Comparison
Best vitamin B12 supplement in the UK
The best vitamin B12 supplement for you comes down to whether you need one at all, the format you will stick with, whether it is vegan, and the dose. The NHS says adults aged 19 to 64 need about 1.5 micrograms a day, and that taking 2mg (2,000 micrograms) or less a day in supplements is unlikely to cause any harm. Vegans need a reliable source, because B12 is not found naturally in fruit, vegetables or grains. Below we compare named UK products by form, dose and vegan status.
Vitamin B12: what the NHS says
The NHS says: "Adults (aged 19 to 64) need about 1.5 micrograms a day of vitamin B12." If you eat meat, fish or dairy foods, it says "you should be able to get enough vitamin B12 from your diet", but "vegans may not get enough of it".
On supplements, the NHS says: "Taking 2mg or less a day of vitamin B12 in supplements is unlikely to cause any harm." Every product we could check below is under that amount per daily serving. Source: NHS, B vitamins and folic acid (last NHS review 3 August 2020, next review due 3 August 2023; checked 1 November 2026). For who is more likely to run low, see our guide to vitamin B12 for women.
At a glance
| Brand and product | Form | Best suited to | Dose per serving | Vegan | Where we checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetterYou, B12 Oral Spray | Oral spray (methylcobalamin) | Preferring a spray to a tablet | 1200 micrograms of vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin) per daily dose of 4 sprays | Yes: BetterYou lists it as suitable for vegans | betteryou.com product page, sold as Vitamin B12 Oral Spray |
| Wild Nutrition, Food-Grown Vitamin B12 Plus | Capsule (food-grown) | Preferring a food-grown format | 500 micrograms of vitamin B12 per capsule | Yes: Wild Nutrition says it is suitable for vegans | wildnutrition.com product page, now sold as Vitamin B12 Plus |
| Bulk, Vitamin B12 Tablets 1000mcg | Tablet (methylcobalamin) | Wanting a low-cost everyday option | 1000 micrograms of vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin) per tablet | Yes: Bulk lists it as suitable for vegans | bulk.com product page, sold as Vitamin B12 Tablets 1000 mcg, checked 1 November 2026 |
The shortlist
What to look for when buying
- B12 has no reliable plant source, so anyone following a vegan diet is specifically flagged by the NHS as needing a supplement or fortified foods, not just "most vegans".
- Absorption issues are common in older adults and those on certain medications (including long-term metformin or PPIs); if you are in either group and feel persistently tired, mention it to your GP rather than assuming a supplement will fix it.
- Forms vary (cyanocobalamin, methylcobalamin); the amount in micrograms on the label matters more than the form for most people, so compare that first.
- Unexplained tiredness, tingling or memory problems should be checked with a blood test before self-treating, since B12 deficiency has specific causes that supplementing alone will not address.
New to B12? Start with our plain-English guide to vitamin B12 for women, which covers vegan diets, absorption with age and medicines, and why persistent tiredness needs a blood test first.
How we compared
We shortlist real, named UK brands in each category by desk research: product form, typical dose against NHS and EFSA reference intakes (our dose and evidence constants are dated on the research index), who each product suits, and value for money. We have not hands-on tested these products and don't claim to. No brand pays for inclusion or placement, and we don't rank by commission. Some links may earn us a commission, and that is disclosed where the link appears. Our own products are labelled wherever they appear.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best vitamin B12 supplement in the UK?
There is no single best. It depends on whether you need one, the format you will keep taking, whether you need it to be vegan, and the dose. The table above compares named UK products on each of these, using the label facts we could check on each seller's own page.
How much vitamin B12 should I take a day?
The NHS says adults aged 19 to 64 need about 1.5 micrograms a day, and most people who eat meat, fish or dairy get enough from food. If you take a supplement, the NHS says 2mg (2,000 micrograms) or less a day is unlikely to cause any harm. If you are unsure, ask your GP or pharmacist.
Do vegans need a B12 supplement?
Vegans need a reliable source. The NHS says B12 is not found naturally in foods such as fruit, vegetables and grains, so "vegans may not get enough of it". Fortified foods or a supplement can fill the gap. The Vegan column above shows which products the seller lists as suitable for vegans.
Is a spray better than a tablet?
Neither is shown to be better for everyone; it is mainly about what you will use every day. Compare the micrograms per daily serving, which can mean one tablet or several sprays, and choose the format you will keep up.
This is information, not medical advice, and is not a substitute for a registered clinician. Persistent tiredness, tingling or memory changes should be checked with a blood test rather than self-treated. Always read product labels and speak to your GP or pharmacist before starting a supplement.
Editor, Her Vitals
Oliver leads Her Vitals's editorial coverage of women's life-stage health and supplements. He curates and reviews existing branded products across trying to conceive, pregnancy, postnatal, perimenopause, menopause and the senior years, weighing what the evidence supports against guidance from bodies such as EFSA, the NHS and NICE, and is clear that the content is information rather than medical advice.
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