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Healthy Home Economist / Archives / Natural Remedies / Vitamin B12 in Animal versus Plant Foods

Vitamin B12 in Animal versus Plant Foods

by Sarah Pope / Affiliate Links ✔

Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
  • Vitamin B12 Deficiency Signs
  • B12 High in Animal Foods
  • Do Gut Bacteria Produce B12?
  • B12 in Plant Foods+−
    • Algae Contains B12 Imposter
    • Hindu Vegans without B12 Deficiency
  • Can B12 Supplements Fill the Gap?

Comparison of the quality and amount of Vitamin B12 in animal versus plant-based foods and whether the gut produces this nutrient in usable form.

Vitamin B12 written on a chalkboard

Modern dietary propaganda consistently gets it wrong…very VERY wrong…when it comes to the critical nutrient Vitamin B12.  

The false notions pertaining to proper food sources of B12 have resulted in epidemic numbers of people being deficient in this all-important nutrient. The health consequences of this can be nothing short of devastating over the long term.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency Signs

Deficiency of B12 is extremely dangerous to health and can lead to dementia and even death if not rectified.

Early symptoms include paleness and overall weakness and fatigue. As the anemia caused by B12 deficiency progresses, symptoms can mimic aging.

Thus, some physicians can easily dismiss these signs as a somehow natural or “normal” occurrence.

Later signs include shaky hands or spastic movement in general, sleeping disorders, unsteady gait, incontinence, and memory loss.

Easy bruising is one of the most visible signs. Personality disorders and anger issues can also sometimes manifest.

For those trying to lose weight and using fascia blasting devices to help reduce the appearance of fat, severe bruising can occur.

Nervous system, reproductive, and digestive problems such as depression, tingling hands/feet, stomach upset, constipation (or diarrhea),  and difficulties getting pregnant are also warning signs of low B12 status.

Children with B12 deficiency are particularly at risk with permanent damage to development a very real possibility. Growth retardation, delay in motor skill development, and significantly reduced problem-solving, spatial ability, and overall ability to learn are the consequences of low B12 in the developing years.

The real culprit in the B12 deficiency epidemic (by some estimates, about 40% of people are deficient and most are completely unaware of the situation), is the demonization and consequent avoidance of B12 rich foods by a duped public.

B12 High in Animal Foods

The very foods highest in B12, particularly pastured organ meats and fresh eggs, are the very same ones erroneously labeled as unhealthy by conventional nutritional circles. These include:

  • liver
  • egg yolks
  • kidney
  • meat (cooking meat only destroys B12 on the surface, not the interior of the meat)
  • fish
  • shellfish
  • dairy products. Note that raw dairy has more B12 than pasteurized. In addition, the milk enzymes that assist with absorbing this nutrient are present in unprocessed dairy.

Ironically, these very same foods were revered by Traditional Societies. The reason is that they imparted vibrant health, vitality, fertility, and healthy babies and children to those that consumed them:

Do Gut Bacteria Produce B12?

Because the original source of B12 in nature is bacteria, some nutritional sources confuse the issue by maintaining that beneficial B12 is synthesized by gut flora in the colon of humans.

While this may be true, the B12 that is produced this way is not in a usable form. The body is able to absorb very little if any bacteria-produced B12 across the walls of the large intestine or colon.  

The reason is that the bacteria produced B12 in the gut is not attached to the “intrinsic factor” (IF). This is a special protein that is secreted in the stomach.

B12 must attach to an intrinsic factor protein to be absorbed effectively. This happens when B12 binds with the intrinsic factor that has been broken down by pancreatic enzymes in the small intestine.

The tightly bound B12-intrinsic factor complex then moves through the gut to the Ileum or lower portion of the small intestine. From there, it attaches to cell receptors for absorption.

B12 in Plant Foods

Contrary to claims by the vegan community, usable B12 is not available in algae like clean sources of spirulina or tempeh (a fermented soy product).  

The B12 found in these foods is similar to true B12 but not exactly the same thing. The B12 in brewer’s yeast also called nutritional yeast, is due to factory fortification. In other words, it is a synthetic source and not naturally occurring.

Algae Contains B12 Imposter

Studies have indicated that these B12 analogs in algae and tempeh are not bioavailable. Blood levels of the nutrient did not change even after these plant-based foods were added to the diet.

Even worse, these B12 imposters can actually inhibit the absorption of true vitamin B12 as the result of a competitive situation in the digestive system. This puts those that avoid animal foods at an even greater risk for deficiency!

Hindu Vegans without B12 Deficiency

Proponents of the B12 in plant foods myth like to point out that Hindus from India do not seem to suffer from any B12 deficiency despite a diet that includes no animal foods.

However, the discussion conveniently omits that vegan Hindus that move to England quickly develop B12 deficiency symptoms. This is the case even if they continue to follow their Indian diet.

Why?

This is because, in India, the plant foods consumed by vegans include many insects and insect larvae via unprocessed grains.

In England, insects and their residues are completely removed from plant foods before they are consumed. This occurs due to more modern processing methods. This removes the tiny and yet plentiful animal foods serving to preserve the Hindu vegans’ health in their traditional homeland.

Can B12 Supplements Fill the Gap?

It is always best to seek critical nutrients like B12 from food. However, if absorption is not optimal due to digestive issues or restrictive food philosophy, supplementation can become necessary.

The best whole food supplement for B12 is desiccated liver tested to be glyphosate free.

For extremely low B12 status, this is an excellent brand to raise levels rapidly.

The pathways for the uptake of this critical nutrient are very complicated. In addition, common physical issues such as reduced stomach acid, compromised protein digestion, lack of pancreatic enzymes, and autoimmune disorders can cause disruption in the absorption process.

Preventatively, the best approach is plentiful servings of foods rich in B12. This liver and bacon pate recipe is a delicious way to get this sometimes difficult food into your family. This single dietary tweak can easily avoid this common nutrient deficiency by maintaining optimal levels for maximum vitality.

different B12 food sources on a white background

References

(1) Myths of Vegetarianism
(2) Vegetarian Myths
(3) Vitamin B12 Food Sources
(4) Vitamin B12 from Algae Appears Not to be Bioavailable
(5) Vitamin B12: Plant Sources, Requirements, and Assay
(6) B12 Deficiency

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Category: Natural Remedies
Sarah Pope

Sarah Pope MGA has been a Health and Nutrition Educator since 2002. She is a summa cum laude graduate in Economics from Furman University and holds a Master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

She is the author of three books: the bestseller Get Your Fats Straight, Traditional Remedies for Modern Families, and Living Green in an Artificial World.

Her four eBooks Good Diet…Bad Diet, Real Food Fermentation, Ketonomics, and Ancestrally Inspired Dairy-Free Recipes are available for complimentary download via Healthy Home Plus.

Her mission is dedicated to helping families effectively incorporate the principles of ancestral diets within the modern household. She is a sought after lecturer around the world for conferences, summits, and podcasts.

Sarah was awarded Activist of the Year in 2010 at the International Wise Traditions Conference, subsequently serving on the Board of Directors of the nutrition nonprofit the Weston A. Price Foundation for seven years.

Her work has been covered by numerous independent and major media including USA Today, ABC, and NBC among many others.

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Reader Interactions

Comments (152)

  1. Jamal Salem Aljifri, Aden, South Yemen, What's App +967 739510383

    Aug 7, 2021 at 6:44 am

    H.pylori infection in the United States affects around 20 percent of people under the age of 40, and 50 percent of those over the age of 60. it is estimated that 50 percent of the world’s population is infected with H.pylori, which is yet another reason B12 deficiency is very common.

    Reply
  2. Tina

    Jun 16, 2021 at 3:01 am

    Hi Sarah
    Do you have a recommendation for a methylated B12 supplement for those who have the mthfr mutation?

    Reply
    • Sarah Pope MGA

      Jun 16, 2021 at 10:58 am

      This is a good one that only contains Methylcobalamin.
      https://www.perfectsupplements.com/product-p/golvc-b-12.htm/?Click=5d71106181757

  3. Sherrie Hagenhoff

    Jun 15, 2021 at 9:18 pm

    Is fermented cod liver oil an adequate source of B12? Or better – is it harmful to take both FCLO and Dessicated liver? Thank you for the great info. So glad I signed up.

    Reply
    • Sarah Pope MGA

      Jun 16, 2021 at 10:54 am

      Hi Sherrie, fermented cod liver oil does not contain any vitamin B12. I personally take both desiccated liver and virgin cod liver oil (dropi).

  4. Sam

    Apr 11, 2019 at 3:25 pm

    Hi Sarah,

    When you supplement with B-12, it’s best to go for “methyl” B-12. But I’ve noticed that most of these products have citric acid in them.

    Do you have any recommendations for B-12 supplements here on your Web site? Thanks for any help.

    Reply
  5. Miter Broller

    Sep 17, 2018 at 6:18 am

    B12 is a soil bacterium and the only way it enters the system of any animal is if they are consuming the soil bacterium (i.e. grazing, pecking, etc.). If you are consuming the cellophane-wrapped meat item from aisle 3, then you probably aren’t consuming any more B12 than your average vegan. Only 3% of Americans are vegan, yet the study you reference indicates 40% of Americans could be B12 deficient. When the average American consumes some of the highest per-capita amounts of meat and dairy, how do you rectify the huge disparity since that number should only hover around the 3% number (vegan population)?

    Reply
    • Sarah

      Sep 17, 2018 at 10:46 am

      Ummmm, yes the average meat eater will get far more B12 than a vegan (who gets ZERO unless he/she is taking a B12 supplement). No, the B12 in kelp isn’t true B12 .. it’s an analog which isn’t readily usable in humans. Yes, B12 deficiency is high among meat eaters as well due to the extremely high carb/high sugar content of the modern diet which depletes B vitamin status, but it is RAMPANT and UNDIAGNOSED in vegans, who are at the greatest risk from this very serious nutritional deficiency.

  6. Amar Indian

    Aug 28, 2018 at 8:53 am

    It’s a great article, but I strongly differ opinion about reasons for low b12 difficiency in Hindus, contrary to popular belief Indian Hindus are Not truly vegan as defined by western dieticians.
    Milk and it’s derivatives are very important part of Hindu Diet hence b12 deficiency is not that common in India. After green revolution introduced by Govt in 80’s there is very heavy use of pesticides in most of the farm produce while it is causing health problems of different kind, bugs are definitely not one of them

    Thanks for great article

    Reply
  7. Burnsy

    May 28, 2018 at 10:25 pm

    Good article except for the final recommendation. A recent study in England found that supplements for B12 are the best way to reach and maintain a normal B12 level. Real food sources came in third place.

    Reply
    • Sarah

      May 29, 2018 at 7:44 am

      Real food comes in third? Have you considered the very strong possibility that B12 supplement manufacturers bought and paid for this “study”? Sorry, I’ll stick with food! Sounds like science for sale to me.

  8. Bea Lavelle

    Mar 12, 2018 at 6:25 pm

    Hi Sarah,
    Could you please post the link to the Hindu migration study that showed B12 deficiency was due to the removal of insects and insect larvae from plants as a result of sanitary food prep protocols? It is a fabulous study that I read years ago but I have not been able to local the text since. And when I click on your reference to the results it doesn’t bring the reader to the actual study. Thanks!

    Reply
  9. the gate

    Mar 6, 2018 at 12:16 am

    In India, people do not eat insect eggs and larvae. We do get clean food, just as in England.
    Here vegetables are more nutritious because of the low food miles. Also, Indians have a better gut
    because of their exposure to mud and nature, which expands their microbiome, unlike in the UK, where
    people live in highly sanitized and unnatural environments.

    Reply
    • Sarah

      Mar 6, 2018 at 10:49 am

      That’s not what the research and testing of the food has found!

  10. Alicia

    Mar 5, 2018 at 4:19 pm

    Brewers yeast and nutrional yeast are two different things. Just FYI.

    Reply
    • Sarah

      Mar 6, 2018 at 10:53 am

      They used to be … not anymore. https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/nutritional-brewers-yeast-pros-cons/

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