Vitamin B12 Bloom

What Vitamin B12 Bloom Is

Vitamin B12 Bloom is a daily vitamin B12 food supplement. B12 is one of the most commonly supplemented vitamins in the United Kingdom, and the reason is dietary rather than promotional — which is worth explaining properly.

What Vitamin B12 Is, And Where It Comes From In Food

Vitamin B12 is also known as cobalamin. The name comes from cobalt, which sits at the centre of the molecule — B12 is the only vitamin that contains a metal atom in its structure.

In the diet it occurs almost exclusively in animal-derived foods: meat, fish, shellfish, eggs and dairy. Plant foods do not reliably supply it. Some products are fortified with it — certain plant milks, nutritional yeast and breakfast cereals — but fortification is a manufacturer's decision rather than something inherent to the food, so it varies from product to product and from country to country.

This is the entire reason B12 comes up so often in conversations about vegan and vegetarian diets. It is not a claim about what B12 does; it is a fact about where it is found.

Cyanocobalamin, Methylcobalamin And Adenosylcobalamin

Supplement labels list B12 in several forms, and the names are long enough to be off-putting. They are simpler than they look.

Cyanocobalamin is the synthetic, highly stable form. It is the most widely used in supplements and in food fortification, largely because it keeps well.

Methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin are forms that occur naturally in the body. Hydroxocobalamin is a further form, more often encountered in clinical settings than on a shelf.

Products vary in which form they use, and some combine more than one. What matters when comparing two packs is which form is stated and how much is provided per serving — expressed in micrograms and, more usefully, as a percentage of the Nutrient Reference Value.

Why B12 Figures Look So Large

B12 is measured in micrograms (µg, or mcg in American labelling). A microgram is one thousandth of a milligram, and the Nutrient Reference Value for B12 is small, which is why supplement figures often sit at many multiples of it.

A large number on a B12 pack is therefore not remarkable in itself. The %NRV is the comparison worth making.

How It Fits Into Your Routine

B12 is water-soluble, like the rest of the B group, which means it is not stored in fat the way vitamins A, D, E and K are. Water-soluble vitamins suit a consistent daily habit rather than an occasional one.

Most people attach it to a meal or to a fixed point in the morning. It appears in several of the multi-product edits in the range if you would rather build a routine than buy one product at a time.

What You Get In Each Pack

A single pack, a 2 pack and a 4 pack. Identical product in each; only the quantity changes. Prices are shown on this page before you add anything to your basket.

Who It's For

Adults who want a daily B12 supplement — commonly people following a vegan or vegetarian diet, or anyone whose diet is low in animal-derived foods — and who want to see the form and the amount written out rather than inferred.

Questions, Answered

What is vitamin B12?
A water-soluble vitamin, also called cobalamin. It is the only vitamin whose molecule contains a metal atom — cobalt.

Which foods contain vitamin B12?
Almost exclusively animal-derived foods: meat, fish, shellfish, eggs and dairy. Some plant milks, nutritional yeast and cereals are fortified with it.

Why is B12 discussed so often with vegan and vegetarian diets?
Because plant foods do not reliably supply it, and fortification varies between products.

What is the difference between cyanocobalamin and methylcobalamin?
Cyanocobalamin is the synthetic, highly stable form used in most supplements and fortified foods. Methylcobalamin is a form that occurs naturally in the body. Adenosylcobalamin and hydroxocobalamin are two further forms.

Why are B12 amounts written in micrograms?
Because the quantities involved are very small. A microgram is one thousandth of a milligram.

What is the difference between µg and mcg?
None. Both mean micrograms. "µg" is standard in the United Kingdom and Europe; "mcg" is more common in the United States.

Is B12 water-soluble or fat-soluble?
Water-soluble, like the rest of the B group. This is why it suits a consistent daily habit.

Can I take it alongside other BLOOMLY products?
Many people do. Check the ingredient panels so you do not take the same nutrient twice, follow the directions for each product, and speak to your doctor first if you take prescribed medication.

Important Information

Storage: Store in a cool, dry place. Store out of the reach of young children.

Warnings: Do not exceed the recommended daily dose. Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. Store out of the reach of young children. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or under medical supervision, consult your doctor before use.