Do you know the most commonly used supplements in the world?
If your guess is multivitamins, you’re correct. Taken once or twice daily, multivitamins are available in many forms. These include tablets, capsules, gummies, powders, and liquids.
Figuring out the right dose can be tricky. Remember, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t regulate multivitamins and other supplements. That means some products might contain higher or lower levels of vitamins and minerals than stated on their labels.
Now, if you feel you’re not getting the best results with oral multivitamins, injectable vitamins are worth considering. Here, we’ll talk about how injectable vitamins differ from ingestible ones, and what you need to know before getting a shot.
Ingestible vs. Injectable Vitamins
One reason multivitamins have become so popular is that people know that vitamins and minerals are immune boosters. Aside from boosting immunity, these micronutrients also help promote cellular repair. They also help heal wounds, protect bones against fractures, etc.
But here’s the thing, only those with vitamin deficiencies should consider supplementation. This applies to both ingestible and injectable vitamins. Taking more vitamins than your body needs can be harmful.
Now, if your doctor believes that you could benefit from ingesting or injecting vitamins, here’s what you should understand. Injectable vitamins work faster and are more effective than oral multivitamins. Injectables go directly into the bloodstream, ensuring that you get the full dose.
With oral supplements, digestive enzymes destroy some nutrients, which is why you sometimes need to double your dosage. If you have, let’s say, a vitamin C deficiency and also suffer from digestive and absorption issues, a vitamin C injection could work better for you. You can check out this page on subcutaneous vitamin C for more information.
Some Things to Note Before Getting a Vitamin Shot
Once you confirm you have a vitamin deficiency, there are other things to consider before opting for injectable vitamins.
First, vitamin therapies aren’t cheap. A shot could cost as much as $75 to $100. If you see offers being advertised that are lower than these rates, think twice before you grab them.
Only a well-trained physician should administer these shots. Take a much higher dose than necessary and you could suffer from dangerous side effects (e.g., cardiac arrest).
Vitamin injections are also not for everyone. Diabetics who are already getting routine vitamin B12 shots shouldn’t get more.
Also, those who are suffering from chronic fatigue should see their doctor first. It could be an underlying issue that’s causing the problem, and vitamin shots could mask this.
Should You Try Injectables or Multivitamins?
Oral and injectable vitamins can work for those who have deficiencies. If you suspect you have one, talk to your doctor before buying multivitamins or getting a vitamin shot.
To learn more about essential vitamins and other tips and advice for boosting your health, check out our other posts. We also have tons of interesting articles on a wide variety of topics, including pets, fashion, money tips, and so on.
