Vitamin B12 as a lozenge? Here are the benefits!

Dietary supplements come in various shapes and sizes: tablets, capsules, drops and lozenges. The latter form is often encountered in the case of vitamin B12. What are the benefits of a lozenge? And in which situations do you choose vitamin B12 in the form of a lozenge? This is mainly due to the absorption of active substances in the body. In this blog we tell you all about it.

The importance of vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is an indispensable vitamin for your body. It contributes to the formation of red blood cells and aids in the cell division process. Vitamin B12 also plays an important role in the functioning of the nervous system. And it affects your energy level, which of course significantly affects your quality of life. According to the Health Council, adults need a daily amount of 2.8 micrograms of vitamin B12. This is the recommended daily allowance (RDA).

How does the body absorb vitamin B12?

The absorption of vitamin B12 in the body occurs in two ways: active and passive. Active absorption of vitamin B12 takes place with the help of a protein, also called 'intrinsic factor'. This is a component of gastric juice produced by the gastric mucosa. This important protein binds to vitamin B12 and protects and accompanies it, as it were, during transport to the place where absorption takes place, the small intestine. Active absorption of vitamin B12 is very efficient, but also complex, which means that it does not go well for everyone.

Passive absorption of vitamin B12

Passive absorption takes place through the mucous membranes of the digestive tract and starts already in the mouth. This is where the benefit of the lozenge comes in. When a lozenge is melted in the mouth, part of the vitamin B12 is directly absorbed by the oral mucosa and thus ends up in the bloodstream. It is transported to the tissues through the bloodstream. An important detail is that the active substances do not have to pass through the intestines and liver and are therefore directly available to the body. To ensure that sufficient active ingredients actually penetrate into the cells and can be effective, passive absorption is only efficient in case of high doses of vitamin B12.

Vitamin B12 in Lozenges

The older you get, the less 'intrinsic factor' your stomach lining makes. This reduces the active absorption of vitamin B12. The same applies to people with reduced stomach function as a result of medication, surgery or disorders. The elderly and people with gastrointestinal problems therefore mainly benefit from a lozenge, because they bypass the complex absorption in the stomach and intestine. Of course, the lozenge is also a godsend for people with swallowing problems or difficulty swallowing large capsules and tablets.

Vitamin B12 as a lozenge and with bioactive forms

Golden Naturals has two vitamin B12 products in lozenge form. These vegan vitamin B12 lozenges are easy to swallow and contain the bioactive forms methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin (also called dibencozide). Many other vitamin B12 supplements contain cyanocobalamin, a synthetic, non-natural form that the body must first convert before it is effective. The advantage of a supplement with bioactive ingredients is that the body can immediately absorb the active ingredients. Thanks to the addition of natural sugars and strawberry flavour, the lozenges also have a pleasant taste.

Do you have any questions about vitamin B12? Check this blog with the most frequently asked questions.