ConsumerLab.com uses JavaScript to provide the best possible experience for our content, but your browser has it disabled. Learn how to enable it here.
- Home
- / CL Answers
- / Is sublingual vitamin B-12, which is placed under the tongue and allowed to dissolve, really better than the pill form?
www.consumerlab.com/answers/is-sublingual-vitamin-b-12-really-better-than-the-pill-form/sublingual-b-12/
Save to favorites
This feature is restricted to active members.
Join now to save favorites and get all member benefits, including over 1,400 reviews.
Join Now
Already a member? Sign in here.
Our Members Asked:
Updated February 26, 2019 ⓘ
Answer:
Although sublingual B-12 — a form placed under the tongue and allowed to dissolve — is often promoted for better absorption, there does not appear to be much evidence for this. In fact, one clinical study comparing the same amount of B-12 given orally or under the tongue found they were equally effective at correcting B-12 deficiency over a two-month period.
Be aware that sublingual B-12 supplements often contain sugar substitutes such as sorbitol, mannitol or sucralose, which can cause gastrointestinal symptoms in some people.
It should also be noted that unlike the vitamin B-12 in foods, the purified form of B-12 found in supplements, including regular and sublingual tablets, does not require stomach acid for it to be made available forabsorption. This benefitspeople with low stomach acid (including many people over the age of 50) or those who take acid blockers such as Pepcid or Zantac, or proton pump inhibitors such as Prevacid, or Prilosec, who are at an increased risk for B-12 deficiency. For those who have difficulty with large pills, keep in mind that only a very small amount of B-12 is required to meet the recommended daily intake and can be obtained in small tablets, including those tested by ConsumerLab.com in its B Vitamins Supplements Review, which includes our Top Pick for vitamin B-12 and the latest information about B-12 dosage and safety and when to take vitamin B-12.
Join today to unlock all member benefits including full access to all CL Answers and over 1,400 reviews.
Join Now
Already a member? Sign In Here.
Join now at www.consumerlab.com/join/
Loading Comments…
Submit your comment
This feature is restricted to active members.
Join now to add comments and get all member benefits, including over 1,400 reviews.
Join Now
Already a member? Sign in here.
Agree to Comment Terms
Please abide by the following:
- If you make a statement of fact, such as whether a type of treatment does or does not work, state your basis -- such as personal experience or a published study.
- If you make a positive or negative comment about a product, note whether or not you have a financial interest in the product or in a competing product.
- Please be respectful in your tone.
- Please do not submit any type of HTML markup or scripting as it will not be accepted, nor will posts that exceed 2,500 characters.
For your privacy, only your first name (from your account) followed by a random number will appear with your comment. Your last name and email address will not be displayed.
Your comment has been submitted
We will review your comment before it is posted.
Related Reviews (1)
Related CL Answers (10)
Load More…
Related Content
- Can taking B vitamin supplements help protect against mosquito bites?
- What' the Best Way to Take Vitamin B-12? Dosage and Absorption Tips
Join over 95,000 Members
Find the best products with instant access to our latest tests & reviews of over 1,400 health products.
Save money by finding high-quality products at lower cost.
Stay safe with the latest clinical findings, warnings, and expert answers.
Suggest products to test.
Stay informed with our e-newsletter.
Join Now
Ratings of ConsumerLab
The "Updated" date indicates when new information was most recently added to this article. In the full article, the newest information is highlighted in yellow.
