Why does 5-Hour Energy Drink contain 8333% the necessary Vitamin B12?
Why do those 5-hour Energy Drink shot bottles each contain 83 times the recommended daily value of Vitamin B12? (this is a 1-serving size bottle.)
The label says 8333% per serving.
Is this harmful (to consume that much Vitamin B12?) And why is it necessary for the bottle to have that much? Does it boost energy or something?
@ Corbin: Thank you!
Still, though, wouldn’t putting in, say, 3 or 5 times the recommended daily value do the trick, instead of 80 times?
Vitamin B12 is something that helps your body break down food and convert it to energy. Our bodies do it well but with more B12 it does it better and this is the primary reason why 5 hour energy works. Also the reason why they put so much in is because your body can only ever absorb 100% of its daily value of these vitamins. But it is difficult for your body to absorb all 100% in one sitting. So amping up how much vitamin B12 is there makes it easier for your body to get as much as possible. Now is it harmful? The answer is No. This vitamin is water soluble just like vitamin C (also a vitamin you see frequently with much more than the recommended amount). Since it is in fact water soluble your body just dissolves it and you can just pee it out, no harm done.
8333% Vitamin B12? 2000% Vitamin b6?
Isn’t that dangerous?
Not at all. In fact, the levels of B12 and B6 are well within safe limits. The RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) is minimum daily amounts set by the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine.
Some people are sensitive to elevated amounts of niacin (Vitamin B3). The flushing is a result of the niacin in 5-Hour Energy increasing blood flow near the skin. It generally goes away in a few minutes, and you may not experience a niacin flush again. To help avoid a possible niacin take half a bottle or less and save the rest for later. You may also want to drink Decaf 5-Hour Energy which contains zero niacin.