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Weight gain with SI B12

Sunnysidoop profile image
27 Replies

Hi everyone. Since I started SI methylcobalamin 6+ months ago I've put on weight, almost a stone. This is very unusual for me as my weight is normally very stable. Does anyone know if there's a mechanism by which this happens, or has anyone else experienced the same? It could be a coincidence of course but can't think of anything else that's changed.

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Sunnysidoop profile image
Sunnysidoop
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27 Replies
Jillymo profile image
Jillymo

Interesting - click on your link and look to the right of the page to read others postings with regard to weight gain. What a choice no life or blow up like a barrage balloon. 😭

wedgewood profile image
wedgewood

I have been reading posts on this forum for 9 years , and I’ve not seen weight gain mentioned . When one starts to feel better , one’s appetite often increases . But of course there could be another reason .

Best wishes .

Jillymo profile image
Jillymo in reply towedgewood

This is a strange one.

Where as others have reported weight loss there are other reportings of weight gain in posts to the right of the page.

I were just reading through them.

wedgewood profile image
wedgewood

I suppose feeling better after good treatment with B12 injections could lead to increased appetite . Could also lead to more activity. So weight gain and loss is possible . Or just another mystery

Jillymo profile image
Jillymo

I just googled the topic of weight gain ------

Does B12 injection increase weight?

Despite the numerous processes in which vitamin B12 is involved, there's little evidence to suggest that it has any influence on weight gain or loss.

I have read that many of the clinics that charge a vast amount of money for B12 injections claim weight loss.

Unfotunately not in my case.

Sunnysidoop profile image
Sunnysidoop

Thanks for your replies. There does seem to be a mix of weight gain and loss. If anything I am eating slightly less! I have always been naturally slim and often been able to eat like a horse, so this is quite perplexing. I wonder if the b12 is correcting a high metabolism

palmier profile image
palmier in reply toSunnysidoop

Perhaps the b12 has corrected an absorption problem, so that your uptake of nutrients has increased? Notice the difference between intake and uptake, what we eat is not necessarily what we absorb.

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan

Initially I lost a stone despite being bedridden and eating everything brought to me .Then gained that stone back.

In the last yesr ice put on a stone .

Never been this heavy.

Never had to think about my weight as have always stayed slim.

I'm unable to walk and cycle lije I used to .

But am doing far more than a year ago so doesn't really make sense.

Perhaps heading for a thyroid probl4m ???

Good idea to have that tested .

I've just had bloods done.

It is strange .

MrsTuft profile image
MrsTuft

I’ve put on 1.5 stone too and yet my diet and exercise are good. It’s a mystery!

CarlaEP profile image
CarlaEP

I have put weight on but untreated borderline low thyroid so maybe get it checked out. Don’t believe the ‘within normal limits’ as it should be near the top for hypothyroid

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply toCarlaEP

Near "the top? What reading do you mean.Interested.

topazrat profile image
topazrat

My P.A. diagnosis came just as I started the menopause and I gained over a stone, despite not eating more. Once the menopausal symptoms started to go away, the weight slowly dropped back off and I'm now back to where I started, so it would appear that the B12 wasn't to blame in my case.

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply totopazrat

I was stable . Then weight gain menopause then dropped off to before.Only in 5th year of b12 treatment has this weight gain happened ????

Metabolism must've slowed down.

No idea why

Palm_tree profile image
Palm_tree

My weight absolutely ballooned about three years ago and I've never been able to get it off - this was right around the time I had a course of five B12 injections. I've never gone back for more and I'm convinced it was those that did it, but I can never find any evidence to suggest it's a symptom

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply toPalm_tree

So how to you supplrmrn5 now to treat your b12 /PA?

Wwwdot profile image
Wwwdot

hi Sunysidoop

I have been self injecting every other day and I have lost 1 stone and gone down a size. It was totally unexpected but welcome!

I hope you find an answer.

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply toWwwdot

Same happened to me at that stage . I was too thin though .

Sea-blue profile image
Sea-blue

After SI B12 , my appetite is good . I always had a poor appetite prior to this and even ended up on meds because of it . Yes I’ve put on weight but I feel better about food so all good for me

Wwwdot profile image
Wwwdot in reply toSea-blue

I still have no appetite after 6 months of B12 - hopefully it will return.

Libuse profile image
Libuse

Have you been tested for ufor under active thyroid gland? If not request blood test. B12 deficiency can be a result of hypothyroidism as I discovered myself a few months ago,

ACritical profile image
ACritical

Same here, increased weight steadily since I started my Hydroxocobalamin injections. These improved my life no- end however when I look in the mirror I feel alien to that what I see. I tried numerous ways to reduce my weight…. Including intermittent fasting.. exercise regularly. To no avail. 😬

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply toACritical

If j was able to function properly the weight gain wouldn't bother me.But I've s long way to go yet.

mcg-woo profile image
mcg-woo

Hello, B12 deficiency can cause weight loss. I lost weight when I was B12 deficient and it was one of the perplexing symptoms. I had not tried to lose weight and I spent a lot of my time in the bed as I was exhausted.

What I had not realized is that the deficiency affected my taste buds and my appetite was low.. My mind wasn’t working well also and I wasn’t even realizing this was occurring.

Once I began B12 injections, my taste buds returned to normal and my appetite was restored. Ironically, weight loss centers in the US administer B12 to promote weight loss, but I think the shots are just giving people who are probably already low in b12 a boost of energy that helps them exercise and become more active. These folks are also following diets—the real reason for the weight loss.

I’ve never had issues with weight but as one gets older it can become a challenge as I’ve learned. Eat better and get more exercise, but it’s always easier said than done. Embrace your better state of health and be glad you are getting the treatment to heal yourself!

Technoid profile image
Technoid in reply tomcg-woo

The first thing to happen to me when I started treatment was an immediate improvement in my sense of smell and taste. I was astonished because I did not even realize anything was wrong in that respect, I could still taste and smell but the smells and flavors were much weaker, but it happened so slowly and subtly I never noticed what I was missing until they came back. It was such a dramatic improvement that I immediately rushed about smelling coffee and eating everything I could see 🤣

mcg-woo profile image
mcg-woo in reply toTechnoid

I totally agree! It is amazing how symptoms come on so gradually with b12 deficiency that it fools one into not even realizing what is happening! I was a very active person but over time I became more and more tired that eventually I could barely get out of bed for short periods of time.

I used to run a long list of errands before I was sick and gradually I could only manage to run one. This was so gradual that I had forgotten the days when I had the energy to get many things done at one time. One errand at a time became normal for me. I was a full time mom at the time with school age children. I couldn’t have worked outside the home and I became unable to clean my house and take care of simple chores. I was lucky to get one meal on the table a day.

Adequate treatment opens up a whole new world. Glad you’re doing better! Life can be pretty dull without the ability to smell and taste food!

B12life profile image
B12life

I think just like wedgewood mentioned, b12 deficiency can cause a loss of energy and appetite, as those things normalize you may gain an appetite but have no energy and gain wait. There may be a more exact science. But I ended up gaining a stone, same as you around the same time.

I also have had a very stable weight all my life. That extra weight stayed on until I could get to the point that I had enough energy to exercise and start watching what I ate, but I think the thing is, the lack of activity.

In the topic of activity, b12 deficiency is a slow moving thing. It took a long time to get deficient (3+ years), it will take a long time for all the systems in your body to heal. Give yourself some space and time to heal, then worry about loosing the weight once you start feeling better. It will just happen pretty much.

I started loosing weight about 1 - 1.5 years after starting the injections.

Cobalt1312 profile image
Cobalt1312

Hi Sunnysidoop, when I started getting B12 injections I gained (relatively) a lot of weight. I was quite underweight when I was diagnosed with PA and once I started getting injections I went from super nauseous and early satiety all the time to being VORACIOUS. For me it eventually leveled out.

My perspective is that hopefully there's some really good healing going on for you with this weight gain. That's how it seemed to go for me. Wishing you the very best!

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