B12 at Costco for half price - too good to be true?
So I was at Costco yesterday and saw a huge bottle of Vitamin B12 gummies from a brand I've never heard of (Nature's Bounty? No, it's like 'Sunny Gummies' or something) and it was like $12 for 120 gummies. That's half what I pay at my local pharmacy for 60. Is this a steal or are they cheaping out on the ingredients? I don't want to waste money on junk.
I've bought those before when they were on sale once. They tasted fine, but I noticed they had a lot of sugar per gummy. Some brands use cheaper sweeteners like corn syrup instead of organic cane sugar. Also, check the amount of B12 - some have 5000 mcg which is way more than you need, so they just load up on cheap B12. But honestly, as long as it's methylcobalamin, not cyanocobalamin, it's probably fine. I'd say go for it, but check the ingredients first.
From a medical standpoint, the price doesn't necessarily reflect quality. B12 is a cheap vitamin to produce, so even at that price, they're making a profit. The main concerns are the form of B12 (methyl vs cyano) and the excipients - some cheaper brands use fillers that can affect absorption. But if it's USP certified or has a third-party seal, you're fine. Also, check if they're sugar-free - for a gummy, they might have added sugar which is not ideal if you're watching your intake.
I get the Costco ones all the time. They're legit. I'm a gym rat and I need that energy boost, and they work great. The price is just because Costco buys in bulk. Just don't expect them to taste like candy - they're a bit chalky, but you're not eating them for the taste. And yeah, they have a lot of sugar, but I burn it off anyway. Steal in my book.