Clemens on Clemens -- not on ESPN

There was a point in last week's Congressional hearings where Roger Clemens said he allowed trainer Brian McNamee to give him B12 suppliment shots -- five of 'em -- but he wasn't sure what that really did for him. He only remembers that he took them on the advice of his mother.
"I don't know the technical explanations for it," Clemens said, to paraphrase.
Maybe he should ask Roger Clemens for an answer.
That's Dr. Roger Clemens, an adjunct professor in the Department of Pharmacy at USC, specializing in pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences.
Isn't that convenient?
Here's what Dr. Clemens said in an email sent today before we misremember anything:

I do not have Mr. Clemens’ medical history, so I cannot comment on his particular case.
Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that contains cobalt, hence the name alternate name of cobalamin. This vitamin, primarily found in dairy and meat products, is required for normal red cell production (like iron and folic acid), maintaining the nervous system, for normal growth / development (children and infants), and is critical in fat metabolism. Vitamin B12 is a unique nutrient in that it requires some assistance for absorption. That assistance is provided via intrinsic factor which is provided by the stomach. Vitamin B12 coupled with intrinsic factor is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, then is carried to various tissues (liver, bone) where blood is made and other tissues involved in many normal metabolic processes.
"Historically, vitamin B12 injections were common among 'tired' physicians who were subjected to prolonged periods of patient care. In addition, these injections are often administered to patients presenting pernicious anemia (particularly pure vegans), and, more recently, administered to patients pursuing a variety of weight loss regimens, and to those with chronic fatigue syndrome.
I trust this information is useful for your reading audience.
-- Roger Clemens, DrPH, CNS. FACN, FIFT
USC School of Pharmacy

It's OK. You're not under oath.
As for McNamee's response, when he responded to Clemens' account that McNamee gave him the B12 shots: "The first time I heard of Roger Clemens taking B-12 was on 60 Minutes."