Source Naturals Coenzyme Vitamin B Complex, 60 Tablets - Source Naturals
Sublingual (melts under the tongue), Orange flavored

Vitamin B research update
Mothers with low levels of vitamin B12 in their blood are at increased risk of having an infant with spina bifida -- a birth defect in which the spinal cord fails to form properly. Based on previous research, pregnancy guidelines recommend that women consume enough folic acid to reduce the risk of spina bifida and related problems. The new findings suggest that these guidelines should also include recommendations about vitamin B12.

The recommended daily intake for vitamin B-12 should be more than doubled from the current level.
In a study of 98 middle-aged and older women, researchers found that 6 micrograms of B-12 per day seemed to be enough to prevent signs of mild vitamin B12 deficiency. That compares with the current recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of 2.4 micrograms per day. Vitamin B-12 is essential for maintaining healthy nerve cells and red blood cells; a deficiency in the vitamin can cause symptoms ranging from the subtle -- including fatigue and mild dizziness -- to more severe complications like nerve damage, anemia and even dementia. Though the typical Western diet provides people with far more than the current RDA for B-12, certain individuals are at risk for a deficiency. Unlike most vitamins, B-12 occurs naturally only in animal products, including meat, poultry, fish and, in lesser amounts, eggs and dairy. So vegetarians and vegans -- who avoid all animal products, including dairy -- may have low stores of the vitamin. The same is true of adults older than 50, as many have a thinning in the stomach lining that prevents the proper release of digestive acids. Stomach acids are essential for "shaking loose" vitamin B-12 from its food source, allowing it to be absorbed. So older adults are advised to get their B-12 from pills and fortified foods like cereal. That RDA is what experts believe is the minimum B-12 needed to prevent anemia, nerve damage and mental dysfunction. But it's not clear that it's enough to prevent subtler effects. SOURCE: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, January 2006.

Oral supplements of vitamin B12 appear to correct vitamin B12 deficiencies as well as B12 injections. However, the group of European researchers found that, in order to correct a deficiency, oral doses need to contain more than 200 times the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin B12. Study author Dr. Lisette C. P. G. M. de Groot of Wageningen University in the Netherlands explained that most people develop vitamin B12 deficiencies as a result of "malabsorption," in which their bodies become unable to extract vitamin B12 from food. The deficiency typically strikes older people, she added, and takes years to develop. In some instances, people who avoid animal products -- such as vegans and followers of a macrobiotic diet -- can also develop a deficiency in vitamin B12 as a result of not eating enough B12-rich foods. A vitamin B12 deficiency is typically treated by monthly, often painful, shots. To investigate whether an oral dose of vitamin B12 works, as well, they tested various daily doses of oral vitamin B12 supplements in 120 people aged 70 and older. They found that daily oral doses of 647 to 1032 micrograms of vitamin B12 appeared to correct the deficiency. The current RDA for vitamin B12 is 3 micrograms per day. SOURCE: Archives of Internal Medicine, May 23, 2005.

Q. Interestingly, I took a vitamin B coenzyme complex you recommend on your site and I believe I feel a boost in energy, mental clarity, alertness & elevated mood. I went out to lunch w/ folks from the office and had quite a heavy meal: cheese burger w/ Louisiana sausage, some fries & a very heavy beer. I anticipated falling asleep at my desk after lunch, but I haven't really been dragging at all. This is great, I hope the effects continue! Thanks for your web site for encouraging me to start up with this stuff.

Q. I enjoy the vitamin B coenzyme complex so much, I am wondering if you carry it in a size larger than 60 count, as in, possibly 120 lozenges? I like your prices and found them to be cheaper than in a discount health food store, but they had the 120 count for $30 or so. I won't be ordering for another month and a half, but am curious. Your satisfied customer.
   A. At present Physician Formulas only have the 60 count vitamin B Co-Enzyme complex.

Q. I've just purchased some Sam-e for depression as I experience too many side-effects with anti-depressants. I have read that it is wise to take additional vitamin B s, particularly B6, B12 and folic acid, when taking Sam-e in order to prevent toxic build-up of homocysteine. Apparently these vitamins assist in the breakdown of homocysteine which is formed when Sam-e breaks down.
   A. We're not totally sure whether extra vitamin B is needed if someone is taking SAM-e. Perhaps it depends on one's diet and biochemistry. It would not hurt to take 1 to 3 times the RDA of vitamin B.