NOW Foods Vitamin B £11.99

NOW Foods Vitamin B

Name: NOW Foods Vitamin B
Brand: NOW Foods
SKU: 733739004208
Price: 39.99 GBP
Availability: OutOfStock

Brands: NOW Foods

£11.99

The full spread of B vitamins in one capsule, available as B-50 or the higher-strength B-100.

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: 100 vcaps / 250 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.

Size: 100 vcaps

Strength: B-50

Variant

Quantity

Free Shipping on Orders of £40

Flexible and secure payment

Questions? Our UK team is here to help

Guarantee Safe & Secure Checkout

Categories : Caffeine-Free Supplements, Everyday Health Supplements, NOW Foods, Vegetarian Supplements, Vitamin B12 & B Complex, Vitamins & Supplements

SKU: 733739004208

At a glance

£0.11

per daily dose

Limited

evidence for vitamin b complex

Our honest take

NOW's classic high-strength B complex, sold as B-50 (100 capsules) or B-100 (250 capsules). Each B-50 capsule has 50 mg of vitamin B6 and each B-100 capsule 100 mg, which is 5 to 10 times the FSA's advice of no more than 10 mg of B6 a day from supplements; long-term high B6 can damage nerves. Doses this high bring no proven extra benefit if you are not deficient. A lower-dose B complex is the safer everyday choice.

A health professional has advised a high-strength B complex for a limited period
You want an everyday B complex to take long term: the B6 dose is likely well above UK advice
You already take a multivitamin or magnesium/zinc product with B6
You have tingling, numbness or burning in your hands or feet

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.

Ingredients & nutrition

B-50, per daily dose (1 capsule): thiamin 50 mg, riboflavin 50 mg, niacin (as niacinamide) 50 mg, vitamin B6 50 mg, folic acid 400 µg (680 µg DFE), vitamin B12 50 µg, biotin 50 µg, pantothenic acid 50 mg, choline 25 mg, PABA 25 mg, inositol 25 mg. 100 capsules, 100 daily doses.

B-100, per daily dose (1 capsule): thiamin 100 mg, riboflavin 100 mg, niacin (as niacinamide) 100 mg, vitamin B6 100 mg, folic acid 400 µg (680 µg DFE), vitamin B12 100 µg, biotin 100 µg, pantothenic acid 100 mg, choline 10 mg, inositol 10 mg, PABA 10 mg. 250 capsules, 250 daily doses.

Other ingredients: hypromellose (cellulose capsule); B-50 also microcrystalline cellulose, silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate; B-100 also ascorbyl palmitate, silicon dioxide. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

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

How to use

Label directions: 1 capsule a day with a meal, adults only. Do not exceed the stated daily dose. The vitamin B6 is well above FSA advice, so do not take long term without medical advice. Biotin can affect some blood test results. Bright yellow urine is normal (from riboflavin).

Price per dose & how it compares

Product	Size	Price	Per daily dose
This product	250 vcaps / B-100	£39.99	£0.15
This product	100 vcaps / B-50	£11.99	£0.11
BetterYou B-complete Daily Oral Spray		from £12.43	£0.41
Essensey Vitamin B Complex		from £7.39	–
NOW Foods Vitamin B-100 Sustained Release		from £22.99	£0.23

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.