Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin and the only one that the body can store for several years. People who do not take in enough vitamin B12 due to their diet (vegans, vegetarians, etc.) can only compensate for this with vitamin B12 supplements. Once the body's storage has been exhausted, it is usually recommended to take high-dose vitamin B12 to replenish this storage.
the essentials in brief
- Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin and is involved in various metabolic processes in the human body.
- Vitamin B12 deficiencies mainly occur in older people, vegans and vegetarians.
- From an amount of 500 to 1000 µg (in micrograms µg per 100g) daily one speaks of high-dose vitamin B12. Before you start taking vitamin B12 supplements, we recommend that you clarify this with your family doctor.
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Guide: Questions you should consider before you buy high-dose vitamin B12
Before you decide on the high-dose vitamin B12 supplement that best suits you, you should ask yourself a few questions.
We have compiled the most important questions for you here and will answer them in detail for you. So you can read up on the topic of vitamin B12 in high doses and form your own opinion.
What is vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin and an important component of enzymes involved in various metabolic processes in the human body . One of the most important tasks is the breakdown of individual fatty acids . Vitamin B12 plays an important role in the folate metabolism . Folate, in turn, is essential for cell regeneration, protein metabolism and blood formation. (1)
What is the effect of vitamin B12 in high doses and when does it make sense to take it?
High doses of vitamin B12 are needed above all when there is insufficient intake or an increased need. The application is therefore mainly in the therapy of a vitamin B12 deficiency. As a dietary supplement, a dosage of 250 to 500 µg per day is usually sufficient for healthy people to cover their daily needs.
Taking vitamin B12 in high doses makes sense in the following scenarios:
- Initial therapy for severely increased deficiency - replenishment of the body's storage
- With increased need - severe stress, competitive sports, nursing mothers
- Admission disorders - gastrointestinal problems, old age
- Various diseases - intestinal diseases, nervous disorders
High-dose vitamin B12 is largely used to cover the daily requirement for people with severe deficiency symptoms and illnesses. For all other applications and also as maintenance therapy, a dosage of up to 500 µg is usually sufficient.
One speaks of high-dose vitamin B12 from a dosage of 500 - 1000 µg.
Older people in particular, as well as vegetarians and especially vegans, often have a deficiency. Therefore, they belong to the risk groups in particular, who are diagnosed with a serum cobalamin value of less than 148 pmol/l (200 ng/l) and a homocysteine ​​and/or methylmalonic acid value. (2)
As mentioned above, a long-term vegan diet without an increase in vitamin B12 supplements is strongly correlated with an undersupply. It usually takes years when you change your diet to plant-based foods before a clinically recognizable deficiency can be identified. This mainly has to do with the reserve capacity of the body. (3)
Is too much vitamin B12 harmful?
According to a study from Columbus, years of intake of high doses of vitamin B12 and B6 in older men were associated with a significantly increased risk of lung cancer. The association was particularly noticeable in smokers. The lung cancer risk of older men who smoked at baseline was about four times higher in the group with the highest dose of vitamin B12 than in smokers without vitamin B supplements. (4)
In this country, however, an oversupply of vitamin B12 is not a problem worth mentioning, since the average cobalamin intake of Germans is just under 4 µg per day. (5)
This means that an oversupply of vitamin B12 through food is hardly possible, even if the diet is rich in cobalamin, the organism cannot absorb any excess amounts in the bloodstream. The bioavailability of the ingested vitamin also depends on the amount ingested. (6)
When is vitamin B12 high dose?
One speaks of a high-dose vitamin B12 intake from about 500 - 1000 µg. In relation, this corresponds to approx. 30,000% of the daily dose of 4 µg recommended by the German Society for Nutrition. (7)
However, the body can only absorb a maximum of 12 µg per day.
How much do high-dose vitamin B12 preparations cost?
When it comes to vitamin B12 preparations, high-quality supplements are usually the most expensive. We have created a rough price overview for vitamin B12 preparations 1000 µg for you:
| kind | Price |
|---|---|
| Drinking ampoules - 8 x 10 ml | €8 |
| Tablets - 30 pcs. | €15 |
| Spray - 50 ml | €17 |
| Drops - 50 ml | €18 |
| Capsules - 30 pcs. | €20 |
What alternatives are there to vitamin B12 and in which foods is vitamin B12 found?
As an alternative to the supplements, vitamin B12 can also be easily ingested with various foods. Vitamin B12 is mainly found in meat (meat, offal, fish) and dairy products (cheese, quark, milk). That's why it's particularly important for vegans to take vitamin B12 supplements to cover their needs.
The following foods contain vitamin B12 (in micrograms µg per 100g):
- Beef or calf liver - 65 mcg
- Herring - 8.5 mcg
- Trout - 4.5 mcg
- Beef - 5 mcg
- Emmental - 3 mcg
- Pork - 2 mcg
- Chicken egg - 1.8 mcg
In order to get enough vitamin B12 through food, you should not do without meat, fish and dairy products. (Image source: unsplash.com / Emerson Vieira)
What types of high-dose vitamin B12 are there?
Basically, as with other dietary supplements, there are a variety of ways to take them. The most common forms of ingestion are as follows:
- Vitamin B12 high dose capsules
- Vitamin B12 high-dose drinking ampoules
- Vitamin B12 high dose tablets
- Vitamin B12 high dose spray
- Vitamin B12 high dose drops
Each supplement comes with different advantages and disadvantages. In most cases, however, it depends on the individual which preferences one has. In the following section, we would like to help you find the best high-dose vitamin B12 supplement for you.
We will introduce you to all of the high-dose vitamin B12 supplements mentioned above and will explain the advantages and disadvantages.
High-dose vitamin B12 capsules
The capsules have the greatest purity and are usually of very good quality. Since they are largely made without additives, they are also suitable for people with a plant-based diet and vegetarians.
High-dose vitamin B12 drinking ampoules
Drinking ampoules offer a slightly different way of absorbing vitamin B12 in high doses. As the name suggests, the ampoule is simply opened and drunk. Usually there is 25 ml content per drinking ampoule. However, this varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.
High-dose vitamin B12 tablets
There are 2 different types of vitamin B12 high dose tablets. On the one hand, there are normal tablets that you swallow and then drink water. Then there are the so-called sublingual tablets or lozenges. You can let this melt on your tongue.
Vitamin B12 high-dose tablets are rather cheap and therefore very popular, but most tablets contain additives such as colors or flavorings.
High-dose vitamin B12 spray
A spray leads to the immediate absorption of the vitamin through the oral mucosa. A spray is also great for on the go, as it is easy to use and quick to use.
High-dose vitamin B12 drops
With drops as a dietary supplement, the vitamin, as well as with a spray, is immediately absorbed through the oral mucosa. This allows for a quick effect and is therefore perfect for people with stomach or intestinal problems.
Vitamin B12 high-dose drops are also ideal for children and the elderly who find it difficult to swallow the capsules or tablets.
Purchase criteria: You can use these factors to compare and evaluate vitamin B12 preparations
In the following we will show you which aspects you can use to decide between the large number of high-dose vitamin B12 preparations.
The criteria you can use to compare supplements include:
- dosage
- active ingredients
- Vegan / Vegetarian
dosage
Vitamin B12 preparations are dosed differently. The dosage depends mainly on the health situation of the person. We have created a brief overview for you below:
| dosage | scope of application |
|---|---|
| 3 - 50 mcg | Food supplement for healthy people |
| 100-250mcg | Dietary supplement for vegans / vegetarians and people with a low vitamin B12 diet |
| 251-500mcg | Dietary supplement for people with mild health conditions. impairments and for pregnancy |
| 501- 3000 µg ⇒highly dosed | Dietary supplement for people with diseases and severe deficiency |
| Over 3000mcg | For short-term replenishment of the body's storage and especially for initial therapies |
Vitamin B12 in high doses is mainly used to cover the daily requirement for people with severe deficiency symptoms and illnesses.
It is also important to note how many tablets, capsules are contained in a pack and how high the dosage is. This is different for most manufacturers. You should therefore always consult your family doctor or pharmacist.
Finally a vegan vitamin B12...
that really works!
- keep your plant-based diet🌿
- improve your physical & mental well-being🤗/li>
- get a 21% discount now 💰*
*The discount is automatically applied to the product
active ingredients
We have already discussed in the guide that vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin. Now let's go into more detail about the active ingredients. Therapeutically, vitamin B12 is supplemented primarily in the form of hydroxocobalamin or cyanocobalamin. These are so-called prodrugs and are metabolized into the active form in the human body. Furthermore, the active ingredients adenosylcobalamin and methylcobalamin are very common.
Synthetic active ingredients
- Cyanocobalamin : The synthetic active ingredient is created from a combination of cyanide (hydrocyanic acid) and vitamin B12. It is very stable and easy to create. However, it is quite possible that it triggers allergic reactions and people with kidney problems and smokers should also avoid it. Cyanide can cause negative reactions in the body.
Natural active ingredients
- Hydroxocobalamin : This active ingredient is a natural form of vitamin B12. It is made by microorganisms and is found in our body. It makes up almost half of the vitamin B12 in our blood. (8) Hydroxocobalamin is also used to detoxify the body. It does not release any toxins and has a good depot effect.
- Adenosylcobalamin : Without this active form of vitamin B12, energy production in the mitochondria stops. In addition, adenosylcobalamin participates in the metabolism of four protein building blocks and plays a role in cholesterol metabolism.
- Methylcobalamin : This active ingredient is defined as a "bio" - identical form of vitamin b12 and can be optimally stored in the liver.
The ideal high-dose vitamin B12 preparation should be a combination of the three natural active ingredients. The human body needs equal amounts of adenosylcobalamin and methylcobalamin, and the hydroxocobalamin also contributes to detoxification.
Vegan / Vegetarian
Nowadays, more and more people are opting for a plant-based diet. Since vegans and vegetarians in particular are affected by a vitamin B12 deficiency, these preparations are also in increasing demand.
Did you know that around 12% of people in Germany are vegetarian and 4% vegan?
Vegetarian vitamin B12 preparations do not contain any animal additives such as gelatine.
In addition, vegan vitamin B12 preparations do not contain any signs of milk, eggs or the like. These preparations usually belong to the purest supplements and are also suitable for allergy sufferers.
Trivia: Interesting facts about vitamin B12 in high doses
When and how long is the best time to take a high dose of vitamin B12?
A vitamin B12 cure usually lasts several weeks so that the body's stores are replenished. But that depends on your deficiency. It is therefore best to go to your family doctor and discuss this. Optionally, you can also go to a pharmacist.
Uncontrolled intake of high doses of vitamin B12 can be harmful and you should only take vitamin B12 supplements if you are deficient.
How high should the dose of vitamin B12 be or how much vitamin B12 does the body need every day?
A daily vitamin B12 intake of 4 µg is recommended for adults and adolescents from the age of 15 years. Breastfeeding and pregnant women need a higher amount of vitamin B12. A daily intake of 4.5 µg to 5.5 µg is recommended here. (9)
How do you know if you have a vitamin B12 deficiency?
Vitamin B12 deficiency is difficult to diagnose without a urine or blood test. Many of the symptoms can also indicate other ailments. A vitamin B12 deficiency can not only arise in connection with an inadequate diet, but can also be caused by a physical disturbance of the absorption pathways.
If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned in the following paragraphs, please contact your family doctor or pharmacist. (Image source: unsplash.com / Nik Shuliahin)
There are basically 3 different stages of a vitamin B12 deficiency:
- Slight deficiency - no symptoms
- Storage depletion - muscle weakness, exhaustion, chronic fatigue
- Exhausted memory - paralysis, dementia, anemia
If the vitamin B12 deficiency causes neurological symptoms in connection with memory or the eye, they should definitely be taken into account. Vitamin B12 is essential for the human nervous system and a deficiency leads to destruction of the myelin sheaths, which are needed for the transmission of stimuli. If this can no longer be formed sufficiently, faulty transmission of stimuli occurs. Therefore, the following neurological symptoms are associated with a vitamin B12 deficiency:
- Tingling or numbness in the limbs
- disorders of concentration
- memory disorders
- nerve pain
- insecurity when walking
- disturbances in vision
- muscle weakness
Vitamin B12 is also involved in the formation of erythrocytes (red blood cells) and a deficiency can therefore lead to anemia. As the number and size of the erythrocytes change, this results in pernicious anemia. Before that, physical symptoms appear in a weaker form:
- powerlessness, brokenness
- chronic fatigue
- Diarrhea
- burning tongue
- Pale complexion or mucous membranes
1 comment
Habe 129 holotranscobalami sollte ich weiter tgl. 500ug nehmen ,danke ihn schon im voraus !