9 of the best B12 supplements

Our bodies need a variety of vitamins and minerals to keep us healthy and functioning in the right way.

But one that is sometimes overlooked is vitamin B12.

Especially important for people following a vegetarian or vegan diet, find out some of the best B12 supplements in our guide.

In this article, you’ll find out:

• What vitamin B12 supplements are
• What B12 supplements are good for
• What causes low B12 levels
• Vegan B12 supplements
• 9 of the best B12 supplements to try
• Potential side effects
• How B12 is absorbed in the body

What are vitamin B12 supplements?

Let’s start with the basics. What are B12 supplements?

Available in a variety of formats, from traditional tablets to oral sprays – B12 supplements are a food supplement to help keep our body’s nervous system and blood cells healthy.¹

It’s often recommended to take one dose of B12 a day and preferably with a meal to help the body absorb it properly.²

For more information, consult our guide to vitamin B12 to learn about its function, food sources and deficiency.

What is vitamin B12 good for?

We’ve just touched on it briefly, but what else is vitamin B12 good for? Some of the things B12 supplements may help you with include:³

• Psychological function
• Tiredness and fatigue 

What causes low vitamin B12?

Low vitamin B12 levels can be caused by a range of factors, such as:

• Older adults without enough hydrochloric acid in their stomach for absorption
• People who have pernicious anemia
• People who have had gastrointestinal surgery
• People who have coeliacs or Crohn’s disease
• Vegetarians and vegans who consume little to no animal products⁴

Can you get vegan B12 supplements?

If you are vegan and you think you may be low in vitamin B12, don’t worry. There are a range of vegan B12 supplements available now so you can have the right intake in your diet.

9 of the best B12 supplements

If you're thinking of adding a B12 supplement to your diet, look no further. 

Whether it's a tablet, oral spray, or liquid supplement, we've rounded up the 9 top B12 supplements available today.

1. Timed Release Vitamin B12 100 Tablets

Holland & Barrett Timed Release Vitamin B12 100 Tablets 1000ug

A classic supplement format, these timed-release vitamin B12 tablets could be a new staple in your morning routine if you don’t struggle to take tablets.

Also, the timed-release element means that the nutrients will be slowly released over time to provide a steady level of the vitamin throughout the day.

Key benefits:

• Timed-release
• Suitable for vegans
• 1000µg

Customer reviews:

KAL B – “Good quality at a fair price!” - 5/5 stars

“Good quality vitamin B12 tablets, easy to take and value for money.”

Anonymous – “Best of the B's” - 5/5 stars

“Timed Release Vitamin B12 1000ug are simply the best!.......So easy to swallow, a small but powerful vitamin and one that is so needed and so often overlooked with nasty consequences. Holland and Barrett have succeeded once again!”

2. Vegan Vitamin B12 Tablets

Holland & Barrett Vitamin B12 100 Tablets 500ug

Looking for plain and simple vegan B12 supplements to pop in the morning? These 500µg supplements should do just the trick if you don’t currently need the highest dose of B12.

Key benefits:

• Suitable for vegans
• 500µg

Customer reviews:

Crafty Den – “Very good.” – 5/5 stars

“Very good. Did the job for which they were intended.”

Kalika – “Been using for years” - 5/5 stars

“Great product. Been using for years and definitely recommend”

3. B Complex & B12 Tablets

Holland & Barrett B Complex & B12 250 Tablets

If you’re after a variety of B vitamins as well as B12, this is just the thing. These B complex tablets also contain B1, B2, Niacin and Protease – and they’re suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

Key benefits:

• Vitamin B complex as well as B12
• Contains B1, B2, B12, Niacin & Protease
• Suitable for vegans

Customer reviews:

SugdenS – “Great supplement.” - 5/5 stars

“Really good product. Easy to swallow tablets that are small and have yeast like taste.”

GeraldineDub – “Good if you need a boost” - 5/5 stars

“I have a mostly-vegan diet and B12 is impossible to get from plants, so I take B12 supplements occasionally. This is good because it's in pill form, unlike many supplements which only come in the form of fizzy drinks.”

4. Vitamin B12 Oral spray

BetterYou Boost Daily Vitamins B12 Oral spray (25ml)

Not a fan of swallowing tablets? We hear you.

For a quick and hassle-free way to up your vitamin B12 intake, try using this oral spray – just use one spray in the side of your cheek and you’re good to go.

Key benefits:

• Oral spray instead of tablets
• Transdermal absorption
• Suitable for vegans and coeliacs
• 1200µg

Customer reviews:

Vitagirl – “Great product, can recommend” - 5/5 stars

"Easy to use ,great fruity taste and quickly absorbed . Have been using this product for years and can recommend ."

KT2016 – “Oral B12 - fabulous product” - 5/5 stars

“This formulation of B12 has excellent absorption and is so easy to take, highly recommended”

5. B12 Vegan Yeast Flakes

 Engevita Yeast Flakes B12 125g

While technically not a supplement, we couldn’t leave this out.

Nutritional yeast, or ‘nooch’ as it’s affectionately known as in the vegan community, contains 44mcg of vitamin B12 per 100g and can easily be added to recipes to give it a lovely cheesy flavour – just without the cheese.

Key benefits:

• Great for adding to meals
• Alternative to tablets
• Suitable for vegans

Customer reviews:

Jewel of the Orient  - “ENGEVITA YEAST FLAKES” - 5/5 stars

“Quality product from a quality supplier. Prompt delivery and service. Never had any problems or dissatisfaction from this supplier. Highly recommended.”

Egoli – “PERFECT IS ALL I CAN SAY!” - 5/5 stars

“Very lovely, tastes great I would recommend and I will certainly buy again.”

6. Vitamin B12 with Iron and Folic Acid

Vitabiotics Feroglobin B12 30 Capsules

A double whammy when it comes to combatting tiredness, these B12 supplements with gentle iron and zinc are ideal if you’re looking to up your levels of those nutrients too – all in one handy capsule!

Key benefits:

• Supports haemoglobin & red blood cells
• Gentle iron supplement with zinc and vitamin B complex
• Slow release capsules

Customer reviews:

Raspberry ripple - “Brilliant” -  5/5 stars

“I’m so glad to have found this product I have previously used flouradix for years however this product is fantastic I noticed a huge real difference straight away and it doesn’t have a bitter aftertaste and at half the price it’s a welcome gem to my health and purse”

7. Vitamin B12 Chewies

Solgar Vitamin B12 1000µg 100 Nuggets

Another one for the fans of tablet alternative, you can even get your vitamin B12 in chewable form! With a subtle cherry flavour, you won’t want to miss this out of your morning schedule.

Key benefits:

• Alternative to swallowing tablets
• Natural form of Vitamin B12
• Suitable for vegans

Customer reviews:

DeniseM – “Great product!” - 5/5 stars

“Great product, tastes a little bit like cherry when you chew them. Solgar always does the best quality of products. Really easy to take too!”

MomoH – “Our go-to easy B12 intake” - 5/5 stars

“So easy to ingest as the nuggets are very small and chewable / soft. Nice subtle flavour is also a major plus. These are our go-to B12 supplement since starting to follow plant based diet.”

8. Liquid B12 Supplements

Solgar Liquid B12 2000µg with B-Complex 59ml

And there’s more. If you’d prefer, you can also use B12 supplements in liquid form.

Simply pop under your tongue up to two times a day for your daily dose of B12.

Key benefits:

• Alternative format to taking tablets
• Suitable for vegans
• 2000µg with B-complex

Customer reviews:

DDSHB1 – “Solgar vitamin B” - 5/5 stars

"It's liquid so it gets into your system a lot faster. It has a sweeter taste but is palatable and more importantly it does work. Especially when combined with healthy eating and rest and you're onto a winner :-)"

Sarah456 – “Excellent product” - 5/5 stars

“Great quality product. Would recommend. Fast delivery. Packaged very well.”

9. Vitamin B12 Multivitamins

Together Health WholeVits B12 Multi 30 Capsules

If you find it difficult to remember to take a load of different supplements, we’ve got the solution.

Together Health offer B12 as well as iodine, calcium, iron and zinc – all nutrients vegans may be deficient in one easy capsule.

Key benefits:

• Methylcobalamin form of B12
• Developed to support vegan and vegetarian diets
• No artificial additives or processing aids

Customer reviews:

Buffy19 - "Great product" - 5/5 stars

"I love and trust the Together products. Having used their magnesium for sometime and feel the benefit I am confident this will be the same."

Potential side effects of B12 supplements

While oral vitamin B12 supplements are safe to take (following the recommended dosage on the packs) higher levels of B12 like those from injections at the doctors, may cause the following symptoms:^5,6

• May lower homocysteine levels
• Nausea
• Headaches
• Diarrhoea
• Dizziness
• Hot flushes

How is B12 absorbed in the body?

Generally speaking, vitamin B12 is absorbed in the ileum of the small intestine. However for it to be absorbed properly, it must be combined with the intrinsic factor (a protein found in the stomach).^7,8

The final say

Whether you’ve been told you’re lacking in vitamin B12 by the doctor or you don’t consume animal products, thankfully there are a wide range of supplements you can take to help get your B12 levels to where they need to be.

Want to find out more about other ways to up your B12 intake? Check out our guide to 6 sources of vitamin B12 while you’re here.

Last updated: 22 June 2021