Is it ok to do without B12 supplements if our B12 level is okay?

Question

I get regular checkups to make sure my B12 level is okay (at least once a year). However, I have ran into other vegans who tell me I still need to be taking supplements. Could someone tell me why in the world you would need to take B12 supplements if you B12 level checks out okay?

cagedbird88, did you even read my question??? I just said I was getting plenty of B12 and I didn't need to take supplements. I wish there was an option to give you the worst answer because you would definitely win that one. Gosh, some people are so ?%#$@$

Wiz, the only way is by injection??? Are you really that @#@$# I don't know why I even bother asking.

Answer 1

If your B12 levels are OK, you don't need to take supplements.

I think that caged bird has a point - it must be better to obtain your vitamins & minerals from natural sources (ie food) rather than synthetic sources (ie supplements).

Answer 2

Cyanobalamin is a vegetarian source. If you see cyanobalamin listed, it's fine for you. Now, to the quick (albeit somewhat imperfect) explanation of how this works: Animals don't produce vitamin B12 randomly. They eat it. The bacteria in dirt has B12 in it (yay, dirt!). Because ruminants wind up eating dirt when they grab mouthfuls of grass, they ingest the bacteria and therefore the B12. (Cool, huh?) The nutrient is then deposited into their tissues and goes into some of their byproducts as well. Basically, it's incorrect to say that B12 is only found in animal products and bi-products. It is found elsewhere. However, it's less likely that you would want to get it directly from the vegetarian source (dirt). If you're eating eggs and dairy, though, you are getting enough. You only need 2.4mcg of it a day. The links below show the content of vegetarian foods. The first shows eggs and dairy, the second legumes (and bean-based products), and the third breakfast cereals (enriched foods are everyone's friend).

Answer 3

MYTH: "Vegans are at high risk for Vitamin B12 deficiency."

FACT: McDougall: "B12 deficiency is rare… Two kinds have been observed. The more common is due to malabsorption of this vitamin as a consequence of diseased conditions of the stomach or of the small intestine. It has nothing to do with the amount of B12 present in the diet, so it is treated with injections of B12. The other kind of B12 deficiency is found very rarely among people who take essentially no B12 in their diet. Less than a dozen cases of this type of B12 deficiency have been reported among the tens of millions of vegetarians in the world. One reason it's so uncommon is that B12 is made by the bacteria naturally present in the human mouth and intestines.… [In addition,] the average American has stored so much B12 in his body's tissues… that twenty to thirty years must pass before you run out of it." McDougall notes that anyone with concerns about B12 can simply take a supplement on occasion.

Some people take them just in case,for safety.if you get it checked reguraly then you're fine.

Answer 4

Interesting. This from the vegatarian society: "The only reliable unfortified sources of vitamin B12 are meat, dairy products and eggs. There has been considerable research into possible plant food sources of B12. Fermented soya products, seaweeds and algae have all been proposed as possible sources of B12. However, analysis of fermented soya products, including tempeh, miso, shoyu and tamari, found no significant B12."

so where are you getting siginficant amounts of B12?

"Good sources of vitamin B12 for vegetarians are dairy products or free-range eggs. ½ pint of milk (full fat or semi skimmed) contains 1.2 µg. A slice of vegetarian cheddar cheese (40g) contains 0.5 µg. A boiled egg contains 0.7 µg." However, as a vegan you probably don't consume eggs and dairy. " Vegans are recommended to ensure their diet includes foods fortified with vitamin B12."

also i would caution against using soy products as anything more than a condiment. soy is not really a food product. today's facination with soy (in the western world) stems from mass marketing.

BTW>> according to the american acadamy of family physicians "The true prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in the general population is unknown. The incidence, however, appears to increase with age. In one study, 15 percent of adults older than 65 years had laboratory evidence of vitamin B12 deficiency."

Answer 5

More than jus OK, it's perfeck...! I'm vegan too and I'm also a runner (athlete) and equiestrienne an the doc says I'm fine. Always a bit underweight but all the evidence points to that being healthier than a bit overweight.

And that emphasises my point: you're on target, & really not prompting pissabolity probs by overdosing your B group vits, cos that would be more dangerous than Davies...



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Answer 6

Instead of taking B12 supplements, eat actual food that contain the B12 vitamin. You're B12 level will not always be "okay" every day of your life. You will eventually run into problems in the future. Save yourself from any health related risks and eat foods - not vitamins - that contain the B12 vitamin.

Answer 7

You don't need to take supplements at all.

If you take supplements it's not about being a vegan, its about having a balanced diet.

I know many vegans who don't take any supplements ( we have a veggie and vegan B&B so see people with this diet all the time ) and they are doing just fine.

Answer 8

If your levels are ok then you are spending money that doesn't need to be spent. Chances are that you are eating a diet high in legumes (beans) and they are high in B12. You should be fine without them.

Answer 9

As an vegan I also take extra B12 there maybe days I might not get enough of it. So then my body will have it .
I take SPIRULINA- from JAPAN. it has the extra that I need.

Answer 10

As long as you get enough B12 from what you eat, no.