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B Vitamin Supplements

B Vitamins Review 2024

Read our reviews of B vitamin supplements to find the best B complex, niacin, B-6, B-12, biotin, thiamin and folate, including "methyl" forms such as methylfolate. Get information about dosage, safety, and B vitamins for energy, memory, depression and more.

B Vitamin Supplements Review

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Product Review

Multivitamin and Multimineral Supplements Review

Best Multivitamins -- Caution with Gummies

Product Review

Nutritional Yeast Review

Inaccurate Labeling Discovered on Most Nutritional Yeasts. Best Fortified and Non-Fortified Products Identified.

Nutritional Yeast Review

Product Review

Protein Powders, Shakes, and Meal Replacements Review

Find Out Which Protein Products Passed or Failed Our Tests

Product Review

Gluten-Free Grains Review (Buckwheat, Quinoa, Sorghum, Millet, and Teff)

31% of Gluten-Free Grains Fail Our Tests Due to Contaminants. Quinoa, Buckwheat, Sorghum, Millet and Teff Tested.

Grains Review

Clinical Update

4/28/2020

Early Sign of Thiamin Deficiency

Thiamin (vitamin B1) deficiency can cause lasting neurologic damage and affect heart function. It can occur with poor nutrition and as a result of taking certain diuretics. A recent case highlighted an early sign of thiamin deficiency that involves the eyes. We've added this information to the Thiamin section of the B Vitamin Supplements Review. Also see our Top Pick for thiamin and B complexes that contain thiamin. You can also get thiamin from a good multivitamin.

Product Review

Rolled Oats and Steel-Cut Oats Review

Find the Best Rolled and Steel-Cut Oats -- Beware of Unexpected Gluten.

Rolled and Steel Cut Oats 2024

Product Review

Farro and Bulgur Review

See How Bob's Red Mill Compares to Trader Joe's

Farro and Bulgur Review 2024

CL Answer

Can any supplements improve or worsen symptoms of fibromyalgia?

Find out if any supplements may help improve fibromyalgia symptoms, learn which supplements do not seem beneficial, and find out if any supplements worsen symptoms.

Woman holding sore back

Clinical Update

12/09/2022

Thiamin Alternative?

Is thiamin tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide (TTFD), a derivative of thiamin, absorbed and used by the body better than thiamin itself? Find out, and learn about possible health effects, in the Thiamin (B-1) section of our B Vitamin Supplements Review.

Clinical Update

2/03/2021

Thiamin Deficiency from Bowel Disease

People with inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn’s or colitis) can develop thiamin (vitamin B-1) deficiency, which can lead to life-threatening brain injury, as noted in a recent review of 31 cases. Learn more about this and other causes of thiamin deficiency in the Thiamin section of our B Vitamin Supplements Review.

CL Answer

Supplements That May Be Needed When Following a Gluten-Free Diet

Find out if supplements such as folate, vitamin B-12, niacin, thiamin, iron, vitamin D, and/or fiber are needed when following a gluten-free diet. Also learn how to find gluten-free supplements on ConsumerLab.com.

Woman holding her hand in front of a slice of bread to signify a gluten free diet

Product Review

Nutrition Bars & Cookies Review (For Energy, Fiber, Protein, Meal Replacement, and Whole Foods)

Find the Best Nutrition Bar or Cookie. ConsumerLab Tests Reveals Not All Nutrition Bars and Cookies Contain What They Claim.

Nutrition Bars Reviewed by ConsumerLab.com (Energy, Fiber, Meal Replacement, Protein, and Whole Food Bars)

Product Review

Chia Seed Review — Whole, Ground, and Sprouted Seed, Seed Flour, & Supplements

Find the Best Chia Seeds, Sprouted Chia Powder, Flour, and Chia Supplements. Tests and Reviews of Chia Seeds & CL's Top Picks.

Chia supplements reviewed by ConsumerLab.com

CL Answer

Which supplements may benefit people with essential tremor, and which should be avoided?

Learn about supplements used for treating essential tremor, including caprylic acid (also called octanoic acid), thiamin (vitamin B1), cannabidiol (CBD), GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), and branched-chain amino acids. Find out which work and which don't. Also find out which supplements and food may make essential tremors worse.

Man with essential tremor holding a cup with his right hand and bracing his wrist with his left hand

CL Answer

I take warfarin (Coumadin), an anticoagulant drug. Are there supplements I should avoid, or be taking, due to this drug?

Find out which supplements should be avoided when taking blood thinners (anticoagulants) like warfarin (Coumadin), including vitamin K, St. John's wort, and curcumin.

Warfarin Supplement Interactions -- bottle of pink warfarin tablets

CL Answer

Do vitamin patches, such as for B12 or multivitamins, really work? How about those from PatchMD?

Do vitamin B12 Patches like PatchMD really work? Can you absorb vitamin B12 through patches?

Vitamin Patches -- young woman with vitamin patch on arm

Clinical Update

2/02/2024

Thiamin for Fibromyalgia?

Can taking thiamin reduce symptoms of fibromyalgia? Find out in the Thiamin section of our B Vitamin Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks among B vitamins.

Also see: Can any supplements improve or worsen symptoms of fibromyalgia?

Clinical Update

5/04/2024

Thiamin Deficiency After Bariatric Surgery

Having bariatric surgery can lead to vitamin deficiencies in people who do not follow recommended supplementation. This was recently reported in three individuals who developed thiamin deficiency after gastric bypass surgery. Get the details in the Thiamin section of our B Vitamin Supplements Review.

Also see our Top Pick among multivitamins for people who have undergone bariatric surgery and our article about supplements to take or avoid after bariatric surgery.

Clinical Update

5/24/2017

POTS and Thiamin

A small study among people who suffer from POTS (postural tachycardia syndrome) suggested that supplementing with thiamin (vitamin B-1) may help some. For details, see the Thiamin (B-1) section of the B Vitamin Supplements Review >>

CL Answer

Are There Supplements That Help Treat POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)?

Find out which supplements and lifestyle changes may be helpful for people with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).

POTS

Product Review

Olive Leaf Extract Supplements Review

Learn What Olive Leaf Does and the Best Brands

Product Review

Joint Health Supplements for Pets Review (Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM & Boswellia)

See Which Pet Supplements for Joint Health Passed Our Tests and Which Didn't!

Joint Health Supplements for Pets

Product Review

L-Arginine Supplements Review

Choose the Best L-Arginine Supplement. Find Out Which L-Arginine Supplement Passed CL's Tests.

L-Arginine Supplements Reviewed by ConsumerLab.com

Product Review

Lion's Mane and Chaga Supplements Review

Read Labels Carefully -- Many Can Mislead

Lion's Mane and Chaga Supplements tested by ConsumerLab.com

Product Review

Electrolytes & Sports Drinks Review

See Which Sports Drinks, Powders, and Pills Deliver the Right Electrolytes

Product Review

Lavender and Tea Tree Essential Oils Review

Oils Tested for Authenticity and Purity

Product Review

Fruits, Veggies, and Other Greens Supplements Review (Including Spirulina and Chlorella)

Avoid Lead in Greens, Problems with Pills, and Don't Give Up Eating Whole Foods.

Greens Review Oct 2023

Product Review

CoQ10 and Ubiquinol Supplements Review

Find the Best CoQ10 and Ubiquinol Supplements and Learn How They Differ

CoQ10 2024

Product Review

Mangosteen Juice and Supplements Review Article

What Are the Benefits of Mangosteen Juice and Supplements? Find Out What Mangosteen Can and Cannot Do For Your Health.

CL Answer

Do any supplements, like Nervive, help with nerve pain, like sciatica, diabetic neuropathy or postherpetic neuralgia?

Find out which supplements for nerve pain, including fish oil and alpha-lipoic acid, are effective for sciatica, diabetic neuropathy, or postherpetic neuralgia.

Product Review

Probiotic Supplements Review (Including Pet Probiotics)

Probiotics: See What They Really Contain and Our Top Picks

Product Review

Alpha-Lipoic Acid Supplements Review

Choose the Best Alpha-Lipoic Acid Supplement — See the Amounts of Active "R-Isomer" We Found

CL Answer

How do the Beyond Burger, the Impossible Burger, and a beef burger compare in terms of vitamins and minerals, and which is best?

Read our comparison of the Beyond Burger and the Impossible Burger, plant-based, meat alternative burgers. Compare nutrition, vitamins and minerals. ConsumerLab.com's answer explains.

Beyond Burger vs. Impossible Burger: Nutrition, Vitamins & Minerals -- cooked plant-based burger on bun

CL Answer

What B-vitamin complex do you recommend for older people?

Vitamin B complex supplement recommendations, benefits and top rated brands for older people and all ages.

B Vitamins

CL Answer

Which foods are a good source of B vitamins?

Find out which foods are a good source of B vitamins (like folate and B-12) and when you should take Vitamin B supplements.

Good Sources of B Vitamins -- selection of healthy foods including eggs, rice, nuts, seeds, salmon, chicken

Product Review

PQQ (Pyrroloquinoline Quinone) Supplements Review

Learn What PQQ Does and Which PQQ Supplements are Best

CL Answer

What is desiccated beef liver? What is it used for, and is it safe?

Description of desiccated beef liver, including what it is used for, its nutrient content, and safety concerns.

Beef liver powder

CL Answer

Do supplements help with Parkinson’s disease treatment or prevention?

Learn what has been shown with vitamins D and E, niacin, CoQ10, melatonin, creatine, SAMe, NAC, valerian, CoQ10, and CBD, as well as with coffee and the Mediterranean and MIND diets for treating and/or preventing Parkinson's disease.

Elderly man with parkinsons holding trembling hand while eating

CL Answer

Do any supplements or foods benefit people with Crohn's disease? Are there any supplements that should be avoided?

Find out the most common vitamin and mineral deficiencies in people with Crohn's disease, including iron, B6, B12, vitamin D, zinc and others, plus evidence for N-acetyl-glucosamine (NAG), fish oil, and curcumin.

Supplements for Crohn's Disease -- Crohn's Disease Written on Notepad, Pills

News Release

October 17, 2024

Not All B Vitamin Supplements Contain What They Claim, According to ConsumerLab Tests

White Plains, NY, October 17, 2024 —  Recent ConsumerLab tests revealed that 19% of popular B vitamin complexes and individual B vitamin supplements selected for testing contained far less, or far more of one or more B vitamins than claimed on the label.

CL Answer

What are "broad-spectrum micronutrient" supplements, and do they have greater health benefits than multivitamin/multimineral supplements?

Learn about "broad-spectrum micronutrients" and how they compare to multivitamin/multimineral supplements.

Multivitamins on a table with a multivitamin supplement nutrition label in front of the multivitamins

News Release

June 14, 2022

Best B Complexes, B12, and Other B Vitamin Supplements Revealed by ConsumerLab Tests: Beware of High Doses

  White Plains, New York, June 14, 2022 — Recent ConsumerLab tests of over 30 popular vitamin B complexes and supplements revealed that four products contained either much less, or much more, of at least one B vitamin listed on the label.

CL Answer

Do any supplements, foods or lifestyle modifications help with brain function, like memory and cognition?

Find out which supplements help improve memory, brain function and cognition, including fish oil, some B vitamins, cocoa, and curcumin. ConsumerLab's answer explains the evidence for supplements promoted to help with brain function and cognition.

Supplements for Memory -- doctor holding a model of a brain and fish oil capsule

Product Review

Rhodiola Rosea Supplements Review

Do Rhodiola Supplements Help With Depression and Anxiety? Find Out and See Which Rhodiola Supplements Provide the Best Quality & Value.

Rhodiola Supplements Reviewed by ConsumerLab.com

CL Answer

Do any supplements help prevent or improve cataracts?

Find out which supplements may help with cataracts, including selenium and vitamins A, B1, B3, C, and E.

Doctor Shining Light for Patient Eye Exam

Product Review

Menopause Supplements Review (Soy and Red Clover Isoflavones, Black Cohosh) and Progesterone Creams

Choose the Best Menopause Supplement. Find Out Now Which Soy Isoflavone, Red Clover, Black Cohosh, and Progesterone Products Have the Active Compounds You Want!

Menopause Supplements Tested by ConsumerLab.com -- Soy and Red Clover Isoflavones, Black Cohosh, and Progesterone Cream

Product Review

Choline and Lecithin Supplements Review (Including Phosphatidylcholine, CDP-Choline, and Alpha-GPC)

Choose the Best Choline Supplement. Find Out How Much Choline Popular Supplements Really Provide.

Product Review

Ginkgo (Ginkgo Biloba) Supplements Review

Choose the Best Ginkgo Biloba Supplement. Finding Real Ginkgo Isn't Easy — 60% Fail ConsumerLab's Tests of Quality.

Ginkgo Biloba Supplements Tested by ConsumerLab.com

Product Review

NAD Booster Supplements Review (NAD+/NADH, Nicotinamide Riboside, and NMN)

How Important Is Boosting NAD+ Levels? Find Out and Learn How Booster Supplements Compare.

NAD Boosters (NAD+/NADH, Nicotinamide Ribose, and NMN)

Product Review

Ashwagandha Supplements Review

Find the Best Ashwagandha Supplement. Only 38% of Ashwagandha Products Pass Tests.

Ashwagandha 2024

News Release

February 12, 2021

Don't Be Surprised by New Labels on Many Vitamins

White Plains, New York, February 12, 2021 — It took almost four years, but more accurate labels on vitamin and mineral supplements are finally here and consumers should not be surprised to see changes, says Tod Cooperman, M.D., president and founder of ConsumerLab.

News Release

February 23, 2017

ConsumerLab.com Reveals Best and Worst B Vitamin Supplements and Why Current Labels Often Mislead

White Plains, New York, February 24, 2017 — B vitamins and complexes are popular supplements, but labels often mislead, says a new report from ConsumerLab.com which tested, reviewed, and compared 49 supplements from the U.S.

Recalls & Warnings

November 11, 2024

FTC Sends Refunds to Customers Who Purchased Sobrenix

On November 7, 2024, the FTC announced it is mailing 56,686 checks totaling more than $536,000 to customers who bought Sobrenix, a supplement sold and marketed by Rejuvica to reduce and eliminate alcohol cravings and consumption.

CL Answer

Does Qualia Mind boost memory and mental function and is it worth cost?

Learn about the ingredients in Qualia Mind, whether or not we think the formula works and is safe, and if we think it's worth the cost.

qualia-mind

CL Answer

Which supplements are important after bariatric surgery (i.e., weight loss or stomach-reducing surgery)? Are there any I should avoid?

Find out which supplements may help after weight loss or stomach reducing surgery, including iron and calcium, and which should be avoided.

Bypass Surgery Sign

CL Answer

Can any vitamins or minerals help prevent or reduce canker sores or cold sores?

Find out which, if any, supplements, including iron, L-lysine, monolaurin, olive leaf extract, vitamin B-12, and zinc, may be beneficial for canker sores or cold sores.

Lip of woman with a cold sore

Recalls & Warnings

July 20, 2023

FTC Files Complaint Against Company Promoting “Sobrenix” Supplements for Alcohol Cravings

On July 19, 2023, the FTC filed a complaint against Rejuvica and the company owners for promoting its Sobrenix supplements, which contain ingredients such as vitamin B6, thiamin, milk thistle, Chanca Piedra, and dandelion root, to reduce and eliminate alcohol cravings and consumption.

News Release

July 27, 2016

ConsumerLab.com Helps Consumers Make Sense of the FDA's Updated Daily Values (DV) for Vitamins and Minerals

White Plains, New York, July 27, 2016 — Daily Values (DV) for certain vitamins and minerals have been changed by the FDA, as part of the agency's revised rules for nutrient and supplement facts labeling. The changes went into effect on July 26, 2016.

CL Answer

Do vitamins, minerals or other supplements lose effectiveness with exposure to high temperatures?

Are vitamins and supplements susceptible to heat? Find out if mail ordering during the summer is safe.

Heat's Effect on Supplements in the Mail -- Woman receiving a package

News Release

October 26, 2010

ConsumerLab.com reports deficiencies in some B-complex supplements and more caffeine than expected in "shot-sized" B vitamin "energy" drinks

White Plains, New York — October 26, 2010 — Tests of B vitamin supplements, including B-complexes and shot-sized energy drinks, revealed problems with the quality of 4 out of 18 products selected for review by independent testing organization ConsumerLab.com.

News Release

September 10, 2007

Tests of B-vitamins by ConsumerLab.com finds several short on folic acid — New report covers B-complexes, thiamin, niacin, B-6, B-12, biotin and folic acid supplements

WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK — SEPTEMBER 10, 2007 — Half of the B-complex supplements recently selected by ConsumerLab.com for testing were found to lack the total claimed amounts of folic acid, an essential nutrient also known as vitamin B-9.

News Release

May 15, 2007

ConsumerLab.com finds some alpha lipoic acid supplements come up short — Improper formulation may cause ingredient degradation

WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK — May 15, 2007 — ConsumerLab.com announced that two of eleven alpha lipoic acid supplements that it recently chose to test contained significantly less ingredient than promised on their labels.

Recalls & Warnings

July 27, 2012

Prescription and Street Drug Alternatives Found in Male Enhancement, Mood, and Sleep Supplements

On July 10, 2012, the FDA issued a warning letter to Evol Nutrition Associates, Inc. subsequent to a 2011 inspection which found a number of the company's products contained prescription and investigational drugs and were misbranded.

Recalls & Warnings

August 28, 2013

Maker of Sexual Enhancement Supplement Warned for Manufacturing Violations

On July 11, 2013, the FDA issued a warning letter to Precise Nutrition International Inc.

Recalls & Warnings

May 14, 2014

Maker of Mood, Smoking Cessation Supplements and More Warned for Violations, Drug Claims

On April 17, 2014, the FDA issued a warning letter to CDJ Holding, Incorporated, d.b.a.

Recalls & Warnings

September 05, 2014

Seller of "Nerve", "Cleanse" and Probiotic Supplements Warned for Drug Claims

On July 30, 2014, the FDA issued a warning letter to Plexus Worldwide, Inc., following a review of the company's website and product labels, which found statements made about Fast Relief, BioCleanse and ProBio5 to be drug claims.

News Release

March 30, 2005

ConsumerLab.com finds most B-vitamins of high quality but three lacking in ingredients — Test Results for 41 Products Reported Along with Information on Use

WHITE PLAINS, NY — MARCH 30, 2005 — ConsumerLab.com reported test results today for B vitamin supplements that it recently purchased in the U.S. and Canada.