Are you vegan or vegetarian? The truth about vitamin B12

Do you not eat animal products? Then, you have to take vitamin B12 supplements. This nutrient is essential for the formation of red cells and the nervous system. Although you may have read all kinds of statements about it, some are not based on solid evidence. This article is going to be specially useful for vegans and vegetarians alike.

The purpose of this post is to discern between reality and legend. It is time to talk about the always polemic relation between vegan diets and vitamin B12 (click here for more information about this vitamin).

The nutrient in discordance with vegetarian diets

Vitamin B12 is a must have for our health. In fact, it is in charge of producing red cells and ensuring the proper functioning of the central nervous system. To do so, it protects the myelin sheath of the neurons and supports the synthesis of neurotransmitters. To top it all, it also works as a coenzyme in several metabolic tasks.

That is why it is interesting to know how to meet the vitamin B12 requirements in order to not compromise our health. Then, this simple question for vegans and vegetarians has a very simple answer: if you want to avoid a B12 deficiency, you need to take supplementation.

Why is it so important to use vitamin B12 supplementation for vegans?

Because B12, also known as the “vitamin of energy” or cobalamin is available in animal products. Moreover, you need to take it on a daily basis in order to ensure its levels.

For vegans a vegetarians, the main issues lies in that most of vegetables do not contain vitamin B12. This is due to the fact that this vitamin can only be produced through bacteria in products that come from meat and thereof.

Then, are vegan diets counterproductive? This is not what we want you to think by any means. In fact, vegan and vegetarians diets have pros and cons, just like any other diet:

What is the incidence rate of low cobalamin in vegans and vegetarians?

The rate of vitamin B12 changes between vegans and vegetarians and the rest of the population. Those who eat meat obviously have a lower lack of cobalamin (read more).

Therefore, it is not a myth that vegans and vegetarians need to take B12 supplements. Although the information tells us that they are not the only ones that should. Why? Up to a 40% of the adult population have low levels of this vitamin. However, we cannot deny that if you do not eat meat, taking B12 supplements is more a necessity than a choice.

Symptoms and consequences

A low B12 in vegetarian or vegan women is specially worrisome. This is due to the fact that it can affect the fetus and cause growth disorders. Moreover, some of the consequences of a vitamin B12 deficiency are irreversible, such as the loss of the myelin sheath.

Are there sources of B12 for vegans?

We have already mentioned that the main sources of vitamin B12 come from animals, particularly from:

Keep reading about the best sources of vitamin B12

But, are there fruit and vegetables that have B12? A lot has been said about this issue. The conclusion of this debate is that although many fruits are rich in complex B vitamins, they are not particularly rich in vitamin B12.

Therefore, mushrooms and algae may be the only vegetables that contain active vitamin B12. However, we are sad to say that this is only applicable to some species. For instance, the pearl oyster mushrooms native to Southern Italy or Sicily, or even rare species like the Amethyst Cantharellus.

Other possible vegetable sources of vitamin B12 are Shiitake mushrooms (although its supply changes depending on the climate and soil). Fermented products are also good sources, such as tea, sauerkraut or soy products (tempeh). However, their supply is very low (around 1 microgram per 100 grams of dry weight).

Vegan recipes rich in vitamin B12: a delicacy within your reach

Vegan and tasty? Awesome!

This is our premise when it comes to cooking vegan recipes. Once you try it, you will become addicted! Are you not good at cooking? No problem, this recipe is not only delicious, it is also very easy to make!

Vegan Bites

Start taking B12 supplements and keep living intensely without compromising your health.

Are you vegan or vegetarian and you want to learn more about vitamin B12? Then keep reading:

• Is an excess dangerous? See more
• Check its chemical forms
• Click here to find out more about this vitamin and the intrinsic factor

Bibliography

• Green R, Allen LH, Bjørke-Monsen AL. Vitamin B12 deficiency. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017; 3: 17040a.
• Pawlak R, Parrott SJ, Raj S When is vitamin B (12) deficiency common among vegetarians? Nutr Rev. 2013 Feb; 71 (2): 110-7.
• Herrmann W, Schorr H, Obeid R. Vitamin B-12, especially holotranscobalamin II and methylmalonic acid, and hyperhomocysteinemia in vegetarians. En el J Clin Nutr. 2003 Jul; 78 (1): 131-6.
• Herbert V. Vitamin B-12: sources, requirements and analysis. En el J Clin Nutr. 1988 Sep; 48 (3 Suppl): 852-8.
• Watanabe F. Vitamin B12 and bioavailability. Exp Biol Med. 2007 Nov; 232 (10): 1266-74.