{"id":220191,"date":"2025-10-23T11:53:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T11:53:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/220191\/"},"modified":"2025-10-23T11:53:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T11:53:07","slug":"the-truth-about-b12-which-supplement-actually-works","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/220191\/","title":{"rendered":"The Truth About B12: Which Supplement Actually Works?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve ever found yourself lost in the vitamin aisle trying to choose the best B12 supplement, you\u2019re not alone. Between methylcobalamin, cyanocobalamin, and a couple of others with equally long names, it can feel more like a chemistry quiz than a health decision. That\u2019s where Plant Based Science London steps in.<\/p>\n

The science-focused channel is known for turning dense nutrition studies into short, evidence-packed videos anyone can understand. Rather than pushing health trends or unsubstantiated claims, they focus on what the research actually says and how to use it to stay healthy on a plant-based diet<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Read more: New Cultivated Spirulina Has Comparable B12 To Beef<\/a><\/p>\n

In one of their latest videos, they tackle the B12 question that confuses just about everyone: which supplement to choose? The team breaks down the four main types, explains what each does in the body, and brings in PCRM\u2019s Dr Michael Greger to reveal the one he recommends and why it\u2019s not necessarily the most high-end option on the market.<\/p>\n

Understanding the four types of vitamin B12<\/p>\n

Vitamin B12 deficiency isn\u2019t just a vegan concern; it affects nearly 40 percent of the US population. The narrator explains that there are \u201cfour main types of B12 \u2013 methylcobalamin, adenosylcobalamin, cyanocobalamin, and hydroxocobalamin.\u201d<\/p>\n

Methylcobalamin, often seen on supplement labels, is one of the body\u2019s two active coenzyme forms of B12. However, the narrator notes that it\u2019s not the complete picture: \u201cThe body has to still convert methylcobalamin into the other coenzyme form called adenosylcobalamin.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adenosylcobalamin, the second form, is described as less stable and less effective in tablet form. Still, the narrator mentions that some people \u201cwith fatigue issues have reported getting more relief from adenosylcobalamin than either methylcobalamin or cyanocobalamin.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s cyanocobalamin, the most studied and widely available type. \u201cBased on many studies, cyanocobalamin has successfully cured vitamin B12 deficiency, and therefore it\u2019s believed that our body can convert it into methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin without any problems,\u201d the narrator explains.<\/p>\n

The only caution? Cyanocobalamin contains a tiny molecule of cyanide, though the narrator clarifies this is \u201cso small in supplements that it\u2019s thought to be physiologically insignificant.\u201d Only certain groups \u2013 such as smokers or those with kidney issues \u2013 may need to avoid it.<\/p>\n

Lastly, hydroxocobalamin, commonly found in B12 injections and animal products, also requires conversion into the two active coenzyme forms.<\/p>\n

Dr Michael Greger\u2019s verdict: Which B12 to take and why<\/p>\n

When it comes to choosing the best form, Dr Greger doesn\u2019t hesitate. \u201cI encourage people to choose cyanocobalamin, not methylcobalamin,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

His reasoning is both scientific and practical. \u201cThe reason they use cyanocobalamin is [because it\u2019s] more shelf stable,\u201d Greger explains. In contrast, \u201cmethylcobalamin is not very shelf stable, and so, first of all, you have to take huge doses comparatively \u2013 a thousand a day, not 200 a week.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also emphasizes that nearly all the successful studies on reversing B12 deficiency have used cyanocobalamin, not methylcobalamin. \u201cThere\u2019s only one study that took vegans who were B12 deficient and tried to reverse their deficiency [with methylcobalamin]\u2026 And [for] one of the people, it didn\u2019t even work at all,\u201d Greger says. \u201cThey gave him a thousand a day, and it did not reverse the B12 deficiency, and so that\u2019s pretty scary.\u201d<\/p>\n

The simplest and cheapest way to stay covered<\/p>\n

\"anYouTube\/ Plant Based Science London Taking a good B12 supplement is beneficial for vegans and non-vegans alike<\/p>\n

Dr Greger sums it up with a straightforward recommendation: \u201cI encourage people, probably the easiest way [to get a regular, reliable source of vitamin B12] is 2,500 micrograms once a week.\u201d<\/p>\n

He estimates the cost at around five dollars per year, calling cyanocobalamin the easiest, cheapest, and most reliable form.<\/p>\n

For those who follow plant-based diets and anyone unsure about their B12 levels, the takeaway from the video is clear: don\u2019t overcomplicate it. A simple, affordable supplement can help prevent deficiency and keep the nervous system and red blood cells healthy.<\/p>\n

As Plant Based Science London\u2019s mission suggests, understanding nutrition doesn\u2019t have to be overwhelming \u2013 sometimes, the smartest choices are the simplest.<\/p>\n

For more plant-based nutrition and health videos, check out Plant Based Science London\u2019s YouTube channel<\/a>.
Read more: Vitamin B12: The Ultimate Guide For Vegans And Vegetarians<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"If you\u2019ve ever found yourself lost in the vitamin aisle trying to choose the best B12 supplement, you\u2019re…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":220192,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[94121,102,6636,8676,56,54,55,13511],"class_list":{"0":"post-220191","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nutrition","8":"tag-b12","9":"tag-health","10":"tag-nutrition","11":"tag-supplement","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-united-kingdom","14":"tag-unitedkingdom","15":"tag-vitamin-b12"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/220191","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=220191"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/220191\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/220192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=220191"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=220191"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=220191"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}