7 Best B12 Supplements, According to Registered Dietitians
Our experts rounded up the best B12 supplements for absorption.
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Feeling sluggish or weak recently? Ensuring you're eating a well-balanced diet, staying hydrated and getting enough sleep is key to feeling your best. But oftentimes, there may be an underlying nutrition deficiency that can manifest as fatigue, among other symptoms. Vitamin B12 is an important nutrient especially of concern for those following a plant-based diet, as it is typically found in animal-based foods. If your doctor has recommended a vitamin B12 supplement, our registered dietitians in the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab evaluated over 30 different brands to find the best options on the market.
Our top picks:
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a vital role in many functions of the body, including maintaining the health of red blood cells, nerve cells and DNA synthesis, according to registered dietitian Valerie Agyeman, R.D., host of women's health podcast, Flourish Heights. "Vitamin B12 isn't produced by the body, so it's very important to obtain it from dietary sources or supplements."
There are certain populations that may find B12 to be especially beneficial. "Those who are on a mostly vegetarian or vegan diet will likely benefit from a B12 supplement, as will individuals who have gastrointestinal difficulties that may lead to poor absorption of nutrients (like Crohn's disease or weight loss surgeries)," says Marissa Meshulam, registered dietitian and founder of MPM Nutrition. "Elderly people may also benefit from a B12 supplement, as absorption can decrease with age." But before supplementing with vitamin B12 or any other supplement, it is important to speak with your healthcare provider who will likely run bloodwork first to check your levels and recommend the appropriate dosage.
You can learn more about how we evaluate B12 supplements — including tips for finding the best option for you — at the end of this guide. If you're looking for other high-quality supplements, check out our top picks for the best iron supplements, the best magnesium supplements and the best fish oil supplements.
Take note: Our nutrition pros stress that a supplement should do just that: supplement the diet, not replace high-quality, healthy food. Check with your healthcare provider before starting any dietary supplement regimen.
Stefani (she/her) is a registered dietitian, a NASM-certified personal trainer and the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab, where she handles all nutrition-related content, testing and evaluation. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nutritional sciences from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree in clinical nutrition from NYU. She is also Good Housekeeping’s on-staff fitness and exercise expert. Stefani is dedicated to providing readers with evidence-based content to encourage informed food choices and healthy living. She is an avid CrossFitter and a passionate home cook who loves spending time with her big fit Greek family.
Rachel Lustgarten (she/her), M.S., R.D., C.D.N., is a registered dietitian in clinical practice in New York City. Her primary area of focus is medical nutrition therapy and weight control. Rachel’s passion is sharing her knowledge and expertise of food and nutrition’s role in overall health and wellness. She co-hosts the weekly “Primary Care Medicine” show on SiriusXM Doctor Radio, interviewing expert guests and fielding listener calls and questions about hot topics in health and nutrition. She served as a clinical dietitian at the Comprehensive Weight Control Center at Weill Cornell Medicine and served as an Advisor to the Weill Cornell’s Women’s Nutrition Connection monthly newsletter for 10 years. Rachel received a Master’s degree in Clinical Nutrition from New York University, graduating with honors.
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