Vitamin B12 supplements improve memory in healthy adults
9.0Strong
evidence
evidence
The Claim
Some believe that vitamin B12 can enhance cognitive function and memory in otherwise healthy individuals, leading to its use as a nootropic.
Origin
This misconception is often propagated by supplement marketing and misinterpretation of studies on cognitive decline in the elderly.
What Science Says
While vitamin B12 is crucial for neurological function, systematic reviews and meta-analyses show that supplementation does not significantly improve memory or cognitive abilities in healthy adults without a deficiency. Improvements are noted in individuals with low B12 levels or specific neurological conditions.
Verdict
Mostly False
Sources
- PMID:30556597 Vitamin and mineral supplementation for maintaining cognitive function in cognitively healthy people in mid and late life.
- PMID:33575718 Vitamin B12 and Folate Status in Cognitively Healthy Older Adults and Associations with Cognitive Performance.
- PMID:32706338 The impact of folate and vitamin B12 status on cognitive function and brain atrophy in healthy elderly and demented Austrians, a retrospective cohort study.