B12 And Reality

 By Eccentric Vegan on March 5th, 2009 Print This Post Print This Post

broughtbyb

The US goverment says:

“As a general rule, most individuals who develop a vitamin B12 deficiency have an underlying stomach or intestinal disorder that limits the absorption of vitamin B12″

That’s right. The US government does NOT say ‘most individuals who develop a vitamin B12 deficiency are vegans,’ they said most people who have a B12 deficiency “have an underlying stomach or intestinal disorder that limits the absorption of vitamin B12.” (source)

There are a lot of myths floating around. But let’s stick to reality. The fact is, anyone can be deficient in B12, not just vegans. And most people who are deficient in B12 are NOT vegans.

OK, now that we got that out of the way, let’s talk about B12:

  • B12 is not currently available in unprocessed plant foods. Vegans should obtain B12 from fortified foods or supplements.
  • Vegetarians who eat dairy shouldn’t need to worry about B12 unless they have a stomach or intestinal disorder, they are pregnant, they are taking certain medications, or they are older.
  • Nonvegans (aka meat-eaters) should worry about B12 if they have a stomach or intestinal disorder, they are pregnant, they are taking certain medications, or they are older.
  • Damage from B12 deficiency is neurological and irreversible. Best to prevent it rather than take the risk of deficiency.
  • B12 comes from a bacteria, not from animals.
  • B12 supplements are currently available in these forms: chewable tablets, pills, skin patches, powders, and injections.
  • More information about B12: source 1, source 2, source 3.

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3 Responses to B12 And Reality

  1.  Alex commented on Mar 5th, 2009 at 7:09 am

    I very much like how Prof. Francione recently framed this issue:

    “For those who claim that a vegan diet is not “natural” because vegans have to be concerned about B-12, please remember that everyone has to be concerned about B-12 and must consume some food to get that B-12. I consume nutritional yeast; carnivores consume meat. To say that yeast is less “natural” than meat begs the question.”

    ~ Recent blog post: Behind the Myth: ‘Happy Cows’ ~

  2.  Eccentric Vegan commented on Mar 5th, 2009 at 6:53 pm

    Dr. McDougall wrote a piece about B12:
    http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2007nl/nov/b12.htm
    He says:

    “If you follow the McDougall Diet [low fat, starch-based vegan] for more than 3 years, or if you are pregnant or nursing, then take a minimum of 5 micrograms of supplemental vitamin B12 each day.”

    I even asked him in person about this and that’s what he told me, with a bit of an eye roll. I bet he gets that question a lot.

    He asks

    “How many vegans have you met with B12 deficiency anemia or nervous system damage? I bet not one! Furthermore, you have never even heard of such a problem unless you have read the attention-seeking headlines of newspapers or medical journals.”

    I’ve known exactly one. And hers was caused by the same thing that causes B12 deficiencies in omnivores: an intestinal disorder. She had a parasite, which has been destroyed and now she’s back to good health.

  3.  ardeth commented on Mar 6th, 2009 at 11:31 am

    “B12 comes from a bacteria, not from animals.”

    And cobalt.

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