Show all reviewsGood qualitySublingual B12, B6, and folic acid tabletsWorks as expected, easy on the stomach - never goes there, and tastes good.Great productGood and good for you!but they don't dissolve completely like my other brandFound this product did not readily dissolve under my tongueI think these are helpfultake forever to dissolvenot sure...Get fast answers from reviewers See all 12 answered questions Customers also viewed these itemsNature Made Vitamin B-12 1000 MCG Sublingual, 50 Count233Jarrow Formulas Methylcobalamin (Methyl B12), Supports Brain Cells, 5000 mcg, 60 Lozenges2,137Methylcobalamin B12, Sublingual Vitamin B-12 5000mcg - 120 Tablets176Vitamin B12 Sublingual -- B Complex Energy Pill with B12 Methylcobalamin, B6, Biotin,...270Webber Naturals Vitamin B6, B12 and Folic Acid Tablets, 90 Count16Need customer service? Answer: Although sublingual B-12 is often promoted for better absorption, there does not appear to be much evidence for this. In fact, one clinical study comparing the same amount of B-12 given orally or sublingually found they were equally effective at correcting B-12 deficiency over a two-month period.
It should also be noted that unlike the vitamin B-12 in foods, the purified form of B-12 found in supplements, including tablets, does not require stomach acid for absorption -- a potential concern for people with low stomach acid (including many people over the age of 50) or those who take acid blockers such as Pepcid or Zantac, or proton pump inhibitors such as Prevacid, or Prilosec, who are at an increased for B-12 deficiency. in its B Vitamins Supplement Review). For more information about buying and using B-12 supplements, plus our tests of popular products, see the B Vitamins Supplements Review >> Also see these related CL Answers: I take omeprazole (Prilosec), a proton pump inhibitor, to reduce stomach acid. Are there supplements I should avoid, or be taking, due to this drug? How can I get more vitamin B-12 through my diet? Are there any good vegetarian or vegan sources? Is it better to get vitamins from foods or supplements, and are natural vitamins better than synthetic vitamins?
See other recent and popular questions >>We read all questions and try to answer those of popular interest.Sublingual B-12 is meant to be put under your tongue. With so many different types of vitamin B-12 supplements to choose from, it's important to understand which are best absorbed by your body. B-12 is a large molecule that relies on different factors in your stomach -- such as acidity and the production of intrinsic factor -- so oral forms of the vitamin are poorly absorbed. Sublingual B-12 tablets are often touted as being better absorbed and more effective, but research does not support this claim. Vitamin B-12 Vitamin B-12 is one of eight compounds that are collectively referred to as B-complex vitamins. B-12 is needed to make red blood cells, produce energy, synthesize DNA during cell division and to maintain normal cognitive function -- especially short-term memory and mood. B-12 from food and oral supplements is absorbed in the intestines with the help of intrinsic factor, a compound secreted in the stomach.
Even with sufficient intrinsic factor and good intestinal health, B-12 is very poorly absorbed. For example, about 10 micrograms of a 500-microgram oral supplement -- only 2 percent -- is typically absorbed in healthy people, according to the National Institutes of Health. Sublingual Supplements Sublingual supplements -- either as tablets or liquid drops -- are meant to be put under your tongue and absorbed through the mucosal membrane that lines your mouth. Substances absorbed under the tongue get into the bloodstream without having to go through the gastrointestinal tract. You’re not supposed to swallow while a B-12 tablet is dissolving under your tongue, otherwise the vitamin ends up in your stomach and defeats the purpose. Sublingual B-12 tablets usually come in 500- or 1,000-milligram doses. The amount of B-12 your body needs daily is only between 2.4 and 2.8 micrograms, but its poor absorption means you need to take more if supplementing. Absorbability The main advantage of taking sublingual B-12 is supposed to be enhanced absorbability -- at least greater than 2 percent -- and many companies selling the supplements claim this.
However, multiple studies have not supported this contention. A study published in a 2006 edition of the “Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine” concluded that there is no difference in efficacy between sublingual and oral B-complex supplements. Likewise, a study published in a 2003 edition of the “British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology” concluded that 500 micrograms of B-12 -- as cobalamin -- given either sublingually or orally is equally effective in correcting a B-12 deficiency. Supporters of sublingual B-12 supplements may claim that it’s absorbed faster than oral supplements -- and this seems logical -- but more research is needed to find out whether it’s true and what factors are involved. Intrinsic Factor and Acidity For B-12 to be absorbed in your intestines, intrinsic factor needs to be secreted by parietal cells in the stomach wall. The release of intrinsic factor is dependent on high acidity and the production of hydrochloric acid. People with deficient hydrochloric acid or intrinsic factor production may benefit the most from sublingual B-12 supplements because they may not be able to absorb any B-12 via the gastrointestinal route.
Affordability Another potential advantage of taking sublingual B-12 is affordability. Sublingual B-12 supplements are not appreciably different than oral supplements or intranasal sprays in terms of cost, but they are much less expensive compared to B-12 injections and intravenous B-12, which must be administered by a health professional. References National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin B-12Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine: A Single-center, Double-blinded, Randomized Controlled Study to Evaluate the Relative Efficacy of Sublingual and Oral Vitamin B-complex Administration in Reducing Total Serum Homocysteine LevelsBritish Journal of Clinical Pharmacology: Replacement Therapy for Vitamin B12 Deficiency - Comparison Between the Sublingual and Oral Route Photo Credits Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images Suggest a Correction Supplemelts Sublingual Vitamin B-12 Sublingual vitamin B-12 delivering high absorption methylcobalamin Essential nutrition for natural energy production in every cell of your body Sugar-free formula sweetened with stevia and xylitol
5 mg 60 Tabs Product Info & Reviews "I have taken other forms of this vitamin, but this one is easy to take and I can really tell the difference when I take it." ~product review by amp8633 See all reviews Sublingual vitamin B-12 delivering high absorption methylcobalamin Essential nutrition for natural energy production in every cell of your body Sugar-free formula sweetened with stevia and xylitol Introducing our fastest-acting, high-absorption vitamin B-12 supplement ever! Methylcobalamin, the biologically active form of vitamin B-12, revolutionized supplementation by delivering body-ready nutrition. Now Swanson Supplemelts™ technology makes it even better with a tiny sublingual tablet that literally melts under the tongue for rapid absorption.Vitamin B-12 is essential for energy production in every cell of the body. It's vital for nervous system health, cardiovascular wellness, physical performance and mental acuity. Methylcobalamin is the neurologically active form preferred by many healthcare providers over conventional forms like cyanocobalamin.
Cyanocobalamin and other forms must undergo metabolic conversion before they are recognized and used by the body. Methylcobalamin eliminates this step, delivering vitamin B-12 directly in a form the body can recognize and use right away.Methylcobalamin delivered in sublingual oral-dissolving tablets gives you a double advantage for reliable supplementation. With our new Vitamin B-12 Supplemelts, you get the fastest-acting form in a fast-dissolving, rapid-absorption tablet. No conversion necessary, no unnecessary dyes or sugars and no messy liquid droppers.Terms and Ingredient Definitions Serving Size 1 Sublingual Tablet Vitamin B-12 (as methylcobalamin) Other ingredients: Oral dissolve excipient (d-mannitol, microcrystalline cellulose, crospovidone, dicalcium phosphate, xylitol), magnesium silicate, natural strawberry flavor, rebaudioside A (from stevia). Suggested Use: As a dietary supplement, dissolve one tablet under tongue per Supplemelts™ is a trademark of Swanson Health Products.