Jarrow vs Thorne Methyl B12 1000 mcg (2026)
Informational comparison of label data and cost — not medical advice. Prices are live per-serving figures; formulas are each brand’s published Supplement Facts.
Jarrow Formulas Methyl B-12 1000 mcg Lemon and Thorne Vitamin B12 as Methylcobalamin 1 mg both deliver 1,000 mcg of methylcobalamin, the pre-methylated form of B12. The differences are delivery and certification: Jarrow is a lemon chewable tablet, Thorne a capsule that is NSF Certified for Sport.
The numbers, side by side
| Jarrow Formulas Methyl B-12 1000 mcg Lemon | Thorne Vitamin B12 as Methylcobalamin 1 mg | |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Methylcobalamin | Methylcobalamin |
| Dose / serving | 1000 mcg | 1000 mcg |
| Serving size | 1 chewable tablet | 1 capsule |
| Servings / container | 100 | 60 |
| Third-party cert | None | NSF Certified for Sport |
| Price | $11.92 | $24.00 |
| Cost / day | $0.12 | $0.40 |
| Buy | Check price → | Check price → |
Prices are live Amazon buy-box figures ÷ pack serving count, last reviewed August 1, 2026. Formula details are each brand’s published Supplement Facts panel.
The real difference
Both are methylcobalamin rather than cyanocobalamin, and both at 1,000 mcg. Methylcobalamin is the form already active in the body, which is why it is generally preferred over the cyanide-bound synthetic version, though at these doses absorption is dominated by passive diffusion regardless of form.
The practical difference is delivery. Jarrow is a chewable held in the mouth, which matters because B12 absorbed across the oral mucosa bypasses the intrinsic-factor pathway in the stomach — the pathway that fails in pernicious anaemia and in older adults with low stomach acid. Thorne is a swallowed capsule and adds NSF Certified for Sport, the certification drug-tested competitors need.
Who each one is for
Choose Jarrow if you want the same 1,000 mcg of methylcobalamin at the lower cost per day, or you specifically want a chewable that dissolves in the mouth.
Choose Thorne if you are drug-tested and need NSF Certified for Sport, or you simply prefer a capsule.
Worth knowing B12 deficiency is far more common in people on metformin, long-term acid reducers, or a vegan diet. If any apply, test rather than guess — and see our medication depletion pages.
Our picks
1,000 mcg methylcobalamin as a lemon chewable. $0.12/day.
Same 1,000 mcg methylcobalamin, NSF Certified for Sport, in a capsule. $0.40/day.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Jarrow or Thorne B12 better?
Both deliver 1,000 mcg of methylcobalamin, so the active ingredient and dose match. Jarrow is a chewable at a lower cost per day; Thorne is a capsule with NSF Certified for Sport. Unless you need that certification or prefer a capsule, Jarrow is the same B12 for less.
Is methylcobalamin better than cyanocobalamin?
Methylcobalamin is the form already active in the body, so it needs no conversion, and it is the form both products here use. At 1,000 mcg the practical difference narrows because absorption at that dose is largely passive diffusion rather than the receptor-mediated route.
Does a chewable B12 absorb better than a capsule?
A chewable held in the mouth allows some absorption across the oral mucosa, which bypasses the intrinsic-factor pathway in the stomach. That matters for people with pernicious anaemia or low stomach acid. For everyone else, high-dose oral B12 in either format raises blood levels effectively.
Related
- Methylcobalamin vs cyanocobalamin — which form and when it matters
- B12 dosage guide — RDA, deficiency doses and who is at risk
- All B12 products — ranked by cost per dose
Sources
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. “Vitamin B12 — Health Professional Fact Sheet.” ods.od.nih.gov
- NSF. “Certified for Sport” — what the programme tests. nsfsport.com
- Product labels and live Amazon pricing for both products, reviewed August 2026.