NOW Foods Vitamin B-12 with Folic Acid

Name: NOW Foods Vitamin B-12 with Folic Acid
Brand: NOW Foods
SKU: 733739004680
Price: 14.99 GBP
Availability: InStock

Brands: NOW Foods

£14.99

Vitamin B12 and folate from NOW Foods — 250 lozenges per pack, no fuss.

Why people take it

Vitamin B12 contributes to normal red blood cell formation
Vitamin B12 contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue
Vitamin B12 contributes to the normal function of the nervous system
Vitamin B12 contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism
Folate contributes to normal blood formation
Folate contributes to maternal tissue growth during pregnancy
Folate contributes to normal amino acid synthesis

How to use

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

Good to know

Format: lozenges
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.

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, Vitamin B12 & B Complex, Vitamins & Supplements

SKU: 733739004680

At a glance

£0.05

per daily dose

Strong

evidence for vitamin b12

Our honest take

Lozenges combining 1,000 µg of vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) with 100 µg of folic acid, in a large 250-count pot that keeps the cost to about 6p a day. B12 is worth supplementing if you are vegan, older, or take metformin or acid-reducing medicines, and the folic acid dose is modest and well within the 1 mg UK guidance. Cyanocobalamin is the well-studied standard form. Most people with a varied diet do not need extra folic acid.

You are vegan or older and want B12 and folic acid in a low-cost lozenge
You prefer lozenges to swallowing tablets
You are pregnant or trying for a baby: choose a pregnancy supplement with 400 µg of folic acid and 10 µg of vitamin D
You take methotrexate or epilepsy medicines: check with your GP
You eat a varied diet and have no reason to think you are low in B12

The science

Vitamin B12· evidence: Strong

Vitamin B12 is needed to make red blood cells and keep the nervous system working. It is found almost only in animal foods (meat, fish, eggs, dairy) and fortified foods, so vegans need a reliable source from fortified foods or a supplement. Older adults and people taking metformin or acid-reducing medicines absorb less B12 from food.

For these groups, B12 supplements are well proven to raise B12 levels and prevent deficiency. If you already eat animal foods and absorb B12 normally, extra B12 has not been shown to boost energy.

The body absorbs only a small share of a large oral dose, which is why many products use 500 to 1,000 µg. Methylcobalamin, cyanocobalamin and other forms all work; there is no good evidence that one form is better for most people. Pernicious anaemia and other absorption problems need a diagnosis and usually injections from your GP.

Authorised health claim
Vitamin B12 contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism. Vitamin B12 contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system. Vitamin B12 contributes to normal homocysteine metabolism. Vitamin B12 contributes to normal psychological function. Vitamin B12 contributes to normal red blood cell formation. Vitamin B12 contributes to the normal function of the immune system. Vitamin B12 contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Vitamin B12 has a role in the process of cell division. (Applies where a daily dose gives at least 15% of the NRV, i.e. 0.375 µg.)

Typical dose: Adults need about 1.5 µg a day (NRV on labels: 2.5 µg). Vegans: at least 10 µg a day or 2,000 µg a week (Vegan Society guidance). Supplements commonly give 10 to 1,000 µg.

Safety: No upper limit has been set because B12 has very low toxicity; the UK Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals considered 2,000 µg a day from supplements unlikely to cause harm. Do not self-treat numbness, tingling, a sore tongue or unexplained tiredness: see your GP, as these can be signs of deficiency or pernicious anaemia that needs proper testing. Tell your doctor you take B12 before blood tests, as it raises your B12 result.

Research we looked at:
NHS. Vitamins and minerals: B vitamins and folic acid. nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-b
EFSA NDA Panel. Scientific opinion on dietary reference values for cobalamin (vitamin B12). EFSA Journal 2015;13(7):4150.
Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals (2003). Safe Upper Levels for Vitamins and Minerals. Food Standards Agency.
NICE guideline NG239 (2024). Vitamin B12 deficiency in over 16s: diagnosis and management.

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.

Authorised health claim
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.

Ingredients & nutrition

Per daily dose (1 lozenge): vitamin B12 (as cyanocobalamin) 1,000 µg (40,000% NRV); folic acid 100 µg (170 µg DFE, 50% NRV). 250 lozenges, 250 daily doses.

Other ingredients: xylitol, microcrystalline cellulose, natural flavours, stearic acid, maltodextrin, organic stevia leaf extract, silicon dioxide. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Keep away from dogs: xylitol is toxic to them.

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

How to use

Take 1 lozenge a day with a meal: chew it or let it dissolve in your mouth, then swallow. Do not exceed the stated daily dose.

Price per dose & how it compares

Product	Size	Price	Per daily dose
This product	250 lozenges	£14.99	£0.05
Life Extension BioActive Folate & Vitamin B12		from £12.67	£0.14
Osavi MethylFolate & Methyl-B12		from £9.99	£0.12
Jarrow Formulas Methyl B-12 & Methyl Folate		from £18.99	£0.19

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.