The Best Way to Take Vitamin B12 Supplements

While true vitamin B12 deficiency is fairly unusual among most healthy people who are not vegetarians, there are times when a supplement is needed. According to the National Health Institute, there is no significant difference between the body's ability to absorb different kinds of supplements, so the information here is provided merely as a guide to the advantages and disadvantages of each form.

Pills

• This is by far the easiest way to take vitamin B12 supplements, as you simply must swallow the pill with some food. It is also fairly inexpensive. However, these pills are often large, and it can sometimes be hard to find B12 alone--you are more likely to find a B complex in pill form.

Sublingual Tablets

• Sublingual B12 tablets are placed under the tongue until they dissolve. While the research is largely inconclusive, some proponents of this form of vitamin B12 supplement claim that this method speeds up absorption and offers an energy boost because the supplement is entering directly into the bloodstream through the blood vessels under the tongue rather than going through the digestive process. These tablets cost about the same as regular pills.

Injections

• Vitamin B12 injections can only be prescribed by a doctor, but can be administered by yourself at home. They can be taken once a week, once a month or once every other month, depending on the recommended dosage. However, with an average price of $20 to $25 per injection, this is a rather expensive supplement.