Should I Take Vitamin B Complex or B12?
You want comprehensive B vitamin support.
Youre following a restricted diet that limitsvitamin B food sources.
FreshSplash / Getty Images
You have an underlying medical condition that affects nutrient absorption.
You follow a vegetarian or vegan eating pattern.
You’re over age 60.
You have a B12 deficiency.
You take medications that interfere with B12 absorption.
Fortified foods, such as cereals and breads, also contain B vitamins.
Should I Eat More Food Sources or Take Supplements?
8 Essential B Vitamins
EightB vitaminswork together to support numerous bodily functions and processes.
Because B vitamins are water-soluble, the body typically eliminates excess amounts through urine.
Summary
Choosing between B complex and B12 supplements depends on your needs.
Consult a healthcare provider before starting a new supplement.
Hanna M, Jaqua E, Nguyen V, et al.B vitamins: functions and uses in medicine.Perm J.
National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements.Multivitamin/mineral supplements.
2020;12(1):236.
StatPearls Publishing; 2025.
Paluszny A, Qiu S.Vitamin B6 toxicity secondary to daily multivitamin use: a case report.Cureus.
2023;15(11):e48792.
doi:10.7759/cureus.48792
National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements.Folate: health professional fact sheet.
2016;8(11):725. doi:10.3390/nu8110725
MedlinePlus.Vitamin B test.
