Intramuscular (IM) injections are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, allowing for high doses and more efficient absorption than oral supplements. Many people struggle to take a daily supplement, or feel that they do not work well for them. With a huge range of vitamin supplements on the market, it can be difficult to know what to take, and what will work. For certain vitamins, such as vitamin D and B12, IM injections can provide a great alternative. Others, such as vitamin C and magnesium cannot be stored efficiently in the body, so would require a daily injection.
Nothing should replace a healthy diet, but many people are unable to efficiently absorb nutrients from their diet. Patients that suffer from the autoimmune condition pernicious anaemia lack intrinsic factor (a protein required to absorb B12 from the gut). These patients therefore require IM supplementation as they cannot absorb it from their diet or from oral supplements.
Vitamin D is another vitamin that many struggle to get enough from their diet. Sunshine is also needed to convert vitamin D to its active form. Therefore people living in more northern hemispheres are advised to take supplements of active vitamin D during the winter months. This can be challenging for some people, so a 3 monthly injection can be preferable.
The third vitamin IM injection that we offer at Dr Malaika Clinics is Biotin. Biotin is vitamin B7, and the name comes from biotos (meaning “life-giving” or “sustenance” in Greek). It is an essential vitamin for the health of our hair, nails, skin, eyes, liver, and nervous system. It is naturally found in egg, milk, and bananas.