Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin and cyanocobalamin, is one of 8 B vitamins. All B vitamins help the body convert food (carbohydrates) into fuel (glucose), which is used to produce energy. These B vitamins, often referred to as B complex vitamins, also help the body use fats and protein. B complex vitamins are needed for healthy skin, hair, eyes, and liver. They also help the nervous system function properly and guards against heart disease, mental disorders, and anemia, and keeps your immune system strong.
All B vitamins are water-soluble, meaning that the body does not store them. After the body uses these vitamins, leftover amounts leave the body through the urine. That means you need a continuous supply of such vitamins in your diet. It can be found in foods such as meat, fish, and dairy products. It can also be made in a laboratory.
Vitamin B12 is needed to form healthy blood cells; red blood cells to supply the body with oxygen, and white blood cells to fight against infection. It is also needed to make myelin, a protective fatty layer that coats nerve cells and keeps electrical impulses moving through the body.
Vitamin B12 works closely with folic acid (vitamin B9) and pyridoxine (vitamin B6) to convert food into energy. It also works with these B vitamins to protect your heart by removing homocysteine from the blood. Homocysteine is an amino acid found in meats that causes blood cells to clump together and cling to arterial walls. Too much homocysteine in the system can damage arterial walls and contribute to the development of atherosclerosis, a condition that often leads to early heart attack.
Without enough vitamin B12 the nervous system can "short out" and cause interruptions in mental function--symptoms of B12 deficiency can be so severe that they actually mimic senility. Vitamin B12 helps prevent nerve damage and maintain fertility, and is needed for production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that enhances memory and learning.
Vitamin B12 is used for treating and preventing vitamin B12 deficiency, a condition in which vitamin B12 levels in the blood are too low. It is also used to treat pernicious anemia, a serious type of anemia that is due to vitamin B12 deficiency and is found mostly in older people. For this purpose, people use either a supplement that is taken by mouth or a gel that is applied inside the nose.
Vitamin B12 is also used for memory loss; Alzheimer's disease; boosting mood, energy, concentration and the immune system; and slowing aging. It is also used for heart disease, lowering high homocysteine levels (which may contribute to heart disease), male infertility, diabetes, sleep disorders, depression, mental disorders, weak bones (osteoporosis), swollen tendons, AIDS, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, allergies, a skin disease called vitiligo, preventing cervical and other cancers, and skin infections.
Some people use vitamin B12 for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), multiple sclerosis, preventing the eye disease age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Lyme disease and gum disease. It is also used for ringing in the ears, bleeding, liver and kidney disease, and for protection against the poisons and allergens in tobacco smoke.
Vitamin B12 is applied to the skin either alone or in combination with avocado oil for psoriasis and eczema.
Vitamin B12 is frequently used in combination with other B vitamins in various vitamin B complex products.
Vitamin B12 may help in the prevention and/or treatment of the following health conditions:
Alcoholism
Anemia (Pernicious)
Arthritis (Rheumatoid)
Asthma (Bronchial)
Atherosclerosis
Cancer
Celiac Disease
Crohn's Disease
Dermatitis (Seborrheic)
Epstein-Barr Virus
Fatigue
Leukemia
Lupus
Multiple Sclerosis
Neuropathies/Neuromuscular degeneration
Folate is required for synthesis of DNA and there is evidence that decreased availability of folate results in strands of DNA that are more susceptible to damage. Deficiency of vitamin B 12 traps folate in a form that is unusable by the body for DNA synthesis. Both vitamin B 12 and folate deficiencies result in a diminished capacity for methylation reactions.
Thus, vitamin B 12 deficiency may lead to an elevated rate of DNA damage and altered methylation of DNA, both of which are important risk factors for cancer. A recent series of studies in young adults and older men indicated that increased levels of homocysteine and decreased levels of vitamin B 12 in the blood were associated with a biomarker of chromosome breakage in white blood cells. In a double-blind placebo- controlled study the same biomarker of choromosome breakage was minimized in young adults who were supplemented with 700 mcg of folic acid and 7 mcg of vitamin B-12 daily in cereal for two months.
Observational studies have found as many as 30% of patients hospitalized for depression to be deficient in vitamin B-12. A recent cross-sectional study of 700 community-living physically disabled women over the age of 65 found that vitamin B-12 deficient individuals were twice as likely to be severely depressed as non-deficient individuals. The reasons for the relationship between vitamin B 12 deficiency and depression are not clear.
Vitamin B 12 and folate are required for the synthesis of S-adenosylmethionine, a methyl group donor essential for the metabolism of neurotransmitters, whose bio availability has been related to depression. Because few studies have examined the relationship of vitamin B-12 status and the development of depression over time, it cannot yet be determined if vitamin B 12 deficiency plays a causal role in depression. However, due to the high prevalence of vitamin B-12 deficiency in older individuals, it may be beneficial to screen them for vitamin B 12 deficiency as part of a medical evaluation for depression.
Pernicious anemia is a type of anemia that happens when stomach cells are not able to make intrinsic factor. Without intrinsic factor, your body cannot absorb vitamin B12. Symptoms include weakness, pale skin, diarrhea, weight loss, fever, numbness or tingling sensation in the hands and feet, loss of balance, confusion, memory loss, and moodiness. Vitamin B12 supplements in high doses, either given as injections or orally, are prescribed to treat pernicious anemia. Pernicious anemia can be a dangerous condition and should always be treated by a doctor.
Many studies suggest that people with high levels of the amino acid homocysteine are roughly 1.7 times more likely to develop coronary artery disease and 2.5 times more likely to have a stroke than those with normal levels. B complex vitamins -- especially vitamins B9, B6, and B12 -- help lower homocysteine levels. However, researchers don't know whether high homocysteine levels actually cause heart disease.
For most people who are concerned about heart disease, the goal should be getting enough B vitamins from healthy foods. In some cases, however, your doctor may recommend taking B vitamins to lower homocysteine levels. If you are worried about heart disease, ask your doctor whether taking a B vitamin supplement would be right for you.
One large study found that women who took 1,000 mcg of vitamin B12 along with 2500 mcg of folic acid and 500 mg of vitamin B6 daily reduced their risk of developing AMD, an eye disease that can cause loss of vision.
Fatigue is one of the symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency. One small study, done several years ago, suggested that some people who were not deficient in B12 might gain more energy from B12 shots. However, more research is needed. One preliminary study indicated that people with chronic fatigue syndrome might benefit from B12 injections, although more research is needed to know for sure.
Although there is no evidence that vitamin B12 alone reduces the risk of breast cancer, population studies have shown that women who get more folate in their diet have lower risk of breast cancer. Vitamin B12 works with folate in the body, so it may help contribute to a lesser risk. Another preliminary study suggested that postmenopausal women who had the lowest amounts of B12 in their diet had an increased risk for breast cancer.
Studies suggest that vitamin B12 supplements may improve sperm counts and sperm mobility. However, the studies were of poor quality. Better studies are needed to see whether B12 has any real effect.
Vitamin B12 deficiency is
characterized by megaloblastic anemia, fatigue, weakness,
constipation, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Neurological
changes, such as numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, can
also occur. Additional symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include
difficulty maintaining balance, depression, confusion, dementia, poor
memory, and soreness of the mouth or tongue. The neurological
symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency can occur without anemia, so early
diagnosis and intervention is important to avoid irreversible damage.
During infancy, signs of a vitamin B12 deficiency include failure to
thrive, movement disorders, developmental delays, and megaloblastic
anemia. Many of these symptoms are general and can result from a
variety of medical conditions other than vitamin B12
deficiency.
Typically, vitamin B12 deficiency is treated with
vitamin B12 injections, since this method bypasses potential barriers
to absorption. However, high doses of oral vitamin B12 may also be
effective. The authors of a review of randomized controlled trials
comparing oral with intramuscular vitamin B12 concluded that 2,000
mcg of oral vitamin B12 daily, followed by a decreased daily dose of
1,000 mcg and then 1,000 mcg weekly and finally, monthly might be as
effective as intramuscular administration. Overall, an individual
patient's ability to absorb vitamin B12 is the most important factor
in determining whether vitamin B12 should be administered orally or
via injection. In most countries, the practice of using intramuscular
vitamin B12 to treat vitamin B12 deficiency has remained unchanged.
Large amounts of folic acid can mask the damaging effects of vitamin B12 deficiency by correcting the megaloblastic anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency without correcting the neurological damage that also occurs. Moreover, preliminary evidence suggests that high serum folate levels might not only mask vitamin B12 deficiency, but could also exacerbate the anemia and worsen the cognitive symptoms associated with vitamin B12 deficiency. Permanent nerve damage can occur if vitamin B12 deficiency is not treated. For these reasons, folic acid intake from fortified food and supplements should not exceed 1,000 mcg daily in healthy adults.
Main article: Vitamin B12 Deficiency
It's rare for young people to be deficient in vitamin B12, but it's not uncommon for older people to be mildly deficient. That may be because their diets are not as healthy or because they have less stomach acid, which the body needs to absorb B12. Low levels of B12 can cause a range of symptoms including fatigue, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nervousness, numbness, or tingling sensation in the fingers and toes. Severe deficiency of B12 causes nerve damage.
Pernicious anaemia is the most common cause of vitamin B12-deficiency. Pernicious anaemia develops if your body can't absorb vitamin B12 from your diet properly. Normally a protein known as intrinsic factor, which is made in your stomach, attaches to vitamin B12 released from your food and carries it through your bowel wall into your blood. However if you have pernicious anaemia, your stomach cells that produce intrinsic factor become damaged, vitamin B12 is no longer absorbed and a deficiency develops, which leads to anaemia.
Other, less common, causes of vitamin B12 deficiency include the following.
Diet - if you don't get enough vitamin B12 in your diet, it can cause vitamin B12-deficiency anaemia. This is rare in Western countries. But strict vegans may be at risk because their diet excludes meat and animal products - the foods that provide this vitamin.
Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease, pancreatic disease, and people who have had weight loss surgery, can interfere with vitamin B12 absorption if they affect your small bowel.
Surgery to remove part or all of your stomach can cause vitamin B12-deficiency anaemia.
Liver disorders can reduce your body's ability to use vitamin B12.
Having parasites or too much bacteria in your bowel can interfere with the absorption of vitamin B12.
People who are infected with Helicobacter pylori, an organism in the intestines that can cause an ulcer. H. pylori damages stomach cells that make intrinsic factor, a substance the body needs to absorb B12
People with an eating disorder
People with HIV
The elderly
Folic acid (vitamin B9), especially when taken in high doses, can mask the symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency. The danger is that without symptoms, someone with a vitamin B12 deficiency may not know it, and could run the risk of developing nerve damage. Anyone planning to take more than 800 mcg of folic acid should talk to their doctor first, to make sure they do not have a B12 deficiency.
You need vitamin B12 for many important processes inside your body, particularly for making red blood cells and keeping your nerves healthy. If you have a short supply of vitamin B12, your body won't make as many red blood cells, they will be abnormally large and won't last for as long as they should.
The symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency may include:
dandruff
feeling very tired
breathlessness after little exercise
nervousness
decreased blood clotting
numbness in feet
decreased reflexes
paleness
depression
red tongue
difficulty swallowing
sore tongue
fatigue
tingling in feet
heart palpitations (the sensation of feeling your heartbeat thumping in your chest)
weakness
memory problems
weak pulse
menstrual problems
headaches
a reduced appetite
a sore mouth and tongue
If you have vitamin B12-deficiency anaemia, you may also look pale or jaundiced (have a yellowy tinge to your skin and the whites of your eyes).
As well as the symptoms of anaemia, vitamin B12-deficiency may cause symptoms related to your nerves. This is called vitamin B12 neuropathy. It may affect your movement and sensation, especially in your legs, cause numbness or 'pins and needles' and decrease your sensitivity to touch, vibration or pain. It can also cause confusion, depression, poor concentration and forgetfulness.
These symptoms aren't always due to vitamin B12-deficiency anaemia but if you have them, see your GP.
Vitamin B12 deficiency
treatment depends on the cause of the deficiency. If pernicious
anemia or a problem with absorption is the cause, B12 replacement
will be necessary. Most often this is given by injection; some people
may be prescribed vitamin tablets. When the level of vitamin B12 has
returned to normal, your body will produce more red blood cells and
the symptoms will go away. However, most people need to take
supplements for the rest of their lives to prevent the condition from
returning. This is because the usual cause of vitamin B12 deficiency
is poor absorption of the vitamin through the intestine. If you stop
taking the supplements, your B12 level will fall again.
Vitamin B12 is found in animal foods such as liver, eggs, fish, meat, dairy products and, of course, in supplements. Soybeans, brewer's yeast, cheese, milk and yogurt all contain vitamin B12, as do certain sea vegetables, such as dulse, kelp, kombu, and nori. B12 is also available in the herbs alfalfa, bladderwrack, and hops.
Vitamin B12 can be found in multivitamins (including children's chewable and liquid drops), B complex vitamins, and individual supplements. It is available in both oral (tablets and capsules) and intranasal forms, softgels, and lozenges. Vitamin B12 is also sold under the names cobalamin and cyanocobalamin.
Generally, vitamin B12 side effects are quite rare; however there are reported cases of allergic reactions to vitamin b12 injections, but it is unknown if these allergic reactions are due to the vitamin b12 itself or the preservatives in the injectable vitamin b12. (Most vitamin b12 injections contain some preservatives). Side Effects of Vitamin B12 can include:
Mild diarrhea
Anxieties and panic attacks
Heart palpitations
Insomnia
Breathing problems
Chest pain
Skin rash, hives, or itchy or swollen skin
Primary Side Effects -- The primary physical side effects of taking too much B12 include mild diarrhea, skin rashes, hives, breathing problems and heart palpitations. Symptoms are typically mild and disappear within 24 hours after ingestion. The side effects are more common when the vitamin is administered through injection. Doses of vitamin B12 greater than 2.4 mcg. per day can result in itching, rashes and rosacea, which may require treatment with steroids to resolve.
Secondary Side Effects -- Vitamin B12 can have negative psychological side effects. They include panic, anxiety attacks and insomnia. These side effects can lead to breathing problems and heart palpitations created by panic and anxiety. The symptoms typically disappear within a few hours, as the excess B12 is flushed from the system.
Rare Side Effects -- People considering B12 supplements should consult their family medical history for any occurrence of Leber's disease, a hereditary condition that causes the optic nerve to atrophy. Large doses of B12 can lead to an early onset of the disease or cause the optic nerve to atrophy more rapidly. Deficiencies of vitamin B12 may cause dementia, mood problems and psychosis, which you can reduce or improve by consuming the recommended daily allowance of 2.4 mcg. of vitamin B12. According to the Mayo Clinic, high doses of vitamin B12 can cause peripheral vascular thrombosis--blood clots that can result in swelling, pain and redness.
Vitamin B12 is LIKELY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth or when the prescription-only, injectable product is used correctly. In some people, vitamin B12 might cause diarrhea, blood clots, itching, serious allergic reactions, and other side effects.
Vitamin B12 is LIKELY SAFE for pregnant or breast-feeding women when taken by mouth in the amounts recommended. The recommended amount for pregnant women is 2.6 mcg per day. Breast-feeding women should take no more than 2.8 mcg per day. Don't take larger amounts. The safety of larger amounts is unknown.
Vitamin B12 also appears to be safe when used on the skin for psoriasis. Mild itching has been reported in one person who used a specific avocado oil plus vitamin B12 cream for psoriasis.
Taking any one of the B vitamins for a long period of time can result in an imbalance of other important B vitamins. For this reason, you may want to take a B complex vitamin, which includes all the B vitamins. Taking folic acid at high doses can hide a vitamin B12 deficiency, so these vitamins are often taken together. Talk to your doctor before taking more than 800 mcg of folic acid.
Because of the potential for side effects and interactions with medications, you should take dietary supplements only under the supervision of a knowledgeable health care provider.
If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use vitamin B12 supplements without first talking to your health care provider.
Medications that reduce levels of B12 in the body include:
Anti-seizure medications -- including phenytoin (Dilantin), phenobarbital, primidone (Mysoline)
Chemotherapy medications -- particularly methotrexate
Colchicine -- used to treat gout
Bile acid sequestrants -- used to lower cholesterol; include colestipol (Colestid), cholestyramine (Questran), and colsevelam (Welchol)
H2 blockers -- used to reduce stomach acid; include cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid AC), ranitidine (Zantac)
Metformin (Glucophage) -- medication taken for diabetes
Proton pump inhibitors -- used to reduce stomach acid; include esomeprazole (Nexium), lansprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), rabeprazole (Aciphex)
Antibiotics, Tetracycline -- Vitamin B12 should not be taken at the same time as tetracycline because it interferes with the absorption and effectiveness of this medication. Vitamin B12 should be taken at different times of the day from tetracycline. All vitamin B complex supplements act in this way and should be taken at different times from tetracycline. In addition, long-term use of antibiotics can lower vitamin B levels in the body, particularly B2, B9, B12, and vitamin H (biotin), which is considered part of the B complex vitamins.
If your diet includes meat, milk, and other dairy products, you should be able to meet the recommended daily requirements without taking a vitamin B12 supplement. Vegetarians who do not eat any animal products should take a vitamin B12 supplement with water, preferably after eating. Elderly people may need larger amounts of vitamin B12 than younger people because the body's ability to absorb vitamin B12 from the diet goes down with age.
If you are considering taking a B12 supplement, ask your health care provider to help you determine the right dose for you.
The following doses have been studied in scientific research:
BY MOUTH:
The typical general supplemental dose of vitamin B12 is 1-25 mcg per day.
For vitamin B12 deficiency or pernicious anemia: cyanocobalamin doses of 300-10,000 mcg (microgram) daily have been used. However, some evidence suggests that the most effective oral dose is between 647-1032 mcg/day.
For high blood levels of homocysteine: vitamin B12 500 mcg in combination with 0.5-5 mg folic acid and 16.5 mg pyridoxine has been used.
For preventing age-related macular degeneration (AMD): vitamin B12 1 mg, folic acid 2.5 mg, and pyridoxine 50 mg daily has been studied.
APPLIED TO THE SKIN:
For atopic dermatitis (eczema): a specific vitamin B12 0.07% cream (Regividerm) applied twice daily has been used.
For psoriasis: a specific cream (Regividerm, Regeneratio Pharma AG, Wuppertal, Germany) containing avocado oil plus vitamin B12 0.7 mg/gram applied for 12 weeks twice daily has been used.
Daily recommendations for dietary vitamin B12 are listed below.
Pediatric
Newborns - 6 months: 0.4 mcg (adequate intake)
Infants 6 months - 1 year: 0.5 mcg (adequate intake)
Children 1 - 3 years: 0.9 mcg (RDA)
Children 4 - 8 years: 1.2 mcg (RDA)
Children 9 - 13 years: 1.8 mcg (RDA)
Teens 14 - 18 years: 2.4 mcg (RDA)
Adult
19 years and older: 2.4 mcg (RDA)*
Pregnant women: 2.6 mcg (RDA)
Breastfeeding women: 2.8 mcg (RDA)
*Because 10 - 30% of older people may not absorb B12 from food very well, people over 50 should meet their daily requirement through either foods fortified with vitamin B12 or a supplement containing B12.
The following reviews have been selected:
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Good product, February 18, 2011
By
Barry L. Brown
I purchased this vitamin to help with my tremors. I have noticed that my tremors are not quite as bad as they were before taking the B-12. I would recommend this product to my friends & relatives.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Huge improvement, October 9, 2011
By
Floyd J. Koenig II "PDFF" (Portland, OR USA)
A friend said that this supplement has helped people with fatigue issues. This product helped me have more energy and less need for a nap during the day. The time release maintains the benefit though out the whole day. I highly recommend this product for anyone suffering from fatigue.
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5.0 out of 5 stars B12 Vitamin works good; removed fatigue by taking this., September 19, 2011
By
EleganzShopper "EleganzShopper" (Santa Cruz, CA USA)
This B12 Vitamin works good; it removed fatigue by taking this vitamin.
I feel much better as a result of taking this B12 vitamin. I tried sublingual ones; but I did not like them as much as this regular pill form. The pill is not too large; so it is easy to swallow.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Good stuff., July 23, 2011
By
Kristen Fisher "banbury tale"
It's good to be able to find a vegetarian source of B12 for such a cheap price. I hesitated with a lot of other supplements because a great many of them came from animal sources, and I'm just not into that. This is a good product; my energy levels have shot up within a couple of weeks of using this, and I don't need a zillion cups of coffee to get me through my day anymore. And it dissolves in just a minute, and tastes pretty decent for a vitamin. Highly recommended for vegetarians and vegans who need B12, but don't want to compromise their diets for a supplement.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Cool Stuff, January 26, 2011
By
VegasWithLove
I'm having some issues with my finger nail getting warped and very heavily ridged. I read that a deficiency in Vit B12 could cause some of that. I guess some of us aren't absorbing it through our intestines like younger people due to IBS or whatever. So I'm giving the b12 lozenges a try.
So far, so good. My nails don't look horribly dry and brittle now, but it has only been a few weeks. It will really take more like a couple of months to see if this is doing the trick. The tablets are quiet tasty, very orange. They are small and melt very easily. Cool.
On thing to be aware of though, B12 gives you a boost of energy. It isn't anything like caffeine, but if you take it at night you'll not be ready for bed at the normal time. haha
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars WONDERFUL, TASTY FORM OF SUBLINGUAL B-12 - GOOD FOR ALZHEIMERS TOO!, December 30, 2010
By
Cathio
I like this b-12. It is reasonably priced. I believe that the shots are the very best form . The sublingual tablets or liquid are the 2nd best for absorption. These taste really good. They remind me of the candy necklaces we use to wear and eat as kids. Just put them under your tongue and try to keep from chewing them! Let them dissolve. Won't hurt to take too many either as the extra is just passed out of your body in urine. I take them whenever I am feeling kind of low and "out of steam". Also for low blood sugar.
I give these to my mom as they are supposed to be very beneficial for Alzheimers. B-12 supports cognitive function.
I have always read b-12 should be given with folic acid for maximum absorption. It would be nice if they had folic acid in them-if possible to do in sublingual state.
Will be purchasing again.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Proven to work for my B12 deficiency, November 4, 2010
By
norska (Ellicott City, MD)
I have been using this B-12 for over a year now. My endocrinologist suggested it, since my oral diabetes medicine (metformin) seemed to be affecting my natural absorption of this vitamin, which he describes as needed for nerve health (and therefore a concern in diabetes patients, to avoid neuropathy) I take one in the morning, tucking it under my tongue as I get ready and commute into work. It does take a while to dissolve, because it is a fairly large pill, but it is usually gone in 15-20 minutes. It has a pleasant fruity taste, and is in the dosage range he advised. At first I tried a B multivitamin, but the amount of B12 in it was nowhere near what he wanted, and I would have to take too many pills (and end up with too much of all the other B vitamins, which I didn't need)
My B12 number has gone from too low, to outside the range on the high side. B12 has a low toxicity level and has no complications in most individuals, so he is not concerned that I'm outside the clinical range on the high side. (my lab sheet says the target range is 211-936 pg/mL - my latest two results have been hovering around 1500 - I believe I started in the 140s - very low)
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38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to Take, February 24, 2010
By
J. Wells "Socknitster" (Indiana)
This is a very easy supplement to take if you are suffering from anemia from a vitamin B-12 deficiency. MethylCobalamin is the preferred form because it is the form the body is ready to use.
If you use cyanocobalamin, you are ingesting tiny and harmless amounts of cyanide, something your body doesn't need--and your body has to do the work of converting it to the methyl form.
The purpose of sublingual has to do with people who have low stomach acid and cannot get enough from their food. With this form of supplement, the vitamin is going directly to your bloodstream, bipassing the gastro-intestinal system. Just let it dissolve slowly under your tongue and move it around every so often. For those suffering from fatigue, this is an inexpensive and easy thing to try.
You probably know some elderly folks who get B-12 shots. This is because as we age, we produce less stomach acid and can get less B-12 from food and oral supplements. This supplement is an excellent alternative to the B-12 shots and far less expensive. Studies show that sublingual B-12 is almost as effective as the shots and since you can take it every day, at this price, it is a no-brainer. Plus, the B-12 shot is in the form of cyanocobalamin and therefore they limit how often you can get the shots--because they don't want you getting too much cyanide built up in your system and harming you. Makes sublingual sound much better!
This supplement tastes good, dissolves slowly under the tongue and is the best form of this vitamin for those who need it at a great value.
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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Remedy for Canker Sores - At a Great Price !, September 23, 2009
By
T-Shan (Kansas City, MO United States)
These ... sublingual B-12 tablets are a wonder drug for those who suffer from canker sores. I had purchased [others] which have the same bioactive form of B-12 (methylcobalamin), which worked like a charm but were quite expensive. This bioactive B-12 is instantly absorbed by the mouth lining and reduces incidence, duration, and pain of mouth sores. As long as I take 1 or 2 tablets a day, my canker sores never form. If I get one, I take a few times each day and they disappear VERY fast. I wish these were around years ago. There have apparently been clinical trials using this form of B-12 which substantiates the effectiveness in healing and preventing canker sores. I order these using the Subscribe & Save option for periodic deliveries.
Side benefits of these B-12 tablets is improved cell growth and replication (more for cell healing/immunity than for "energy" that another reviewer was looking for). I can also say that it does also help with sleep/wake cycles as advertised.
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