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Doctor's Best Fully Active B-Complex with Quatrefolic
The full spread of B vitamins, delivered in Doctor's Best's vcaps format.
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
- Choose from 2 sizes: 30 vcaps / 60 vcaps
- Format: vcaps
- Caffeine free
- Vegetarian-friendly capsule shell
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.
At a glance
£0.33
per daily dose
Limited
evidence for vitamin b complex
Our honest take
A high-strength B complex using active forms, including methylfolate (Quatrefolic) and methylcobalamin. Each capsule gives 50 mg of vitamin B6, five times the FSA's advice of no more than 10 mg a day long term, plus 60 to 100 mg of several other B vitamins and 1,000 µg of B12. The active forms have not been shown to work better than standard forms for most people, and most people with a varied diet do not need a B complex at all. A lower-dose B complex is the safer everyday choice.
- You eat a restricted diet and want all the B vitamins in active forms
- You prefer methylfolate to folic acid and have checked the label doses
- You eat a varied diet: you probably get enough B vitamins already
- You take other products with B6, such as magnesium or zinc blends: add up your total first
- You are pregnant or trying for a baby: the NHS advice is based on 400 µg of folic acid, so choose a pregnancy supplement
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.
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.
Folate (folic acid, methylfolate)· evidence: Strong
Folate is a B vitamin needed for making red blood cells and for cell division. The strongest evidence is for women who could become pregnant: taking 400 µg of folic acid a day from before conception until 12 weeks of pregnancy lowers the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida. The NHS advises this for everyone trying for a baby, and some women are prescribed a higher 5 mg dose by their doctor.
Outside pregnancy planning, most people get enough folate from green vegetables, pulses and fortified cereals, and UK flour is due to be fortified with folic acid from the end of 2026. Extra folate has not been shown to help people who are not short of it.
Folic acid is the form used in the pregnancy studies. Methylfolate (5-MTHF, sold as Quatrefolic or Metafolin) is the active form and is a reasonable alternative, including for people with MTHFR gene variants, but marketing around MTHFR often overstates the problem. Most people with these variants handle folic acid well.
Folate contributes to maternal tissue growth during pregnancy. Folate contributes to normal amino acid synthesis. Folate contributes to normal blood formation. Folate contributes to normal homocysteine metabolism. Folate contributes to normal psychological function. Folate contributes to the normal function of the immune system. Folate contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Folate has a role in the process of cell division. (Applies where a daily dose gives at least 15% of the NRV, i.e. 30 µg.)
Supplemental folic acid intake increases maternal folate status. Low maternal folate status is a risk factor in the development of neural tube defects in the developing foetus. (Folic acid only, at least 400 µg per daily dose; for women of child-bearing age, with the information that the beneficial effect is obtained with a supplemental folic acid daily intake of 400 µg for at least one month before and up to three months after conception.)
Typical dose: Adults need about 200 µg a day from all sources (NRV: 200 µg). Before conception to 12 weeks of pregnancy: 400 µg of folic acid a day (NHS), or 5 mg if prescribed.
Safety: The UK guidance level is 1 mg (1,000 µg) of folic acid a day from supplements unless a doctor advises more. High doses of folic acid can hide the signs of vitamin B12 deficiency, which matters most for older adults and vegans, so get B12 checked if you take high-dose folate long term. Folate can interact with some epilepsy medicines and methotrexate: check with your GP or pharmacist.
Research we looked at:
NHS. Vitamins, supplements and nutrition in pregnancy. nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/vitamins-supplements-and-nutrition
De-Regil LM et al. Effects and safety of periconceptional oral folate supplementation for preventing birth defects. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2015;(12):CD007950.
EFSA NDA Panel. Scientific opinion on dietary reference values for folate. EFSA Journal 2014;12(11):3893.
Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals (2003). Safe Upper Levels for Vitamins and Minerals. Food Standards Agency.
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.
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.
Ingredients & nutrition
Always check the pack you receive, as manufacturers sometimes update recipes.
How to use
Price per dose & how it compares
| Product | Size | Price | Per daily dose |
|---|---|---|---|
| This product | 30 vcaps | £11.99 | £0.39 |
| This product | 60 vcaps | £19.99 | £0.33 |
| Life Extension Bio-Active Complete B-Complex | from £11.49 | £0.38 | |
| Jarrow Formulas B-Right Optimized B-Complex | from £24.19 | £0.24 | |
| BetterYou B-complete Daily Oral Spray | from £12.43 | £0.41 |
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.
The full spread of B vitamins, delivered in Doctor's Best's vcaps format.
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
- Choose from 2 sizes: 30 vcaps / 60 vcaps
- Format: vcaps
- Caffeine free
- Vegetarian-friendly capsule shell
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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