If you have a vitamin B12 deficiency, there are plenty of symptoms you could be experiencing. Maybe you don’t seem to have the same amount of energy as you once did, and you can’t manage to stay awake throughout the day. This can be especially true if you follow a plant-based diet. 

It is possible to get enough vitamin B12 through the food that you eat, but it might be easier for some people to get the required amount through a supplement. 

What Does Vitamin B12 Do?

What is vitamin B12 good for, you might wonder. This vitamin is like fuel for the engine of your body (1), and it plays an important role in creating energy. It can also help with reducing chronic inflammation and improving the health of the cardiovascular system. Not only that, it can also help to maintain nervous system health and produce neurotransmitters. You need a good amount of vitamin B12 in order to process carbs, proteins, and fats. The body also needs it to form red blood cells. 

Who Could Benefit From a Vitamin B12 Supplement? 

As we said previously, it is possible to get vitamin B12 through food. This vitamin is naturally present in fish, meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products, and you can also find it in fortified cereals and nutritional yeasts. Since B12 is most often found in animal products, this remains a big reason as to why vitamin B12 supplements are helpful for vegetarians and vegans. These types of supplements can also be helpful for those with Celiac disease or Crohn’s disease, because their bodies have a difficult time absorbing nutrients. 

Do I Need a Supplement? 

It can be hard to figure out if your B12 levels are too low, since the symptoms are broad and not always extremely noticeable. Symptoms include fatigue, weakness, low appetite, weight loss, and pernicious or megaloblastic anemia. Over time, a vitamin B12 deficiency can cause permanent damage to the nervous system, so if you notice tingling in the hands and feet, this could also be a risk. 

When you discuss the potential of a vitamin B12 deficiency with your doctor, make a point to ask about other B vitamin deficiencies as well. With B12 deficiencies commonly comes deficiencies in vitamin B9 and B6, and if this is the case for you, then you might benefit more from a vitamin B complex supplement instead of something that concentrates solely on vitamin B12. 

Finding A Good Supplement

Vitamin B12 supplements should be easy to use. If you have trouble swallowing pills and capsules, the best vitamin B12 liquid drops can help. These types of liquid vitamins can be taken in liquid dropper form, a sublingual dosage, or even a spray. Make sure to pay attention to dosing when you incorporate a vitamin B12 supplement into your diet, as the daily recommended dietary allowance of vitamin B12 for adults is 2.4 micrograms. You should only waver from that dosing if your doctor recommends that you do so. 

The Best Vitamin B12 Liquid Supplements

Swallowing pills is difficult for many people, and liquid supplements make taking vitamins easy. They also make for better bodily absorption, and take effect more quickly than gummies, pills, or capsules. 

We put together a list of the best B12 liquid vitamins in order to take the guesswork out of your search. The first option comes from LiveWell Labs Nutrition, called 100% Methylcobalamin Vegan B12 Drops, and they are 100% vegan. They come with a 2-month supply in every bottle, and they are a great help to people who can’t swallow pills. Coming in a citrus flavor, you can put these drops under your tongue or in a glass of water, integrating them easily into your everyday routine to potentially experience a clearer head and more energy. 

The second option comes from Live Wise Naturals, called Liquid Vitamin B12 Bioactive Blend. You can also place these drops under your tongue. As long as you get five drops a day, you should be good to go. These vegan vitamin B12 drops can help with digestion and you might even see healthier hair, skin, and nails along with reduced brain fog. 

The third choice (2) comes from MaryRuth’s, called Methyl B12 Organic Liquid Spray. It has no added sugar, yet people love its naturally sweet berry taste. It’s kid friendly and free of gluten, wheat, yeast, soy, and GMOs. All you have to do is spray it into your mouth twice daily to get the recommended amount of vitamin B12 that you’re lacking. 

Resources

1. Walsh, Karla. "8 Best Vitamin B12 Supplements to Help Boost a Low Intake, According to Experts." Prevention, 14 Mar. 2022, www.prevention.com/food-nutrition/g35351378/best-b12-supplements/.
2. Armstrong, Lauren. "Don’t B Missing Out: 11 Best B12 Supplements of 2022." Greatist, 10 Feb. 2022, greatist.com/health/best-b12-supplement.