Ingredient · Nutrient
Vitamin b12
An essential nutrient your body needs; safe at normal doses, including fortified drinks and supplements.
Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is required for nerve function and making red blood cells. It's water-soluble, so extra amounts are mostly excreted in urine, and there's no established toxic dose from food or typical supplements.
Why it matters
Vitamin B12 is a nutrient your body needs to make DNA, keep nerves healthy, and produce red blood cells. You can't make it yourself, so you get it from animal foods (meat, eggs, dairy) or fortified products like some plant milks and energy drinks. People who eat little or no animal food (vegans, some vegetarians), older adults, and people with certain digestive conditions can run low and may need supplements. For almost everyone else, more B12 in a drink or supplement is simply extra of something you already need, not a hazard.
Sources (3)
- 1.EFSA Dietary Reference Values for vitamin B12
- 2.FDA Vitamins and Minerals - Dietary Supplements
- 3.PubChem - Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)
