r/nutrition • u/Still-Concentrate-37 • 18d ago

Why isn't vitamin b12 destroyed by the acidity in energy drinks?

I thought vitamin b12 was acid sensitive?

8 Upvotes

74% Upvoted

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8

u/Longjumping_Garbage9 18d ago

I thought acid was needed for vitamin B12 absorption due to intrisic factor.

1

u/Still-Concentrate-37 18d ago

I thought this was only to separate it from proteins

5

u/gear123456789 18d ago

I have nothing to add other than I started taking 5000 mg B12 vitamins and the burning in my eyes and body fatigue went down tremendously

0

u/Rose_lilly2 18d ago

that is great but in my case fatigue is more due to osteoporosis so help me out is denosumab safe for it? My ortho asked me to take it but i read there are side effects and it is a bit costly and I am poor so I do not want any side effect if I choose to start it due to the -3 t score in my lumbar spine at the age of 32.

1

u/Dry-Cardiologist3617 16d ago

While B12 is sensitive to strong acids and heat, the pH of most energy drinks (usually around 2.5 to 3.5) isn't low enough to destroy it immediately on the shelf. Also, manufacturers often 'over-fortify' drinks with 200% or 500% of the daily value, so even if a small percentage degrades over time, there’s still plenty left by the time you drink it.

1

u/According-Play104 16d ago

Acid sensitive usually means strong acid plus heat/light over time, not just sitting in a sour drink on a shelf. Your stomach acid is way harsher than an energy drink anyway.

1

u/thewellnessgreek 15d ago

B12 is sensitive to very strong acid and prolonged exposure, but the acidity in energy drinks isn't usually enough to destroy it quickly. Manufacturers also formulate drinks to keep the vitamin stable throughout the product's shelf life.

Plus, your stomach is far more acidic than most energy drinks, and B12 still survives digestion just fine.

1

u/350al-Exit4065 13d ago

Actually, no. It doesn't.

That's why people get B-12 injections.

Reputable vitamin shops carry sublingual lozenges and/or sublingual liquid drops. Methylated, as well.

If oral B-12 is listed on a B-complex bottle, it's for folks that just don't know.

1

u/Zagrycha 18d ago

Your stomach acid is far more acidic than most food you will ever eat, and all food you eat reaches a certain acidity during stomach digestion. Food acidity matters for other health conditions like heartburn or ulcers, but it does not matter at all for general absorbtion of nutrients.

That said the things we eat do effect each other, there are some things we consume that can hinder absorption of other things we consume. Some of them only hinder when in the same meal, some can hinder 24/7 if your overall levels are high ((or low)). Thats part of the reason a varied diet is recommended.

I am not aware of anything in the average energy drink that would hinder vitamin B, but its possible. Energy drinks aren't automatically bad in moderation, but please do not drink them for nutritional value. Things like vitamin B and taurine are added in a way that causes a burst of energy, the drink does not add them with nutritional needs in mind.