Boosting Vitality with Vitamin B12

Our new Vitality Syrup provides a vitamin B12 top up. Each 200ml serve contains 100% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin B12 which contributes to normal energy metabolism and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. One bottle makes 14 drinks. Enjoy it in the way that works for your everyday routine. Whether you drink 50ml straight as a health shot or mix 1 part syrup with 3 parts hot, cold or sparkling water.

What is Vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is essential for energy metabolism and preventing fatigue. We’ve added it to our new Blueberry Syrup for Vitality.

According to the Australia & New Zealand Food Standards code, the recommended daily intake of Vitamin B12 is 2 µg for adults (Food Standards Australia New Zealand, 2025).

Vitamin B12 is present in all animal foods including meat, chicken, seafood, eggs, and animal milk products like dairy milk, yoghurt and cheese (Health New Zealand, 2025). It is also added to fortified foods like nutritional yeast and some breakfast cereals (Cleveland Clinic, 2024).

However, factors like diet, age, digestive conditions, and medications can increase the risk of deficiency (Katella, 2024).

For example, older adults tend to not have enough stomach acid to absorb the vitamin B12 from food (Office of Dietary Supplements, 2023). If you are over 65, your body will absorb the vitamin B12 added to fortified foods more easily (Health New Zealand, 2025).

Why do we need Vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 doesn’t act as a stimulant that reduces fatigue in the short term (like caffeine), and consuming above the RDI will not lead to increased energy (Teoh, 2025).

Instead, Vitamin B12 plays a key role energy metabolism (Tardy et al., 2020). Vitamin B12 helps enzymes that break down nutrients from food and convert them into Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) (Dunn & Grider, 2023). ATP powers nearly every activity your cells perform, including muscle contraction while moving, sending signals through your nerves, and the synthesis DNA and proteins needed for growth and repair (Dunn & Grider, 2023).

Without enough Vitamin B12, your body struggles to make ATP efficiently and cells don’t get the energy they need, which can lead to fatigue and weakness (Dunn & Grider, 2023). Making sure you’re getting enough Vitamin B12 is a natural way to improve overall vitality.

Additionally, vitamin B12, along with iron and folate,is a crucial nutrient involved in red blood cell production, also known as erythropoiesis (Koury & Ponka, 2004). Without sufficient red blood cells that transport oxygen, the body’s tissues cannot get enough oxygen, a condition known as anemia (Mayo Clinic, 2023). Symptoms include tiredness, weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath and headaches (Mayo Clinic, 2023).

Blueberries – the perfect partner for Vitamin B12

Blueberries are often classed as a superfood because of their high antioxidant content, particularly anthocyanin.

Antioxidants protect the body against free radicals. Free radicals can damage cells, weaken immunity and play a negative role in our health. The body has its own natural defence mechanisms against free radical damage (your immune system). Antioxidants absorbed through diet contribute to immune system function (Harvard Health Publishing, 2019).

Because of their high anthocyanin content, studies so far indicate that regular consumption of blueberries may help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, support brain health and weight management (Kalt et al., 2020).These are developing research areas with more human trials needed, but overall regular consumption of blueberries is widely recommended (Kalt et al., 2020).

Summary

Ensuring you’re meeting the recommended daily intake for Vitamin B12 will help prevent anemia-related fatigue. While it’s regularly available in all animal products, it can be tough to ensure you are eating a balanced diet every single day to meet your body’s needs. If you’re looking for a B12 top up, try our new delicious vitality syrup combining squeezed NZ blueberry with apple and pear. Blended and bottled in Geraldine, it’s flavoursome and fortified with vitamin B12, a natural source of energy and vitality.

Note, if you have been diagnosed with a vitamin B12 deficiency, or have symptoms of anaemia, please follow advice from your healthcare provider.