine we prefer >900 pg/ml for optimal wellness.
In which foods is Vitamin B12 found?
Large amounts are found in liver, beef, salmon, trout, tuna, sardines, and clams. Smaller amounts are available in eggs, yogurt, cheese, and fortified cereal products.
How quickly do you notice results from Vitamin B12 injections?
Usually, results are felt within the first shot, unless you are significantly deficient in vitamin B12.
How long will injected B12 remain in my body?
The length of time that B12 from the injection remains in one’s body varies from person to person. It depends on the person’s lifestyle, and if they had a B12 deficiency to begin with.
For how many weeks do I need to receive B12 injections?
We recommend getting an injection once a week for five weeks to start. At the end of this cycle, review with Dr. Malcolm the improvements to your health, your overall health goals, and determine an appropriate schedule for future injections. Everyone has unique health needs and goals.
What form of Vitamin B12 do you use at Niwot Natural Medicine?
We use Methylcobalamin and Hydroxocobalamin which are the superior, most bioactive forms of injectable vitamin B12.
Where do you source the ingredients of your injections?
We get out injectable vitamin solutions from various compounding pharmacies.
Are there side effects from vitamin B12 injections?
A small bruise and/or soreness at the injection site are completely normal. The bruise should fade as any normal bruise would. The soreness will also go away in 1-3 days. There are no known toxic side effects when B12 is administered at appropriate levels. Allergic reactions can happen with any intramuscular injection. Those who administer and oversee the injections at Niwot Natural Medicine, are trained and prepared to treat any reaction.
Will a Vitamin B12 injection interfere with my medications?
No. There are no known contraindications with any medications.
Can I get labs to measure my Vitamin B12 level?
Yes, we recommend measuring B12, homocysteine, and MMA to determine the most accurate level of vitamin B12 in your body. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Malcolm if you would like her to help you with labs.