Why AG1 Has 16,667% of Your Vitamin B12

Look at the AG1 label and one number jumps out. Next to vitamin B12 it says 16,667%. That looks like a typo. It is not. Here is what the number means, and what it does not mean.

What the percent is measuring

The % Daily Value on a label compares one serving to a single yardstick. For B12, that yardstick is 2.4 mcg. A mcg, or microgram, is a very tiny weight.

One scoop of AG1 has 400 mcg of B12. Divide 400 by 2.4 and you get about 167. Written as a percent, that is 16,667%. So the label math is right. One scoop has about 167 times the B12 an adult needs in a day.

How big is that, really?

The chart above puts three numbers side by side. Adults need 2.4 mcg a day. That is the RDA, the daily amount that covers most healthy people. NIH says the need is 2.6 mcg in pregnancy and 2.8 mcg while nursing. Most multivitamins have 5 to 25 mcg. One AG1 scoop has 400 mcg. That is 16 times the top of the usual multivitamin range.

So yes, it is a very big dose. It is a choice AG1 made. It is not something your body asked for.

A bigger number is not more benefit

A label number tells you how much is in the scoop. It does not tell you how much your body needs or uses. Your need is still 2.4 mcg whether the label says 100% or 16,667%. We are not giving an absorption number here, because the sources we checked do not give one.

There is good news on safety. NIH says the Food and Nutrition Board did not set an upper limit for B12, because it has low potential for toxicity. That is calming. It is not a reason to chase bigger and bigger numbers.

Who may want to ask about B12

Some people have a real reason to check their B12. Talk with your doctor if any of these sound like you:

• You are an older adult and have never had your B12 checked.
• You eat little or no animal food. NIH says B12 is found in animal foods, like eggs, salmon, milk and Greek yogurt.
• You have taken metformin, or an acid reducer called a proton pump inhibitor, for a long time. NIH lists long use of both as causes of low B12.

If one of those fits, do not guess. Ask your doctor about a simple blood test. Then you will know where you stand, and you can pick the right plan together. If you are pregnant or nursing, check with your provider before you add any supplement.

One more label number: biotin

The label also lists 330 mcg of biotin, which is 1,100% of the Daily Value. NIH says taking more biotin than the recommended amounts can cause falsely high or falsely low lab results. That means a blood test could read wrong.

The fix is easy. Tell your doctor, and the lab if you can, that you take a supplement with biotin before any blood work.

The kind takeaway

A huge percent is a fact about the dose. It is not a promise about how you will feel. If you like AG1, you can still enjoy it. Just know what is in it, and ask your doctor if you have a reason to check your B12.

Want to see how this fits with the rest of your day? Try the AG1 cost and overlap calculator. If you already take a daily vitamin, read which nutrients to check when you pair AG1 with a multivitamin. For the whole picture, see our full AG1 review.