Can B12 cause weight gain?

Author: Kaitlyn Nikolaus IV  |  Last update: Thursday, June 19, 2025

Contrary to common assumptions, Vitamin B12 deficiency doesn't directly lead to weight gain. However, it can indirectly influence weight through its impact on energy metabolism. Insufficient B12 can lead to fatigue and weakness, which may reduce physical activity levels and, in turn, lead to weight gain.

What are side effects of too much B12?

High doses of vitamin B-12, such as those used to treat a deficiency, might cause:
  • Headache.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Fatigue or weakness.
  • Tingling sensation in hands and feet.

What happens to your body when you start taking vitamin B12?

What is vitamin B12 and what does it do? Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that helps keep your body's blood and nerve cells healthy and helps make DNA, the genetic material in all of your cells. Vitamin B12 also helps prevent megaloblastic anemia, a blood condition that makes people tired and weak.

Do vitamin supplements cause weight gain?

Multivitamins themselves do not directly cause weight loss or weight gain. However, they can support overall health, ensuring that your body functions optimally. Some people might gain weight if they take multivitamins alongside a higher-calorie diet, but multivitamins alone won't affect body weight.

Can you lose weight taking B12?

Are vitamin B-12 injections helpful for weight loss? Answer From Brent A. Bauer, M.D. There's no solid proof that vitamin B-12 shots, also called injections, help you lose weight.

Can Vitamin B12 cause weight gain?

Which vitamin reduces belly fat?

Vitamins such as B, C, D, and E have been scientifically proven to boost fat burning and promote weight loss. They work by enhancing metabolic rate, reducing inflammation, and aiding in the breakdown of fat cells.

What is the best vitamin for weight loss?

B vitamins are essential for a healthy metabolism. They help convert food into energy and are crucial for metabolizing glucose, fatty acids and amino acids. Studies have found that B1, B2, B6, and B9 are linked to lower levels of obesity, smaller waist circumference and less visceral fat.

What deficiency causes weight gain?

7 deficiencies that can cause weight gain
  • An underactive thyroid gland can lead to weight gain. ...
  • An iodine deficiency can cause the thyroid to function slowly, leading to potential weight gain. ...
  • A vitamin D deficiency may also contribute to unintentional weight gain. ...
  • Sex hormones play a big role in managing weight.

Does B12 make you sleepy?

Yes, taking vitamin B12 supplements can make you fall asleep and stay asleep due to the production of melatonin. Melatonin is responsible for inducing sleep as it works on the pineal gland.

What to avoid when taking B12?

Avoid coffee and tea

Substances found in coffee and tea, such as tannins, can inhibit the absorption of B vitamins, including B12. Consuming these beverages around the same time as your B12 supplements may reduce their effectiveness.

Can too much B12 damage kidneys?

A person with CKD should always speak with their doctor before they take vitamin B12 supplements. One older study looked at the effects of vitamin B supplements on diabetes. It concluded that high doses of vitamin B supplements might speed up the progress of kidney damage in people living with diabetes.

Is it good to take B12 every day?

It's a key vitamin that helps keep blood and nerve cells healthy, converts food into energy, and contributes to the creation of DNA, the genetic material in all your cells. But most people in the United States don't need to take a B12 vitamin supplement every day—or at all.

Can B12 cause blood clots?

The other consequence is called oxidative damage, which injures the blood vessels, making them more likely to catch sticky material and blood, leading to blood clots and predisposing to bleeding. Therefore, vitamin B12 deficiency can be the culprit in a cascade of stroke-inducing physiological events.

Is it okay to take 5000 mcg B12 daily?

There is no upper limit for vitamin B12, and most supplements provide between 500 mcg to 5,000 mcg of B12 daily to meet various nutritional needs [2].

What vitamin is linked to weight gain?

Core tip: B vitamins are a known fat gain promoting factor. Food fortification-induced high vitamin consumption is followed by a rapid increase in obesity prevalence. Why is the fat gain effect of B vitamins neglected in obesity studies?

How did Kelly Clarkson lose so much weight?

Some of the ways she's lost weight include walking, eating more protein, and medication to help with how her body processes food. Clarkson started some of these changes to her diet and exercise routines when she moved to New York City, where she hosts "The Kelly Clarkson Show."

What 3 vitamins burn belly fat?

Top vitamins and minerals that can burn belly fat
  • Vitamin D. Research links Vitamin D with lower body weight. ...
  • Vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 plays a crucial role in energy metabolism and so does Vitamin B6. ...
  • Magnesium. ...
  • Calcium. ...
  • Vitamin C.

How much vitamin B-12 should I take for weight loss?

For B12, it is recommended to take a daily dose of 2.4 mcg for adults. Most people receive this amount of intake if they follow a healthy diet. Even if you're using vitamin B12 to help you lose weight, it is best not to overdo it as there are side effects of upping the dosage.

What deficiency causes a big stomach?

Researchers observed a negative association between vitamin D status and body fat, particularly abdominal fat, along with a positive link to muscle mass.

What is the best non prescription weight loss pill?

The only over-the-counter weight-loss product approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is orlistat (Alli). It is half as strong as prescription orlistat (Xenical). It blocks the body from taking in some of the fat from foods you eat.

Does magnesium help you lose weight?

While no single nutrient can promise to help with reducing belly fat, magnesium may assist with preventing deficiencies and conditions that hinder weight loss, including inflammation, insulin resistance and poor blood sugar control.

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