BioTechUSA B-Complex

Name: BioTechUSA B-Complex
Brand: BioTechUSA
SKU: 5999076257621
Price: 12.99 GBP
Availability: InStock

Brands: BioTechUSA

£12.99

BioTechUSA B-Complex keeps it simple: the full spread of B vitamins, in a caps format, 60 caps per pack.

Why people take it

B vitamins contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism
B vitamins contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue
B vitamins contribute to the normal function of the nervous system
B vitamins contribute to normal psychological function

How to use

Take as directed on the pack, ideally with food and at the same time each day.

Good to know

Format: caps
Caffeine free

A food supplement, not a substitute for a varied diet and healthy lifestyle. Do not exceed the stated dose. Keep out of reach of children.

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Categories : BioTechUSA, Caffeine-Free Supplements, Everyday Health Supplements, Vitamin B12 & B Complex, Vitamins & Supplements

SKU: 5999076257621

At a glance

£0.43

per daily dose

Limited

evidence for vitamin b complex

Our honest take

Despite the name, this is closer to a high-dose multivitamin with stimulants: two capsules give large doses of the B vitamins plus 500 mg of vitamin C, 1,600 µg of vitamin A (as retinol), 17 mg of iron, ginseng and guarana (which contains caffeine). The 15 mg of vitamin B6 is above the FSA's 10 mg a day advice, and the retinol and iron are more than most people should take on top of their diet. Most people would be better served by a simple, lower-dose B complex.

You want an all-in-one vitamin product with B vitamins, vitamin C and iron for a short period and do not take any other supplements
You are an adult who has checked the label and is comfortable with the caffeine from guarana
You are pregnant, trying for a baby or breastfeeding: it contains retinol (vitamin A), guarana and ginseng
You are a man or post-menopausal woman who does not need iron, or you have young children at home: iron overdose is dangerous to children
You take other supplements with B6 or vitamin A, are sensitive to caffeine, or take blood-pressure, diabetes or blood-thinning medicines

The science

Vitamin B complex· evidence: Limited

A B complex combines the eight B vitamins: thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), B6, biotin, folate and B12. Together they help the body release energy from food and keep the nervous system and blood healthy. Most people who eat a varied diet get enough of all of them, and B vitamins have not been shown to give extra energy to people who are not short of them.

A B complex can make sense for people with restricted diets, older adults who eat little, heavy drinkers, or vegans who want B12 covered. Vegans mainly need B12, which a single B12 product covers more cheaply.

Products vary a lot. "B-50" and "B-100" formulas give 25 to 100 times the daily need of some B vitamins, which brings no proven extra benefit and can push vitamin B6 well above the UK's 10 mg safety advice. Bright yellow urine is harmless and comes from riboflavin.

Authorised health claim
Claims only apply to a B vitamin that a daily dose provides at 15% of its NRV or more. Common authorised claims include:

Thiamine contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism.
Riboflavin contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
Niacin contributes to normal psychological function.
Pantothenic acid contributes to normal mental performance.
Vitamin B6 contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity.
Folate contributes to normal blood formation.
Vitamin B12 contributes to normal red blood cell formation.
Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal hair.

Typical dose: Around 100% of the NRV of each B vitamin covers daily needs. Many products give far more; there is no proven benefit to higher doses for people who are not deficient.

Safety: Check the vitamin B6 content: the Food Standards Agency advises no more than 10 mg a day from supplements long term, because higher doses can damage nerves. Nicotinic acid (a form of B3) can cause flushing. More than 1 mg of folic acid a day can hide B12 deficiency. High-dose biotin can distort some blood test results (including thyroid and heart tests), so tell your doctor you take it.

Research we looked at:
NHS. Vitamins and minerals: B vitamins and folic acid. nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-b
Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals (2003). Safe Upper Levels for Vitamins and Minerals. Food Standards Agency.
Kennedy DO. B vitamins and the brain: mechanisms, dose and efficacy – a review. Nutrients 2016;8(2):68.

Vitamin B6· evidence: Limited

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine, or the active form pyridoxal-5-phosphate, P-5-P) helps the body use protein and make red blood cells and some brain chemicals. Adults need only about 1.2 to 1.4 mg a day, and most people in the UK get this easily from meat, fish, wholegrains, potatoes, bananas and fortified cereals. True deficiency is uncommon.

For people who are not deficient, there is little good evidence that extra B6 does anything useful. It is often combined with magnesium or zinc in sports products; the B6 in these is mostly there to carry the label claims.

The bigger issue with B6 is safety. Long-term high doses can damage the nerves in the hands and feet, and this has been reported at doses sold freely in shops.

Authorised health claim
Vitamin B6 contributes to normal cysteine synthesis. Vitamin B6 contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism. Vitamin B6 contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system. Vitamin B6 contributes to normal homocysteine metabolism. Vitamin B6 contributes to normal protein and glycogen metabolism. Vitamin B6 contributes to normal psychological function. Vitamin B6 contributes to normal red blood cell formation. Vitamin B6 contributes to the normal function of the immune system. Vitamin B6 contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Vitamin B6 contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity. (Applies where a daily dose gives at least 15% of the NRV, i.e. 0.21 mg.)

Typical dose: Adults need about 1.2 mg (women) to 1.4 mg (men) a day (NRV on labels: 1.4 mg). A supplement giving 1.4 to 10 mg is plenty.

Safety: The Food Standards Agency advises not taking more than 10 mg of vitamin B6 a day from supplements unless a doctor advises it. Taking more than this for a long time can cause loss of feeling in the arms and legs (peripheral neuropathy). Add up the B6 from all your supplements, including B complexes, magnesium/zinc products and multivitamins. Stop and see your GP if you notice tingling, numbness or burning in your hands or feet.

Research we looked at:
NHS. Vitamins and minerals: vitamin B6. nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-b
Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals (2003). Safe Upper Levels for Vitamins and Minerals. Food Standards Agency.
EFSA NDA Panel. Scientific opinion on the tolerable upper intake level for vitamin B6. EFSA Journal 2023;21(5):8006.
Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia) 2023. Safety review: vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) and peripheral neuropathy.

Vitamin A· evidence: Limited

Vitamin A (as retinol or retinyl esters, or as beta-carotene that the body converts) is needed for vision, skin and the immune system. Adults need 600 to 700 µg a day in the UK, and most people get enough from dairy, eggs, oily fish, liver and orange and green vegetables. Deficiency is rare in the UK.

There is little reason for well-fed adults to take extra vitamin A, and preformed vitamin A (retinol) builds up in the body. The NHS advises that people who eat liver weekly should not take supplements containing vitamin A, and that pregnant women should avoid them.

Beta-carotene from food is safe, but high-dose beta-carotene supplements increased lung cancer risk in smokers in large trials.

Authorised health claim
Vitamin A contributes to the maintenance of normal vision. Vitamin A contributes to the maintenance of normal skin. Vitamin A contributes to the normal function of the immune system. (Applies where a daily dose gives at least 15% of the NRV, i.e. 120 µg.)

Typical dose: Adults need 600 µg (women) to 700 µg (men) a day from all sources (NRV on labels: 800 µg).

Safety: Avoid vitamin A (retinol) supplements in pregnancy or if trying to conceive; too much can harm an unborn baby. The NHS advises not having more than 1.5 mg (1,500 µg) a day from food and supplements combined, as long-term excess may weaken bones in later life. Smokers and former smokers should not take high-dose beta-carotene supplements.

Research we looked at:
NHS. Vitamin A. nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-a
EFSA NDA Panel. Scientific opinion on dietary reference values for vitamin A. EFSA Journal 2015;13(3):4028.
Omenn GS, Goodman GE, Thornquist MD, et al. Effects of a combination of beta carotene and vitamin A on lung cancer and cardiovascular disease. N Engl J Med 1996;334(18):1150-1155.

Iron· evidence: Strong

Iron is needed to make haemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood. Women with heavy periods, pregnant women, vegans and vegetarians, frequent blood donors and some endurance athletes are most likely to run low. For people with confirmed iron deficiency, iron supplements reliably raise iron levels and correct anaemia.

Most men and women past the menopause get enough iron from food and should not take iron unless a doctor advises it, because the body has no easy way to get rid of excess iron.

Forms differ mainly in how well they are tolerated. Ferrous sulfate and fumarate are cheap and effective but often upset the stomach. Bisglycinate and other chelates, and lower doses, tend to be gentler. Taking iron every other day can improve absorption and comfort. Unexplained tiredness should be checked by a GP with a blood test before you start iron.

Authorised health claim
Iron contributes to normal cognitive function. Iron contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism. Iron contributes to normal formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin. Iron contributes to normal oxygen transport in the body. Iron contributes to the normal function of the immune system. Iron contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Iron has a role in the process of cell division. (Applies where a daily dose gives at least 15% of the NRV, i.e. 2.1 mg.)

Typical dose: Men and women over 50 need about 8.7 mg a day; women aged 19 to 50 need about 14.8 mg (NRV on labels: 14 mg). Supplements usually give 10 to 30 mg.

Safety: Keep iron supplements well out of reach of children: accidental iron overdose is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in young children. The NHS says taking 17 mg or less a day is unlikely to cause harm; higher doses can cause constipation, nausea and stomach pain. Do not take iron unless you know you need it, and do not take it if you have haemochromatosis or other iron-overload conditions. Iron reduces absorption of some medicines (including levothyroxine and some antibiotics): take them at least 2 hours apart. Tea, coffee and calcium reduce iron absorption.

Research we looked at:
NHS. Vitamins and minerals: iron. nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/iron
NHS. Iron deficiency anaemia. nhs.uk/conditions/iron-deficiency-anaemia
Stoffel NU et al. Iron absorption from supplements is greater with alternate day than with consecutive day dosing in iron-deficient anemic women. Haematologica 2020;105(5):1232–1239.
Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals (2003). Safe Upper Levels for Vitamins and Minerals. Food Standards Agency.

Ingredients & nutrition

Ingredients (EU label): L-ascorbic acid, capsule shell (gelatin, shellac, colours: iron oxides), DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, cellulose, calcium D-pantothenate, guarana seed extract (contains caffeine), thiamine mononitrate, nicotinamide, iron(II) fumarate, Korean ginseng root extract, hesperidin (from bitter orange), riboflavin, anti-caking agents (magnesium salts of fatty acids, silicon dioxide), cyanocobalamin, retinyl acetate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, copper gluconate, sodium selenite, cholecalciferol, calcium L-methylfolate, chromium(III) chloride, D-biotin.

Per daily dose (2 capsules): thiamin 75 mg (6,818% NRV), riboflavin 40 mg (2,857% NRV), niacin 75 mg (469% NRV), pantothenic acid 100 mg (1,667% NRV), vitamin B6 15 mg (1,071% NRV), folate 400 µg (200% NRV), vitamin B12 200 µg (8,000% NRV), biotin 75 µg (150% NRV), vitamin A 1,600 µg (200% NRV), vitamin C 500 mg (625% NRV), vitamin D 10 µg (200% NRV), vitamin E 67 mg (558% NRV), iron 17 mg (121% NRV), copper 2 mg (200% NRV), chromium 25 µg (63% NRV), selenium 50 µg (91% NRV), hesperidin 40 mg, Korean ginseng extract 50 mg, guarana extract 50 mg. 60 capsules, 30 daily doses. Figures from the EU (German) listing; check the UK label.

Dietary notes: not suitable for vegetarians or vegans (gelatin and shellac). Contains caffeine from guarana.

Always check the pack you receive, as manufacturers sometimes update recipes.

How to use

Take 2 capsules a day with food, earlier in the day because of the caffeine. Do not exceed the stated daily dose. Do not combine with other products containing vitamin B6, vitamin A or iron. Keep out of the reach and sight of children.

Price per dose & how it compares

Product	Size	Price	Per daily dose
This product	60 caps	£12.99	£0.43
Essensey Vitamin B Complex		from £7.39	–
BetterYou B-complete Daily Oral Spray		from £12.43	£0.41
OstroVit Vitamin B Complex		from £7.72	–

Cost per daily dose lets you compare packs of different sizes fairly.Worked out from our current prices.

Food supplements should not replace a varied, balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. General information, not medical advice. Speak to your GP or pharmacist first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition or take medication.