Vitamin B12 Supplement Guide

Our assessment

The evidence shows that Vitamin B12 is a well-tolerated and essential nutrient. Our assessment is that supplementation is generally safe, even at high doses, and can be an effective way to address a deficiency. However, you should be aware that it can interact with certain medications NIH ODS ↗.

How it works

Think of Vitamin B12 as a cellular workhorse. It supports your body by enhancing mitochondrial efficiency and biogenesis, which helps your cells produce energy. It also plays a role in serotonin synthesis, supports DNA repair and methylation pathways, and reduces homocysteine levels through methylation pathways NIH ODS ↗.

Safety profile

Vitamin B12 has not been shown to cause any harm, even at high doses NIH ODS ↗. Data on specific adverse event reports from the FDA is not available in the provided data. However, you should be aware that Vitamin B12 supplements can interact or interfere with some medicines that you take NIH ODS ↗.

Our recommendation

For most people, Vitamin B12 is a very low-risk supplement. Our recommendation is to consider supplementation if you are at risk for deficiency, such as with a vegan diet or certain digestive conditions. Because it can interact with medications, you should always review your full medication list with your healthcare provider before starting a new supplement NIH ODS ↗.