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NLHow much B12 do I need?
HOW MUCH B12 DO I NEED?
Not sure how much B12 to take? You're not alone.
B12 plays a big role in how we feel—energy, mood, memory, even red blood cells.
But how much you need depends on your diet, age, and how well your body absorbs it.
Let’s break it down 👇
✅ EVERYDAY HEALTH (10–500µg / day)
If you eat some animal products or B12-fortified foods, you might meet the recommended 2.4µg a day¹.
But here's the catch: your body only absorbs a small percentage of that.
That’s why many people take 10–500µg daily to stay topped up².
Best for: most healthy adults with a mixed diet and no absorption issues.
🌱 VEGANS & OVER 50s (500–1000µg / day)
B12 lives in animal products. So if you’re plant-based, or over 50 (when absorption slows down³), you likely need a higher dose to stay in the healthy range⁴.
Best for: vegans,vegetarians, and anyone 50+.
⚠️ LOW B12 LEVELS (1000–3000µg / day)
If your blood test shows low B12, short-term higher doses (1000–3000µg/day) can help restore levels fast⁵.
Once you’re back on track, most people drop back to a maintenance dose.
Best for: people with confirmed deficiency (talk to your GP first).
⚕️ ABSORPTION ISSUES (3000–5000µg+ / day)
Some health conditions—like pernicious anemia, Crohn’s, or gastric surgery—can stop your body absorbing B12 properly⁶.
In these cases, high-dose B12 (sometimes lifelong) might be needed under medical supervision.
Best for: people with known absorption problems—work with your doctor.
📊 WANT TO BE SURE?
A blood test is the best way to know where you're at.
Ask your GP to check your active B12, MMA, and homocysteine if you’re not feeling right.
WHY SUBLINGUAL B12 MAKES SENSE
B12 absorption can be tricky. Gut health, age, and even genetics play a role.
That’s why sublingual B12 (under the tongue) is a smart option—it skips digestion⁷.
Vivo Life Liquid B12 contains 500µg per dose.
You can easily adjust how much you take, depending on your needs or test results.
HOW TO TAKE IT:
- Shake bottle
- Drop 1ml (one pipette) under your tongue
- Hold for 30 seconds
- Swallow
- Repeat if needed
SOURCES
📖 NIH B12 Guidelines, 2022
📖 Oral vitamin B12 supplementation – Institute of Medicine, Am J Clin Nutr
📖 B12 deficiency in older adults – Lindenbaum et al., NEJM
📖 EFSA B12 Reference Values, 2015
📖 High-dose oral B12 for deficiency – Kuzminski et al., Blood
📖 Pernicious anemia and malabsorption – Andres et al., CMAJ
📖 Sublingual B12 vs oral absorption – Sharabi et al., Blood
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