One of the biggest concerns for many people while taking supplements is the possibility of side effects. In all cases, you should be cautious when it comes to how much of a vitamin or mineral you are taking. Each nutrient has its own unique role in the body, meaning that it also will be needed in different amounts compared to other nutrients. Keeping these amounts in mind is an essential part of using supplements in a healthy way. If you are concerned about making sure you do not take too much of your vitamins and minerals, you may want to consider a multivitamin, as these formulas are specially designed to provide you with the correct amount of each nutrient on a daily basis.

That being said, side effects from liquid supplements are not non-existent, but they are extremely uncommon. As long as you are taking your supplements as directed, you should not experience any adverse side effects. In this article, we will focus specifically on vitamin B12 liquid drops and explain how to consume them safely.

Supplementing Water-Soluble Vitamins

Unlike minerals, vitamins can be sorted into two distinct categories: water-soluble and fat-soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E, and K) are typically stored in the body’s liver or fatty tissues and can build up over time, making them a higher risk factor when it comes to side effects. Water-soluble vitamins (the B complex vitamins and vitamin C), on the other hand, are not stored anywhere in the body and are instead immediately flushed out when they start to accumulate excessively. For this reason, overdosing on water-soluble vitamins is very uncommon. Typically, you would need to take an extreme quantity of your supplement in order to start seeing side effects. Since vitamin B12 is water-soluble like all the other B complex vitamins, there is not much cause for concern in the realm of side effects.

Vitamin B12 Dosage Instructions

Even though overdosing on water-soluble vitamins like B12 is nearly impossible, it is still important to make sure you do not take them excessively. Try to follow the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for all the vitamins and minerals in your supplement regimen in order to avoid any possibility of developing adverse side effects. Below, we have the provided the recommended dosage of vitamin B12 for different age groups and demographics according to the National Institutes of Health (1):

• 0 to 6 months old: 0.4 mcg
• 7 to 12 months old: 0.5 mcg
• 1 to 3 years old: 0.9 mcg
• 4 to 8 years old: 1.2 mcg
• 9 to 13 years old: 1.8 mcg
• 14 years and older: 2.4 mcg
• Breastfeeding individuals: 2.8 mcg
• Pregnant individuals: 2.6 mcg

Some possible side effects of regularly taking too much vitamin B12 include headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, and a tingling sensation in the hands or feet (2). If you experience any of these symptoms, you should contact your doctor right away. Keep in mind that you should also consult with your physician prior to starting a supplement regimen in the first place, as they can provide you with unique dosage instructions catered specifically to you and help make sure you utilize your supplement safely.

Who Should Take Vitamin B12?

In truth, anyone can take a vitamin B12 supplement if they feel they are not regularly consuming enough B12 in their diet. However, there are some who may be particularly in need of supplementation with this essential vitamin more than others. Anyone with a vitamin B12 deficiency, for example, may be instructed by their physician to start taking a supplement containing B12. Since this nutrient is only found in animal products like beef, poultry, milk, cheese, and eggs, those who eat a vegan or vegetarian diet are at greater risk of developing a deficiency. People over 60 are also more prone to B12 deficiency, so consider these factors both when creating your diet plan and selecting supplements.

As we mentioned, those who are new to the world of supplements or who simply do not have the time to keep track of daily dosages for every nutrient may want to consider trying a multivitamin. Formulas like Better Family’s Liquid Daily represent a convenient way to boost your nutrition with a variety of vitamins and minerals that are already properly dosed. We have done the research for you and selected only the highest quality forms of each nutrient in order to give you and your loved ones the healthiest and most efficient dosage possible of vitamin B12 and a host of other essential micronutrients.

Resources

1. “Vitamin B12.” National Institutes of Health, 9 March 2022, https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-HealthProfessional.
2. “Vitamin B12 Deficiency.” Cleveland Clinic, 25 April 2022, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22831-vitamin-b12-deficiency.