Some of you know from my other recent post that I finally went vegan after being a lacto-vegetarian since 1997.  I've also thrown out all junk food like soda pop.  My blood test results were the kick in the pants I needed.  My cholesterol was too high. 

In any event, I had a vegan friend help me select my B12 tablets today.  I've done my research.  As most of you know, there's zero danger of becoming protein deficient, but there is danger of a B12 deficiency.  I've only been eating vegan for a week, so I'm sure I don't have any kind of B12 problem just yet, but I went ahead and got my B12 tablets.  It says on the bottle:

So how often do I take these?  Do I let the tablet dissolve in my mouth or just swallow it? 

The recommended daily intake for B-12 is 2.4 mcg for adults (2.6 if you're pregnant,) so, at 3000mcg, your supplement would give you 1250-times what you need daily. I'd call that overkill. The body can store B-12 for long periods, a couple of years. I certainly wouldn't take one every day. It would be a big waste. Any excess you take in will be eliminated when you urinate.

I keep some breath mints on hand that contain B-12, but only 500mcg. Just once in a while, if I feel like my energy level is dropping, I'll have one.

Since yours are described as lozenges and great tasting, you can let one (or maybe just part of one) dissolve in your mouth, or just swallow it, as you choose. Shortage of B-12 isn't as critical as it sometimes sounds, because a little goes a long way. Trust your own feelings.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capstan 
 

The recommended daily intake for B-12 is 2.4 mcg for adults (2.6 if you're pregnant,) so, at 3000mcg, your supplement would give you 1250-times what you need daily. I'd call that overkill. The body can store B-12 for long periods, a couple of years. I certainly wouldn't take one every day. It would be a big waste. Any excess you take in will be eliminated when you urinate.

 

I keep some breath mints on hand that contain B-12, but only 500mcg. Just once in a while, if I feel like my energy level is dropping, I'll have one.

 

Since yours are described as lozenges and great tasting, you can let one (or maybe just part of one) dissolve in your mouth, or just swallow it, as you choose. Shortage of B-12 isn't as critical as it sometimes sounds, because a little goes a long way. Trust your own feelings.

Or ... trust science since it's the most reliable source there is: http://nutritionfacts.org/2011/09/12/dr-gregers-2011-optimum-nutrition-recommendations/

If you're tablets contain 3000mcg, according to Dr Greger it should be enough to take one tablet a week. It's better to chew it and let it sit in your mouth for a while since the absorption is better that way. Personally, I take 250 mcg a day, according to Dr Gregers recommendations. I've also seen this recommendation in vegan nutrition books I've bought since becoming vegan.

There are great free resources regarding vegan nutrition and heath: veganhealth.org, theveganrd.com, nutritionfacts.org. Good luck :)

Hey Tom, I have B12 sublingual drops with a similar profile (2000 mcg) and I take them once or twice a week.  I have done this for years and my B12 still tests normal range.  I actually tried to take them daily at first and had strange symptoms (tingling in hands, feeling like I was going to jump out of my skin and like every nerve in my body was on fire).  When I stopped doing that and just taking them once or twice a week those symptoms disappeared.  And I use the Methyl version as opposed to Cyano one as that seemed to make those weird symptoms worse.  I am very very sensitive to vitamins, chemicals etc.