B vitamin complex, 30 tablets

B vitamins are not a single substance but a family of water-soluble vitamins. They share a letter in the name, but each has its own chemical structure and its own number: B1 is thiamin, B2 riboflavin, B3 niacin, B5 pantothenic acid, B6 pyridoxine, B7 biotin, B9 folate and B12 cobalamin.

The forms found in food and the forms used in supplements sometimes differ. Food contains folate, for example, while tablet labels more often show folic acid. The ingredient list of this tablet names nicotinamide, calcium D-pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, thiamine hydrochloride, folic acid, D-biotin and cyanocobalamin. That tells you at once which form of each vitamin has been added.

In a Latvian kitchen the usual sources are wholemeal bread, oats, buckwheat, pulses, nuts and seeds. Eggs, milk, cheese, meat and fish also contain various B vitamins. Vitamin B12 occurs in nature mainly in foods of animal origin, while folate is found in green leafy vegetables such as spinach and cabbage.

When food is cooked, part of the water-soluble vitamins passes into the cooking liquid. Soups and stews that you eat together with the liquid are one way of not pouring them down the sink.

The last line of the label lists para-aminobenzoic acid, or PABA: 31.5 mg per tablet. The other vitamins show a percentage of NRV, while PABA is given by amount only. No authorised health claim is attached to it for this product, so there is nothing more to say about it here: it is one item in the composition, at 31.5 mg.

The label says: adults take 1 tablet a day, duration of use 30 days. The pack holds 30 tablets, so it is one 30-day course. The label does not say what time of day to take it or whether to take it with food. Choose a moment you can keep to every day, such as breakfast or the evening meal, and keep the pack where you can see it.

Not recommended in case of individual intolerance to the ingredients, or for women during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose. If you use several products containing the same substance, add up the total amount and do not exceed the dose recommended on the label. This applies, for example, to separate B12, biotin or folic acid products.

Keep out of the reach of children, in the original packaging, in a dry place at room temperature. Do not use a food supplement as a substitute for a complete and balanced diet.

For each vitamin the label gives the amount in one tablet and the percentage of the NRV. NRV is the nutrient reference value: the percentage shows how much of it one tablet provides, not how many tablets to take. All eight vitamins are at 40% of the NRV or more, so the table gives one authorised claim for each, word for word.

In the list of claims vitamin B9 is called “folate”, while the label shows it as folic acid. The ingredient list begins with bulking agents: dicalcium phosphate and microcrystalline cellulose. The label does not state the amount of calcium, so claims about it are not used here. The tablet also has a glazing agent, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.

The B vitamin complex is handy if you want all the B vitamins in one tablet instead of several separate packs. The single B12, folic acid and biotin products suit you when you need just one of those substances. The multivitamins are a different formula with minerals.

Is the B vitamin complex suitable for vegetarians?

The label does not say that the B vitamin complex is vegetarian or vegan. The ingredient list names no meat, fish or gelatine, but the origin of the ingredients is not described in detail. If you follow strict dietary rules, ask the shop before buying or speak to a specialist.

Can I take the B vitamin complex during pregnancy?

The label states that the B vitamin complex is not recommended for women during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding, ask a doctor or pharmacist before any food supplement. The daily dose is one tablet.

Should the B vitamin complex be taken with food?

The label does not say whether the B vitamin complex should be taken with a meal or apart from it; it only says that adults take 1 tablet a day. It matters more to choose a time you can keep to every day. If you are unsure, ask a doctor or pharmacist.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you miss a B vitamin complex tablet, carry on the next day with your usual dose, which is one tablet. Do not take two tablets in one day to make up for it. The label provides for one tablet a day, and the daily dose must not be exceeded.

Can I take the B vitamin complex together with other products that contain B vitamins?

The B vitamin complex contains eight vitamins that are also found in other products, for example the separate B12, biotin or folic acid products in our range. If you use several products containing the same substance, add up the total amount and do not exceed the dose recommended on the label. Read the label of each product separately.

Do the tablets need to be kept in the fridge?

No, the label of the B vitamin complex does not require refrigeration. It says to keep the tablets in the original packaging, in a dry place at room temperature and out of the reach of children. The label gives no separate period after opening, so go by the best-before date printed on the pack.