B Vitamins and Energy: What B6 and B12 Actually Do

Educational content only. This article is not medical advice, and nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. B-vitamin needs vary by individual; talk to your doctor before supplementing, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or managing a health condition.

Open the label on almost any energy product and you will find B vitamins — usually B6 and B12. It is worth understanding what they do and, just as importantly, what they do not do, because the marketing around them often outruns the science.

B vitamins do not give you a buzz

First, the myth-buster: B vitamins are not stimulants. Unlike caffeine, they do not cross into your bloodstream and lift your alertness within minutes. What they do is act as cofactors — helper molecules — in the metabolic pathways that convert the food you eat into usable cellular energy. If caffeine is the accelerator, B vitamins are part of the engine's wiring. You will not feel a B vitamin the way you feel a coffee.

What the authorised claims actually say

In the European Union, health claims on foods are tightly regulated, and only claims backed by EFSA's scientific review are permitted. For vitamin B6 and vitamin B12, the authorised claims include contributing to normal energy-yielding metabolism, contributing to normal functioning of the nervous system, contributing to normal psychological function, and helping to reduce tiredness and fatigue.

Notice the careful wording. These are "normal function" claims — they describe these vitamins supporting processes that should be working normally, and helping reduce tiredness in the context of that normal metabolism. They are not claims that B vitamins cure fatigue, boost energy beyond normal, or replace sleep. That precision is exactly why regulators approved them and rejected bolder versions.

Why they appear alongside caffeine

The pairing makes sense. Caffeine provides the fast, felt alertness; B6 and B12 support the underlying energy-yielding metabolism your body relies on all day. In Avysera Energy & Focus gum, the 40mg of natural caffeine and 60mg of L-theanine handle the immediate focus (see our L-theanine article), while the B6 and B12 round out the formula in line with those authorised metabolism and tiredness-reduction claims. It is a supporting role, honestly described — not a second stimulant.

Most people already get B vitamins from food

B6 is found in poultry, fish, potatoes, chickpeas and bananas; B12 in meat, eggs, dairy and fortified foods. Many people meet their needs through diet alone. Certain groups — including some people following vegan diets, older adults, and those with specific absorption conditions — are more likely to run low on B12 in particular, and may benefit from supplementation under guidance. If you are frequently exhausted, that is a conversation to have with a doctor rather than something to fix with a label promise, because persistent fatigue can have many causes.

The honest summary

B6 and B12 earn their place in an energy formula through legitimate, regulator-reviewed roles in normal energy metabolism and reducing tiredness — not through any stimulant effect. Anyone promising that B vitamins alone will transform your energy is overselling. Paired with a measured dose of caffeine and L-theanine, they are a sensible, evidence-aligned part of the whole.

For how the full formula fits together, start with our pillar guide: The Complete Guide to Caffeine Gum, or see every ingredient on our Ingredients & Science page.

References

1. EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies. Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to vitamin B6. EFSA Journal. EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1759
2. EFSA Panel. Scientific Opinion on health claims related to vitamin B12. EFSA Journal. EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1756
3. US NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin B12 Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. ods.od.nih.gov