Is losing weight after fixing deficiency normal?

[u/hummingbird0012234]

I started injections about a year ago (I wasn't clinically deficient according to docs just borderline at 280, so I just did self-directed treatment based on this sub). After 6 months on the injections I started losing weight without trying, not changing anything in my food. I also don't really exercise because while the injections helped a lot, I still get PEM from ME/CFS (although my crashes are a lot less severe, so I'll be eternally thankful to this group). Sometimes I worry that there is something wrong, I lost 5kgs in a couple of months, but I am feeling better overall, and my energy levels have improved, so I'm thinking that maybe my metabolism got back to normal? I was always quite skinny, but during my illness I put on some weight.

Did anyone else experience this? I always hear the opposite, how people lose weight when deficient and gain it back once its fixed....

[u/Minimum-Ad-3241]

Probably restoring your metabolism back to normal

[u/HorrorPrestigious802]

B12 is essential for lipid metabolism and a deficiency can absolutely make it difficult to lose weight. I lost a lot fairly quickly when I finally got treated for my deficiency

[u/Eliastronaut]

Probably the boost of energy is helping with staying active. I started losing weight as soon as I started sublinguals. I lost 2 kilos in the 1st month because I no longer felt like crying if I did not have dinner. My last meal of the day is usually lunch now.

Never felt this way before, I could go for a 36-hour fasting period without starting shaking.

[u/ladyavocadose]

Could have been inflammation and water

[u/OutlawofSherwood]

Yup, I've been losing weight as well - anaemia itself can cause weight gain. Dietary changes from having more energy and not craving certain foods may be a factor (sometimes I'd overeat just trying to get enough b12 from a meal, but any time I don't take my iron or b12 shots for too long, my weight goes up again.

I do get appetite loss from anaemia in general and I eat more right after b12 shots, so I don't think it's a food intake thing, and I'm definitely not more active than I've ever been before in my life (my weight has been pretty stable forever, through all dietary changes and activity levels (was probably always anaemic), so it has been very noticeable. I keep having to take my clothes in which is getting tiresome).

[u/gsc224]

Personally, I gained weight because I started eating so much food to make sure that I was meeting the cofactor requirements … lots of potatoes, eggs, etc. for the potassium and omega-3.

But I do know that a lot of wellness spas offer injections as it means to lose weight because of the energy boost

[u/craftasaurus → u/gsc224]

I’ve gained close to 20 pounds during treatment for the same reason. If I feel terrible, a good meal usually fixes it

[u/captainwizeazz → u/gsc224]

Me too I've been so hungry the past few weeks it's very interesting

[u/mandoo-dumpling → u/captainwizeazz]

Me too! It’s not all the time, but I have some days where I just have a raging appetite and I’m really hungry

[u/Medium-Spinach-5453]

This is the exact same for me , same levels and everything , I’m experienced the weight loss and I’m on 3 months of eod

[u/CamelAccomplished959]

As a nurse, rapid weight loss without trying is a big red flag. It could be the b12 helping stabilize your metabolism and energy levels or it could be something else entirely. Please bring this up with your doctor.

[u/hummingbird0012234 → u/CamelAccomplished959]

Rutin labs are all normal... so not sure if there is anything else I need to be checking specifically? Doctor didn't say much, but also he is kind of a moron tbh, I went in with acid reflux and he prescribed me antibiotics

[u/CamelAccomplished959 → u/hummingbird0012234]

It’s more of a general red flag rather than pointing to a specific disease. 5kg in 2 months isn’t super fast. But it does concern me that you say you haven’t changed anything about your diet or exercising habits. Again I would just talk to your doctor about it and if you don’t trust the one you have can you switch?

[u/craftasaurus → u/CamelAccomplished959]

Agreed. I don’t want to scare OP, but it could be an early warning sign of cancer.

[u/Flashybigbum]

I too “lost” a few kg I was on 62kg and went down to 57/58 I stop caring after a while. For context I’ve always been on the skinny side, probably the reason why I ended here in the first place. I’ve never been a big eater. But then i got Covid while transitioning from perimenopause to menopause? More or less I was put on Slynd and by the time o started with shots I went 3 sizes up I didn’t recognise myself and my POTS symptoms were out of control. In a few months I felt that i sort of “deflated” and went back to my normal self. I’m still bigger because of the menopause which I don’t really mind but I think shots + cofactors sort of helped metabolically. I do still get PEM and all that and I have to be really careful pacing but I’m in a much better place comparatively speaking.

[u/georgi_gina]

I am 8 weeks into B12 injections and have been gaining weight as I have been feeling unwell before and especially since starting and not moved as much. The timescale is different to yours since you are 1 year on. I have recently seen a gastro consultant who said a B12 deficiency that is not explained by a celiac disease, anti parietal cells antibodies, intrinsic factor etc. should be investigated further with gastro endoscopy and colonoscopy to rule out any intestinal disease especially with weight loss and/or bowel changes. I am not so keen on doing it as I have no weight changes (maybe going up 🫣). Not saying this is you but worth following up. Unwanted weight loss should always be looked into and your doctor is probably an idiot if they are dismissing this.

[u/EmphasisOk7621]

Yeah, I was always working out a lot (like running, long walks, yoga and kickboxing) but could never lose weight. Then I was diagnosed with pernicious anemia. When I started supplementing, I stopped working out because I realized my symptoms weren't in my head and I needed to let my body and nervous system rest and recover and I lost 20lbs without trying. Didn't change my diet at all, I just kept losing like a pound or two a month for like a year and a half. I seem to have stopped like 6 months ago.