vitamin
Vitamin B12 supplements
Half of the 14,425 vitamin B12 supplements in the NIH label database that print an amount list 36 mcg or less per serving; the middle half list 6 mcg to 200 mcg (DSLD version 9.4.0, January 2026). The 654 products whose only supplement ingredient is vitamin B12 list a median of 1,000 mcg.
- Products listing it
- 14,77414,425 print an amount; 336 list it inside a blend without an amount
- Median per serving
- 36 mcgmiddle half 6 mcg to 200 mcg
- FDA Daily Value
- 2.4 mcgthe median is 1500% of it
How much vitamin B12 do supplements contain?
The median product lists 36 mcg per serving. One in ten lists 2.8 mcg or less, one in ten 1,000 mcg or more. The amount printed most often is 6 mcg (1,349 products).
Products by amount of vitamin B12 per serving
14,425 products, log scale; extreme 0.2% at each end left out of the drawing.
| Amount per serving | Products | For example |
|---|---|---|
| 6 mcg | 1,349 | Spiru-Pro Soy Protein Drink With Spirulina Natural Vanilla (Vitamin World); Healthy Energy (FRS); Healthy Energy Pineapple Mango (FRS) |
| 100 mcg | 1,318 | B-12 100 mcg (Vitamin World); Phyto-Estrogen Formula (GNC Women's); B100 Complex (Sundown Naturals) |
| 50 mcg | 920 | Sport (GNC Mega Men); Maximum Nutrition Vanilla Bean (GNC Mega Men); Maximum Nutrition Vanilla Creme (GNC Women's Ultra Mega) |
| 1,000 mcg | 903 | Timed Release B-12 1000 mcg (Vitamin World); 2 Methyl 13-C (Iron-Tek); Animal Rage Slaughter Melon (Animal) |
| 500 mcg | 775 | B-12 500 mcg (Vitamin World); B-Complex (Effective Natural Products); Heart Miracle (Century Systems) |
| 25 mcg | 651 | Beveri Immunity Boost Natural Tangerine Flavor (beveri); Beveri Immunity Boost Natural Tropical Fruit Flavor (beveri); 1,000 mg Vitamin C Lite (Emergen-C) |
| 12 mcg | 510 | Memorall (GNC Preventive Nutrition); Every Woman's One Daily (New Chapter Organics); Daily Essentials (VAXA International) |
| 10 mcg | 411 | SuperPump Max Raspberry Lemonade (Gaspari Nutrition); SuperPump Max Fruit Punch Blast (Gaspari Nutrition); High Potency B & C Complex (Sundown Naturals) |
| 250 mcg | 405 | Pre-Training Formula Tropical Punch (Gamma Labs); Vitamin B12-250 (ProCaps Laboratories); Folic Acid Xtra (Sundown Naturals) |
| 200 mcg | 366 | Anatherm Heat Metabolics Stimulator (NatureSmart); LifeEssence (Pure Essence Labs); Viridex XT (Gaspari Nutrition) |
Source: Supplement Facts rows of every product's current label, NIH ODS Dietary Supplement Label Database version 9.4.0; amounts in one measure (weight).
How do the amounts compare with the Daily Value and the upper limit?
The FDA Daily Value for vitamin B12 is 2.4 mcg (adults and children 4 and older). The median product gives 1500% of it per serving; the 90th percentile 41667%.
The upper limit is for total intake from food, water and supplements unless stated, and does not apply under medical supervision. A label amount is what the maker printed. This is data, not advice: the NIH ODS fact sheets explain what each nutrient does.
Sources: 21 CFR 101.9(c)(8)(iv) (Daily Values); Institute of Medicine, DRI summary tables (2011) (upper limits); on reading them, the FDA's Daily Value page.
Which forms of vitamin B12 do labels name?
Cyanocobalamin is the form named most often: 7,144 of the 14,774 vitamin B12 products (48%), ahead of methylcobalamin (5,005, 34%) and adenosylcobalamin (223, 2%). A product naming two forms counts in both; the table below gives every form.
Products by the form of vitamin B12 on the label
Count, and the median amount per serving in that form.
| Form | Products | Share of vitamin B12 products | Median per serving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyanocobalamin | 7,144 | 48% | 25 mcg |
| Methylcobalamin | 5,005 | 34% | 100 mcg |
| Adenosylcobalamin | 223 | 2% | 281.5 mcg |
| Hydroxocobalamin | 139 | under 1% | 400 mcg |
Source: the form each label gives for its vitamin B12 row (DSLD "forms"), current labels.
Which products list the most vitamin B12?
On-market products, per serving, with a plausible amount: the rule leaves out likely entry slips, such as an amount far beyond every other label with no %DV or strength on the label to back it (each product page still shows its own amount, marked).
- Methyl B12 - 15 mgAOR Advanced Orthomolecular Research Advanced45,000 mcg
- Mega B-12 Daily VitsNOW12,000 mcg
- B-12 10,000 mcg Mixed BerryNOW Shots10,000 mcg
- B-12 10,000 mcg Delicious Cherry FlavorVitaSorb10,000 mcg
- Extra Strength Methyl B-12 10,000 mcgNOW10,000 mcg
- Methylcobalamin B-12 10,000 mcg B-6 & Folic Acid 1,200 mcgSuperior Source10,000 mcg
- Methylcobalamin B-12 10,000 mcgSuperior Source10,000 mcg
- B-12 10,000 mcgSuperior Source10,000 mcg
Have the amounts changed over the years?
Products whose current label entered DSLD in 2011 list a median of 50 mcg; those entered in 2025, 30 mcg.
| Year | Products | Median per serving |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 341 | 50 mcg |
| 2012 | 922 | 37 mcg |
| 2013 | 1,039 | 25 mcg |
| 2014 | 714 | 50 mcg |
| 2015 | 701 | 40 mcg |
| 2016 | 636 | 37.5 mcg |
| 2017 | 748 | 50 mcg |
| 2018 | 681 | 35 mcg |
| 2019 | 753 | 30 mcg |
| 2020 | 1,281 | 50 mcg |
| 2021 | 1,225 | 29 mcg |
| 2022 | 1,398 | 30 mcg |
| 2023 | 1,205 | 30 mcg |
| 2024 | 1,438 | 50 mcg |
| 2025 | 1,343 | 30 mcg |
Source: DSLD label entry dates and amounts, current labels.
In which products and brands?
Products listing vitamin B12 by DSLD product type
Brands listing it most: Douglas Laboratories (245), Nature's Way (236), Nature's Plus (226), Cellucor (111), Country Life (107), Bronson (95), NOW (91), Nature Made (89), ProCaps Laboratories (87), Nature's Bounty (84).
Every product listing vitamin B12
14,774 products, A to Z by name (page 33 of 296), each with the amount its label prints; an amount far outside what other labels print is marked as a possible slip.
- B-ComplexNested Naturals50 mcg
- B-ComplexANTIAGING Institute of California400 mcg
- B-ComplexNatures Plus Source of Life Garden · off the market100 mcg
- B-ComplexNOW50 mcg
- B-ComplexVital Nutrients500 mcg
- B-ComplexHealthy Origins500 mcg
- B-ComplexBeyond Health100 mcg
- B-ComplexDC60 mcg
- B-ComplexOrzax100 mcg
- B-ComplexDr. Rico Perez125,000 mcg as transcribed, likely a slip
- B-ComplexMetabolic Maintenance1,000 mcg
- B-ComplexGarden of Life MyKind Organics53.3 mcg
- B-ComplexShaklee81 mcg
- B-ComplexGNC Select6,000 mcg as transcribed, likely a slip
- B-ComplexNature's Sunshine33 mcg
- B-ComplexParadise Earth's Blend500 mcg
- B-Complex "100"Solgar100 mcg
- B-Complex "50"Solgar50 mcg
- B-Complex "50"Puritan's Pride50 mcg
- B-Complex #12Thorne Research · off the market600 mcg
- B-Complex #12Thorne600 mcg
- B-Complex #5Thorne Research · off the market100 mcg
- B-Complex #6Thorne Research · off the market100 mcg
- B-Complex #6Thorne100 mcg
- B-Complex & B-12Radiance25 mcg
- B-Complex + 10 mg 5-MTHFMetabolic Maintenance1,000 mcg
- B-Complex + 10 mg L-MethylfolateMethylPro1,000 mcg
- B-Complex + 15 mg L-MethylfolateMethylPro1,000 mcg
- B-Complex + 5 mg L-MethylfolateMethylPro1,000 mcg
- B-Complex + EnergyGNC · off the market100 mcg
- B-Complex + MineralsDouglas Laboratories8 mcg
- B-Complex + Vitamin C Gummies Strawberry FlavoredMRM Nutrition30 mcg
- B-Complex 100Vitabase100 mcg
- B-Complex 100Highland Laboratories100 mcg
- B-Complex 100GNC100 mcg
- B-Complex 100Viva Vitamins100 mcg
- B-Complex 100The Vitamin Shoppe100 mcg
- B-Complex 100Solaray · off the market100 mcg
- B-Complex 100Dr. Michael L. Ross D.O. PA.100 mcg
- B-Complex 100Vitamin Discount Center · off the market100 mcg
- B-Complex 100Bluebonnet100 mcg
- B-Complex 100 Sustained ReleaseMeijer Naturals100 mcg
- B-Complex 100 Time ReleasedBasic Vitamins100 mcg
- B-Complex 125The Vitamin Shoppe125 mcg
- B-Complex 125 with CGNC · off the market125 mcg
- B-Complex 150 Timed-ReleaseGNC150 mcg
- B-Complex 50Vitabase50 mcg
- B-Complex 50Newflower Farmers Markets50 mcg
- B-Complex 50Highland Laboratories50 mcg
- B-Complex 50The Vitamin Shoppe50 mcg