Types Of Vitamin B12

What Is Vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 is a type of water-soluble vitamin found in a number of foods. It’s also commonly added to other foods to “forify” them and increase the nutrient profile.

And, many supplements add Vitamin B12, either as part of a vegan multi-nutrient blend or as super greens blend.

You can find Vitamin B12 mostly in animal-based products including fish, dairy, meat, and poultry.

This explains why people following an exclusively plant-based diet can struggle to get enough of this key nutrient.

What Are The Health Benefits Of Vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 is needed to produce red blood cells. We tend to think of Iron as the key factor in preventing anemia, but actually, you can also become anemic if you lack Vitamin B12 too.

Being anemic can cause unpleasant symptoms such as fatigue and weakness, and can make it hard for you to be fit and active.

B12 is also an essential nutrient for nerve health –  and so if you become deficient symptoms can include neurological issues.

B12 also has the following benefits:

• May prevent birth defects and reduce the miscarriage rate. This is why it’s so important that pregnant women are mindful about their nutrient intake, especially if they are following a vegan diet.
• Can reduce your risk of depression. Because B12 is involved in serotonin production – if you become deficient, the evidence shows you may increase your risk of depression. But, this risk tends to be higher in middle-aged women for some reason.
• Can improve your energy. B Vitamins work together to boost your energy levels, which is why they have often been added into energy-boosting blends along with Magnesium.
• May reduce your homocysteine levels. Elevated homocysteine is associated with an increased risk of both heart conditions and dementia. But, B12 can help to keep your homocysteine levels within a healthy range.

What Are The Types Of Vitamin B12?

Within vitamin supplements, you will usually find the form of Vitamin B12 known as cyanocobalamin.

But there are actually four types of Vitamin 12. The other three are:

• Methylcobalamin
• Adenosylcobalamin
• Hydroxocobalamin

Methylcobalamin Vs Cyanocobalamin

Sometimes, supplements contain a type of Vitamin B12 which is not found in nature.

This is the case with Cyanocobalamin. It’s generally used in supplementation because it’s cheaper and also more stable as a compound.

But, the body can still benefit from this type of Vitamin B12. It first needs to be converted into a more active form of Vitamin B12 though.

Methycolanalmin does not need to be activated in the body – as it’s already in active form.

Methylcolanalmin is found in Vitamin B12-rich foods such as eggs, meat, and milk.

You can also find it directly in some supplements too.

When it comes to which one of these forms of B12 is best – the answer isn’t entirely clear cut.

This is because studies tend to show that cyanocobalamin is more easily absorbed after ingestion. And we need to fully absorb a nutrient to make it worth our while taking it.

But, with methylcobalamin, the body appears more able to retain the nutrient – which is especially important with a water-soluble vitamin that is easily depleted and requires frequent replenishment.

Overall, there appear to be health benefits for both these types of B12, and there may not be that much between them when it comes to which is best.

Plus, more evidence is needed to make a firm conclusion here.

Cyanocobalamin Vs Hydroxocobalamin

Both cyanocobalamin and hydroxocobalamin are produced synthetically and therefore don’t exist in nature. So, they have that in common.

Sometimes, when someone has a pretty severe form of Vitamin B12 deficiency, they are offered an injection. And in this case, the form of Vitamin B12 used is usually hydroxocobalamin.

One of the reasons for this is that hydroxocobalamin starts to replenish depleted Vitamin B12 levels at a faster rate than other forms such as cyanocobalamin.

So when time is of the essence, and injections are required, hydroxocobalamin is usually the way to go.

But, both these forms of B12 have their place in the prevention and treatment of B12 deficiency.

Which Form Of Vitamin B12 Is Best?

There are a few differing opinions about which type of Vitamin B12 is best. Some people think that it’s best to choose the most natural version and go with methylcobalamin.

But, considering that cyanocobalamin is well absorbed, others think this is a good choice for supplementation.

And if you are severely depleted your doctor will probably offer you hydroxocobalamin to quickly restore your Vitamin B12 levels.

So, it’s not a black-and-white answer. And it depends on your needs, your level of deficiency, and your personal preferences.

What Type Of B12 Does Supergreen Tonik Have?

In Supergreen Tonik, you can find the highly absorbable cyanocobalamin form of B12. This is ideal because it means you can be sure you will gain from the amount you consume.

But, because B12 is water soluble and is excreted via the urine, you’ll need to keep your levels topped up by consuming the supplement on a daily basis.

Consistency is key – especially if you don’t often eat meat, dairy, fish, or other animal-based products.

And another benefit of consuming B12 as part of a blend is that you’ll often get another complimentary selection of B vitamins.

In fact, with Supergreen Tonik, you can also get the benefits of Vitamin B6.

Which is useful because nutrients work together synergistically. That means it’s best to take a well-rounded blend of nutrients, instead of overdosing on high amounts of one particular nutrient.

This is often a mistake people make when trying to improve their health.

So, you can rely on Supergreen Tonik for all your Vitamin B12 needs and benefit from a general nutrient boost.

And furthermore, you’ll get benefits that far exceed just taking a conventional multivitamin.

Why? Because you’ll also be getting adaptogens, super green blends, and a heap of antioxidants.

We talked about vitamins working best together – but also, certain adaptogens appear to work at their best when combined with other nutrients.

For example, studies found that the anti-stress adaptogen ashwagandha, worked most effectively when combined with B Vitamins, which is also present in Supergreen Tonik.

So, why not make life easy and cover all your nutritional bases with Supergreen Tonik – a third-party tested, full transparency labeled, super green powder you can trust.

Julia Ebbens, MSc

Julia is a health content editor and nutritionist from Norwich, UK. She has worked as a health coach in private practice and for the national health service. She undertook an MSc in nutritional medicine to deepen her knowledge.

She enjoys producing evidence-based content which inspires people to become healthier and happier.