9 Best Vitamin B12 Supplements to Help Boost a Low Intake, According to Experts
Experts explain the signs of vitamin B12 deficiency and who may benefit from some extra vitamin supplementation.
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If you’ve been feeling unusually sluggish and weak or if you can’t seem to stay awake during the day, you may be wondering if you’re getting enough of your essential nutrients. A big one to watch: vitamin B12, especially if you follow a plant-based diet. While you can get vitamin B12 from foods, you can also get your recommended dosage by having one of the best B12 supplements (but more on that later).
Also known as cobalamin, think of vitamin B12 as fuel for your engine—it plays essential roles in energy production within your body, says Stephanie Gray, D.N.P., M.S., A.R.N.P., a doctorally prepared functional medicine nurse practitioner and owner of Integrative Health and Hormone Clinic in Hiawatha, IA. B12 also tamps down chronic inflammation within the cardiovascular system (that can, in turn, lower heart disease risk), helps maintain the nervous system (including the myelin sheath, “insulation” that surrounds nerves), and produces neurotransmitters (a.k.a. your body’s chemicals messengers).
Meet the Experts: Jessica Cording, M.S., R.D., author of The Little Book of Game-Changers; Keri Gans, M.S., R.D., author of The Small Change Diet; Stephanie Gray, D.N.P., M.S., A.R.N.P., a doctorally prepared functional medicine nurse practitioner and owner of Integrative Health and Hormone Clinic in Hiawatha, IA; Elizabeth Somer, M.S., R.D.N., a dietitian based in Salem, OR and a medical advisory board member for Persona Nutrition.
“Vitamin B12 is necessary for normal processing of carbs, proteins, and fats in the body and for the normal formation of red blood cells,” adds Elizabeth Somer, M.S., R.D.N., a dietitian based in Salem, OR and a medical advisory board member for Persona Nutrition. “It’s essential for the replication and maintenance of all body cells.”
Not everyone will need a B12 supplement, but if you are feeling any signs of deficiency—chronic fatigue and muscle weakness to name a few—we recommend asking your doctor to test your levels before adding a supplement to your regimen. That being said, if you know you could benefit from some more B12 in your daily diet, here are some expert-recommended choices that might work for you.
Our top picks
The following vitamin B12 supplements all feature highly-absorbable forms of the vital vitamin. Keep reading on to find out if you are showing signs of B12 deficiency and if a supplement is right for you!
Dietary supplements are products intended to supplement the diet. They are not medicines and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure diseases. Be cautious about taking dietary supplements if you are pregnant or nursing. Also, be careful about giving supplements to a child, unless recommended by their healthcare provider.
Karla Walsh is a Des Moines, Iowa-based freelance writer, editor, freelance writing coach and level one sommelier who balances her love of food and drink with her passion for fitness (or tries to, at least!). She has over 15 years of professional experience covering food, wine, travel, nutrition, health, fitness, psychology, beauty, relationships and beyond.
Madeleine, Prevention’s assistant editor, has a history with health writing from her experience as an editorial assistant at WebMD, and from her personal research at university. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in biopsychology, cognition, and neuroscience—and she helps strategize for success across Prevention’s social media platforms.
Melissa Prest, R.D., D.C.N. is a registered dietitian nutritionist and holds a Doctor of Clinical Nutrition degree from Rutgers University. Melissa owns Kidney Nutrition Specialists, a nutrition practice dedicated to helping individuals living with chronic kidney disease, and is the Foundation Dietitian for the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois where she focuses on disease prevention, health education, and nutrition consultation.
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