The Energy Vitamin for Brain and Body

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) is an essential water-soluble vitamin that plays a vital role in energy production, cognitive function, and the health of our nervous system. It is crucial for the formation of red blood cells, the maintenance of nerve cells, and the synthesis of DNA. B12 is especially important for individuals following plant-based diets, as it is naturally found in animal-derived foods. A deficiency in B12 can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, low mood, and even nerve damage if left unaddressed. As a key nutrient in the methylation process, B12 also contributes to emotional balance and mental clarity, making it an essential daily nutrient for both body and mind.

What Vitamin B12 can do for you?

Vitamin B12 keeps your brain sharp and your energy levels up by supporting healthy nerves and red blood cells.

Energy Metabolism
Immune System
Important for normal blood function

The Science

Vitamin B12 is an essential water-soluble nutrient required for red blood cell formation, neurological function, and DNA synthesis. It plays a pivotal role in energy metabolism, helping convert food into fuel, and supports the maintenance of the myelin sheath that protects nerve fibres. A deficiency in B12 can lead to fatigue, memory issues, and neurological symptoms, particularly in older adults, vegans, and those with impaired absorption. Methylcobalamin, the active form of B12, is most efficiently utilised by the body and offers neuroprotective effects. Its vital role in both cellular energy and cognitive function underscores its importance in overall wellbeing.

Explore Research ↗

Products with Vitamin B12

View all

Quick buy

The Naked Pharmacy

Saffrosun® Calm – Emotional Balance, Nervousness & Sleep

From£16.50

Quick buy

The Naked Pharmacy

Saffrosun® for Children – Saffron Supplement, 60 Capsules

From£15.00

Quick buy

The Naked Pharmacy

Vitamin D3 – Immunity, Joints, Skin & Bone Support, 60 Capsules

From£12.75

Still unsure?

We’re all ears, get free expert advice from our pharmacists.

Request a call back Take Health Assessment

The Studies

"At The Naked Pharmacy, we ensure that all of our supplements are made with effective strength bioactives, so they are clinically proven to work.

We aim for each supplement to be scientifically supported by multiple randomised placebo-controlled studies. All clinical trial studies we use to support our supplements are undertaken on human patients, using the same dosage and formulation of the product. The scientific studies are published in peer review journals."

The scientific studies to support our claims on Vitamin B12 are published in the following peer-reviewed journals:

Study: A genetic epidemiological study in British adults and older adults shows a high heritability of the combined indicator of vitamin B12 status (cB12) and connects B12 status with utilization of mitochondrial substrates and energy metabolism

What the study looked at:

Many older adults don’t get enough vitamin B12, which is important for energy, brain function, and nerves. But the usual blood test (called serum B12) isn’t very good at spotting true B12 deficiency — it can miss people who are actually low.

A better test, called cB12, looks at several markers together (including B12, folate, and age) to give a clearer picture of someone’s B12 status.

What the researchers did:

They studied twins to find out whether low B12 levels are mostly due to genetics or lifestyle. They also looked at genes related to B12 metabolism to see if certain genetic variants affect how our bodies process B12.

What they found:

Your genes play a big role (55–64%) in determining your B12 levels.

A specific gene variant (called rs291466 in the HIBCH gene) was linked to changes in B12 metabolism.

Other genes involved in how the body uses B12 (like MTRR, MMAB, and MUT) were also linked.

These gene changes may affect how your cells use energy by interfering with normal mitochondrial function (the “batteries” of your cells).

Why it matters:

This study helps explain why some people are more prone to B12 deficiency — even if they eat well — because of their genes. It also shows that low B12 might harm how our cells produce energy, especially in older adults.

Glossary of terms:

There are a few key terms to be aware of when reviewing these studies:

Randomised Clinical Trial

A clinical trial in which the participants are assigned randomly (by chance alone) to different treatments.

Double-blind study

A study in which neither the participants nor the experimenters know who is receiving a particular treatment. This procedure is utilised to prevent bias in research results.

Double-blind studies are particularly useful for preventing bias due to demand characteristics or the placebo effect.

P-value

The probability of obtaining the observed results of a test. The lower the p-value is, the more confident we can be of a true result. For example, a p- value of 0.001 confirms a result as 99.9% accurate.

Placebo

An inactive treatment used in a clinical trial, sometimes referred to as a “sugar pill”.

A placebo-controlled trial compares a new treatment with a placebo, in order to give greater confidence that the result is only due to the test/active ingredient.