- Do B vitamins help? While most people are not deficient in B vitamins (since these vitamins can be easily obtained from foods), older people and those taking medication to reduce stomach acid may be low in B-12 and taking it can help slow age-related decline in memory. Pregnant women should be sure to get folate from a supplement to help avoid birth defects, and people with genetic mutations affecting the MTHFR enzyme may benefit from a form of folate known as methylfolate. High-dose niacin can help lower high cholesterol levels. Although the evidence is preliminary, a high dose of biotin may help strengthen nails. More information about what each of the B vitamins can and cannot do is found in the Background section and in the ConsumerTips sections for each of the B vitamins.
- How much of each B vitamin to take: This depends on your nutritional needs but, generally, B vitamin supplements are formulated to provide much more than you need and this can be a problem for the three B vitamins that can cause toxicity — niacin, folate and B-6. Too much B-12 may also cause problems, including acne. Furthermore, it is now acknowledged that you need less of many B vitamins than believed in the past, but % Daily Value figures on labels don't have to reflect this until the beginning of 2021. In the results table, we show you how products stack up against the latest recommendations (see the numbers in green), as well as which exceed the tolerable limits for niacin, folate, and B-6.
- Which B vitamin supplement is best? For each B vitamin or B complex, we identify CL's Top Picks. These "picks" were found in testing to be accurately labeled for B vitamins, meet other quality criteria, and, represent excellent value for your money. However, five products (mostly B complexes) failed our tests for providing far less or more ingredient than listed. One of these is a popular B complex that, due to an overage, exceeds the tolerable upper intake level for folate from its synthetic form, folic acid. These five products are listed as "NOT APPROVED" in the results table.
B Vitamin Supplements Review (B Complexes, B6, B12, Biotin, Folate, Niacin, Riboflavin & More)
Be Careful Choosing B Vitamins. 18% of B Vitamins Fail Our Review. See Which Are Best.


B vitamin supplements compared in this review :

21st Century B-1 100 mg

Amazon Elements Berry B12

Bio-Tech B2-400

Bluebonnet Vitamin B6 50 mg

BulkSupplements.com Flush-Free Niacin

Carlson Methyl Folate

Doctor's Best Benfotiamine 300

Doctor's Best Fully Active Folate 400

Douglas Laboratories Riboflavin

Elysium Basis Cellular Health & Optimization

Eniva B-Complex

Finest Nutrition [Walgreens] Folic Acid

Garden of Life mykind Organics B-Complex Once Daily

GNC B-Complex Big 100

GNC Methyl B-12

Jarrow Formulas B-Right

Jarrow Formulas Pantothenic Acid B5

Kirkland Signature [Costco] Super B-Complex

Mason Natural B12 50 mcg

Nature Made Super B Energy Complex

Nature's Bounty Biotin 10,000 mcg

Nature's Way Pantothenic Acid

New Chapter Perfect Hair, Skin & Nails

NOW Niacinamide 500 mg

NutraBlast Hair Skin & Nails - Strawberry

NutriCology Pantethine

Nutrilite Vitamin B Dual-Action

Organika Vitamin B Complex

PipingRock.com Vitamin B-6 100 mg

Pure Encapsulations B12 Liquid

Puritan's Pride Ultra Mega Biotin 10,000 mcg

Slo Niacin

Solgar Folate 1,333 mcg DFE

Spring Valley [Walmart] Biotin 10,000 mcg

Sugarbearhair Hair Vitamins

Vitafusion B12 - Natural Raspberry Flavor
Make sure the B-complex or B vitamin supplement you take passed our test and is right for you!
Isn't your health worth it?
See the Review Now
Already a member? Sign in here.
Join now at www.consumerlab.com/join/
Summary
- Which B vitamin supplements failed testing and which passed
- Cost comparisons and quality ratings of B vitamin supplements
- Information on what B vitamin supplements can and cannot do for you -- some may reduce memory decline!
- Important differences among forms of B vitamins, such as those of niacin (nicotinic acid, niacinamide, and inositol hexanicotinate), folate (natural folate, folic acid, and L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate), and B-12 (methylcobalamin and cyanocobalamin), as well as how oral B-12 compares to B-12 injections.
- Use and dosage information for thiamin, niacin, vitamin B-6, B-12, biotin, folate (folic acid), and pantothenic acid.
- How amounts of B vitamins in supplements compare to the amounts you actually need - the results may surprise you!
- What you need to know about new intake guidelines — and why you shouldn't rely on Daily Values (DVs) listed on labels
- Side effects and potential drug interactions with B vitamins
- Safety concerns with B vitamins, and how to use them safely
Join to unlock the full report and get full access to over 1,300 reviews
See the Review NowAlready a member? Sign in here.
Join now at www.consumerlab.com/join/
As a ConsumerLab.com member, you may print a copy of this report for your personal use.
You can access a special print version by clicking the "Print" icon in the upper right corner of this report. You can then use your web browser's print functions to print the whole report or just selected pages.
You may also email or post a link to this report using the web address above. Non-members using the link will see a free summary and can join to view the full report. Other means of copying or distributing this report, in part or full, are not permitted.
If you are sight-impaired and your computer is having trouble converting the text in this report to speech, contact us for assistance at Membership@ConsumerLab.com or by phone at 914-722-9149.