Absolutely fucking unnecessary

[Tempest]

First, let me sum a few things up. I work in the nutrition department of a retail chain grocery store.. When I have time, part of my job is to work red plastic tubs that we call "totes", which usually contain various vitamins and energy bars. While going through the totes today, since I had time, I came across a few broken vitamin bottles. No biggie, I started to clean them up, and I was looking at labels as I did so. Then something caught my eye. The vitamin? Mega B-12 Dots.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/tempestdevil/b12dotss.jpg
(Yes, I took the packaging home)

They look innocent enough, right? 5000 micrograms of B12? That doesn't sound like very much. Now lets have a little insight into the vitamin B12. B12 is found, in it's "natural" form (I use the term loosely because it is not produced by plants or animals), as Cyanocobalamin. It is required for healthy brain function and formation of blood. However, the Cyanocobalamin is metabolised into B12 in the human kidneys, meaning there is a cut-off point to how much you can ignest safely. Now, lets see what makes Mega B-12 Dots so special.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/tempestdevil/b12dots.jpg

Since the picture is shit quality, and I can't seem to get a decent one without my scanner, I will copy down what it says:
Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 1 tablet (dot)
------------------------------------------------
Amount Per Serving ..................................... %DV
-----------------------------------
Vitamin B12 (as cyanocobalamin) 5000 mcg ...... 83333%
Wait, what? No, that's not a typo. One tiny little Mega B12 Dot contains EIGHTY-THREE THOUSAND, THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY THREE percent of your daily recommended value of it. 83,333%. Lets put this into terms for a minute. If a liquor was 83,333% alcohol, it would most likely melt the glass bottle holding it. If 83,333 fire ants crawled under your house, they could likely lift it up and carry it back to their hole. If you had 83,333 pennies in a bag at the bank, they would call you a raving lunatic and turn you away at the door.

This vitamin confuses me because at this level, this amount of B12 should induce kidney failure, even if you ingested half of one of these silly dots. God knows what would happen if you were to dump the entire bottle (30 dots) into your mouth at once. I would just like to know, how much is too fucking much? You could be dying of a new strain of cancer that specifically targets the B12 in your body for destruction, and this would still be INSANELY TOO FUCKING MUCH. Why do people feel the need to put this much shit into their bodies?

[Relaps]

BIGGER IS BETTER as far as vitamin and weightlifting people go.

83,333%? Shit. That'd make your brain explode.

[Dragonkiller]

What the hell? 83,333%?! Why?

I really hope people don't actually buy those.

[Tempest]

What the hell? 83,333%?! Why?

I really hope people don't actually buy those.

They do, I didn't have enough in the totes to fill the spot on the shelf.

[Rob]

You're supposed to split each dot between 8,333 people, dummy.

[Tempest]

You're supposed to split each dot between 8,333 people, dummy.

They're so fucking small though, it's ridiculous. I could stuff five or six up my nose easily.

[Derelict]

I'm honestly extremely confused by that. If it can kill you why doesn't it?! WHAT THE HELL?!

[Rob]

They're so fucking small though, it's ridiculous. I could stuff five or six up my nose easily.

Well did you??

[Tempest]

Well did you??

No that would be too obvious, I smuggled them in my asshole. Three bottles was my limit.

[JennaHs_bitch#1]

Well did you??

I would.

[Rob]

No that would be too obvious, I smuggled them in my asshole. Three bottles was my limit.

3 bottles X 30 dots X 83333%. :wail:

That's enough B-12 for you to have to remove your kidneys at airport security.

[Relaps]

30 Tablets? If you took it all at once, you'd get 2,499,990% the ammount of B-12 needed.

I honestly think you'd barf before getting anywhere near there.

EDIT: x3 bottles is 7,499,970%.


You'd be sweating B vitamins.

[Jiggz]

Isn't the case with most vtamin supplements that whatever exceeds the amount the body can handle is simply expelled through the urine? I've been told it's impossible to overdose on vitamins [supplements].

[Derelict]

Seriously, HOW DO THEY NOT FUCKING KILL YOU?! Tempest, answer me!

[Rob]

I've been told it's impossible to overdose on vitamins [supplements].

I think it's time to find out.

[Tempest]

3 bottles X 30 dots X 83333%. :wail:

That's enough B-12 for you to have to remove your kidneys at airport security.
What? My kidneys exploded halfway through the first bottle. :indiff:

Isn't the case with most vtamin supplements that whatever exceeds the amount the body can handle is sinmply expelled in the urine? I've been told it's impossible to overdose on vitamins [supplements].
That is usually the case, with vitamins such as B and C.. But B12 itself is not found in nature, it has to be metabolised from cyanocobalamin, meaning your kidneys and liver have to work on it before it can be processed into your bloodstream.

Seriously, HOW DO THEY NOT FUCKING KILL YOU?! Tempest, answer me!

I don't know, ask the hippies.. I wouldn't take this shit for money.

[Jiggz]

Okay... To put this into perspective, what is the dosage of B12 in a vitamin B injection, usually given as a boost?

[Relaps]

I googled it, and found some vegan forum. One post said:

my roommate had some B12 supplements that had some outrageous RDA value (33,333% ) & so we had taken to biting off little crumbs of them so as not to overdose. However....i still had no idea how much i was taking. i had been having severe dizzy spells for a while but i was really stressed out at the time & i thought it was just that. & i finally realized that i got the dizzy spells after having taken the B12 supplements. i've stopped taking any B12 supplements & the dizzy spells are gone.

Well shit.

[Tempest]

Okay... To put this into perspective, what is the dosage of B12 in a vitamin B injection, usually given as a boost?

http://www.anyvitamins.com/rda.htm

According to that site, you should be taking 3 micrograms of B12 a day. I don't know anything about the dosage in an emergency B booster though.

[Rob]

I googled it, and found some vegan forum. One post said:


Hahaha, a bottle of this would be great at parties.

[Derelict]

I want to take a bunch of these now. You could get so hiiiiigh, maaannn.

[Rebecca.]

If what Relaps said is true, how are people not dying off of one of these pills? These pills are over twice as powerful as that person was taking, & they were only nibbling off of it, yet it was enough to make them dizzy. You would think people would be suing these Mega Dots crazy asses for killing off their health-freak families.

EDIT: Wait, do I smell conspiracy?

[spaj]

Shouldn't this be the type of pill used strictly by hospitals if someone's running alarmingly low on B12 supplements/people with ingestion issues (e.g. it could be too fast or something)?

Anyway, that's incredibly bizarre. I don't understand how they've managed to be put on the market.

[beermonster256]

Amount Per Serving ..................................... %DV
-----------------------------------
Vitamin B12 (as cyanocobalamin) 5000 mcg ...... 83333%

Does that nor say that per 5000mcg serving you get 83333% of your daily intake? So PER BOTTLE you get 83333% RDA? Which in turn would mean each pill is 16.666% of your RDA.

That sounds a lot more sensible to me anyway.

[Tempest]

Amount Per Serving ..................................... %DV
-----------------------------------
Vitamin B12 (as cyanocobalamin) 5000 mcg ...... 83333%

Does that nor say that per 5000mcg serving you get 83333% of your daily intake? So PER BOTTLE you get 83333% RDA? Which in turn would mean each pill is 16.666% of your RDA.

That sounds a lot more sensible to me anyway.

No, each dot is 5000 mcg of B12, which is 83,333%. Per dot you get 83333%, 30 dots per bottle.

[Tyler_Legrand]

I agree with mr. beermonster

[CheesePlease]

That's just fucking awesome.

I never really saw how taking vitamins made me 'healthier'. My parents used to force them down my throat all the time and when I stopped taking them I felt no different. =\

[letteratlantic]

We have a bottle of B 12 somewhere around the house and my mom and sister take it like candy. I don't usually take aspirin for a headache. I have no clue what it even does, or if it even does anything.

[beermonster256]

No, each dot is 5000 mcg of B12, which is 83,333%. Per dot you get 83333%, 30 dots per bottle.

Ah yeah, gotcha. I must be really thick thinking that 5000 micrograms would make an entire bottle. Imagine the size of the pills in that :/

And now I think about it again, it's saying that its 83333% of B12 as cyanocobalamin. So once your body breaks it down its not going to be 83333% any more. Possibly.

[ryanknapper]

Found at: http://nutrition.about.com/od/askyournutritionist/f/b12info.htm

Can you take too much Vitamin B12? I just bought my first bottle of sublingual B12 and it has 2500 mcg one time per day. My friend has 500 mcg sublingual B12 and takes it two times per day. What are the dangers or cautions that I need to be aware of if I take this vitamin on a daily basis?
Vicki

A. Vitamin B12, or Cyanocobalamin, is important for energy use and metabolism. Overdoses are almost unknown, and although 2500 mcg is a high dose, it is safe to take daily. Some things to consider with B12 supplements:

* Take vitamin B12 and folic acid together. A deficiency of one can mask the other. They are usually sold together.
* Some people have trouble absorbing and using vitamin B12 because they don't make enough of a substance called intrinsic factor or hydrochloric acid in their stomachs.
Vitamin B12 may be absorbed best by taking sublingual supplements that dissolve under the tongue.
* A lack of intrinsic factor may lead to Pernicious Anemia.
* Vegans may wish to supplement vitamin B12 since it is almost exclusively found in animal products.

I also found another site (http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydiet/nutritionessentials/vitaminsandminerals/vitaminb12/) which had a soothing photo of peperonni.
What happens if I take too much?

There isn't enough evidence to know what the effects might be of taking high doses of vitamin B12 supplements each day.


So basically we don't know what will happen when this is abused, but we probably will soon.

[Shmuh]

Be our guinea pig and take some, Tempest. :0

[Intestiny Destiny]

B12 is water soluble. So any excess amounts of it automatically leaves through your piss. :science:

Kidneys play no part in ingesting it.

[Niki]

I bet taking 5 of those would be an effective way of suicide. You guys should give out free bottles to emos.

[Slade8]

I bet taking 5 of those would be an effective way of suicide. You guys should give out free bottles to emos.

Firstly, that doesn't contribute. Secondly, emo jokes are dead. Just thought you should know that :P

Well, 83,333%? That's a bit of an overdose, perhaps. Are you sure you take it by mouth? Perhaps they go into water. Diluting it would be quite effective.

[Souldrinker]

It's simple - you're only supposed to take one tablet every three months.

Do the math, people!

[Niki]

Firstly, that doesn't contribute. Secondly, emo jokes are dead. Just thought you should know that :P

Well, 83,333%? That's a bit of an overdose, perhaps. Are you sure you take it by mouth? Perhaps they go into water. Diluting it would be quite effective.

I'm not making 'emo jokes', I just have a serious hate for most emo kids.
Disgusting.
But even if you diluted it it would still probably be way too much.

[ArKaiN]

This is awesome. I can picture the ad:
"Do you wonder if you're taking enough of a certain vitamin? Well wonder no more. Each of our boxes contains enough vitamin b-12 to keep you b-12'd from now until the END OF TIME"

[Matterialize]

If that percentage is so ridiculously high, doesn't it just mean that your body only uses an extremely tiny amount of B12 every day?

It's not as if there's a lethal amount of B12 in each Dot. Your body just uses next to none of it.

[raft]

better question: Why the hell they would make it? Shouldn't it cost them more to put more B12 in each tab? We have 2 options: A) an overdose just gets pissed out, which means they're wasting B12 B) an overdose actually hurts you. Both of these options seem kind of shitty for the company. What kind of incentive do they have to put in that much?

Unless they're trying to impress people with the 83,333% thing. I'm kind of impressed.

[lollercaust]

I'm curious as to how they fit that much into a tiny dot. I'm not doubting it, I just don't know the science of making pills. Did they just pack it to the brim with B12, making it one of the largest mass pills ever?
I think Matterialize has the best idea as to why the hell it has that much of a daily amount percentage.

[Intestiny Destiny]

Daily percentage just means the amount we need per day. Which is extremely small.

It's not that they're packing 500,000 grams into a tiny little pill. It's that we only need 6 micrograms of B12 a day.

Excess B12 just passes through as urine. They put so much because any smaller it'd be too difficult to handle. You need it at a convenient size to swallow it.

[Matterialize]

Daily percentage just means the amount we need per day. Which is extremely small.

It's not that they're packing 500,000 grams into a tiny little pill. It's that we only need 6 micrograms of B12 a day.

Excess B12 just passes through as urine. They put so much because any smaller it'd be too difficult to handle. You need it at a decent size to swallow it.

Hooray for reiteration!

That's an acceptable theory about the pill size, but why wouldn't they just sell the supplement in the form of diluted drops or something? It seems like an awful lot of B12 is going to waste, although only comparatively.

[Relaps]

I checked more into it, and your body has a hard time actually taking the B-12 in. The easiest way to get B-12 is through injection, but it's much harder for your body to actually use it through digestion, before it goes to piss.

Hence, the superdose is so you have a better chance of getting a ton of B-12.

[El Mojado]

So if you take large ammounts of B-12, woundn't your piss come out gold and smelly?

I don't really think its physically possible to overdose on B-12 unless you can really concertrate it.

[Intestiny Destiny]

I checked more into it, and your body has a hard time actually taking the B-12 in. The easiest way to get B-12 is through injection, but it's much harder for your body to actually use it through digestion, before it goes to piss.

Hence, the superdose is so you have a better chance of getting a ton of B-12.

Yeah that solves it.

"Even though a supplement may contain many times the recommended level of vitamin B12, when vitamin B12 intake is high, not as much appears to be absorbed. This means in order to meet your needs, you should take a daily vitamin B12 supplement of 5-10 micrograms or a weekly vitamin B12 supplement of 2000 micrograms."

[Beefynick]

I'm curious as to how they fit that much into a tiny dot. I'm not doubting it, I just don't know the science of making pills. Did they just pack it to the brim with B12, making it one of the largest mass pills ever?
I think Matterialize has the best idea as to why the hell it has that much of a daily amount percentage.

In reality 5000 micrograms is not that much, it is only 0.005 grams (or 5 milligrams). That amount would not be hard to put in a pill/dot. We may never know why they would do it.

I think the question here is what kind of moron thinks that they need that much of vitamin B-12? Apparently people are buying it if the product is still on the shelf.

[Tweek]

Yeah, I think your question has been answered already.
They have so much B-12 in it because its really hard to fiddle about with smaller amounts, and also because the more you take, the more likely it is that the B-12 will be ingested probably.

Apparently B-12 is a good cure for cyanide poisoning.

[zuesd]

wow

USER WAS PUT IN TIMEOUT FOR THIS POST. (http://forums.explosm.net/bankamp/)
Reason: Bumping an ancient thread for a no content post.

[Besh]

NEWEST ad campaign: When B-12 Eating aliens come to earth, you will sure be glad that you have MEGA B-12 DOTS! Be the least b-12 deficient in your street!

[Leeysahh]

B12 is water soluble. So any excess amounts of it automatically leaves through your piss. :science:

Kidneys play no part in ingesting it.


I'm sorry that you are so fucking ignorant! Wee comes your kidneys! Now that is some friggen :science: for you.

I googled this also mainly because I don't have any idea of what B-12 actually is, so on the site (http://www.vegsoc.org/info/b12.html) and it says this B12 has very low toxicity and high intakes are not thought to be dangerous.