Health > Healthful Living
Vitamin B-12
Michelle:
Just got this article online from Honolulu Star Bulletin about Vitamin B-12 deficiency in vegetarians--what do you know about this? When I was nursing my first son, my pediatrician told me to take VIT B supplements just to be on the safe side. What do those of you who are vegans do to ensure your B vitamin intake is sufficient? I'm not quite vegan yet, but have been moving that way more and more, and am not sure what this study really means. The URL is http://starbulletin.com/2000/09/13/features/health.html<P>I'm sure someone on this forum can come up with some answer! Michelle
Curt:
Linda,
there are two critical questions qith B-12 as with other nutrients. (1) Is there enough in the daily intake? (2) Is it being absorbed?Critical to absorbtion is the health of the intestinal system and the presence of the intrinsic factor. Do you have information on the intrinsic factor and the work it does, type of environment and whether PH has any positive and/or negative impact on it?Also, vegetarians have a tendencey to take in excessive protein because of the teaching that by not using animal products they are deficient in protein. Is there a relationship to excess protein and low B-12 availability?------------------
Maranatha
LindaRS:
Curt,This is Linda, sitting here going, "HUH?" I'm trying to figure out how come you addressed me and not Michelle, or is it another Linda?Anyway, Michelle, according to information that I have picked up on the web, there is still information coming in on B-12. You can get soymilk, and some meat analogs that are fortified with B-12. Look on the label and see if it says it contains "vitamin B-12" or it may be listed by its name "cyanocobalamine." Once source of all B vitamins is Red Star T-6635+ nutritional yeast (1-2 teaspoons supplies the adult RDA of B-12). It can be called Fleishman's yeast flakes or nutritional yeast or food yeast. It can be used on toast, in soups, casseroles, beans (especially lentils), and is a primary ingredient in cashew "cheese". It can be found in almost any health food store. Just be careful not to confuse it with brewer's yeast. They are not the same thing. While both are dead yeasts, meaning they can no longer work as leavening or fermenting agents, brewer's yeast is grown on alcoholic beverages, nutritional yeast is grown on molassas and has a mild flavor.Hope this helps a little, Linda
Curt:
Sis. Linda,
please forgive me. I guess I am somewhat new to the protocol here. Suzanne is the moderator and you also provide some very helpful conributions.
I have just read the responses in the other thread on the Vegan Diet and I fully agree with the statement in SOP on the adequate nutrition provided in Fruits, nuts, grains and vegetables. However, when the question is put to me by non-SDA persons it is hard to answer. I have a Director who made the full change to vegetarianism and he and his wife had been examined by their physician and told to use supplements or go back to fish, etc for B-12. He asked me about it and I would like to go back to him with some research info that backs SOP.Anyway, I am wondering which of these two threads I should continue in. I will wait to see. Again, Linda and Suzanne please forgive my last slipup.
Liane H:
Go to the vegan diet report for the outline of what Dr. Thrash says about b-12. I have some friends who have been on a on-going study of Adventist since the early 60's. This study has been funded in large by the federal government over these years. Perhaps someone else know what I am talking about. What this study produced is the new triangle arangements of the food lists that shows that meat should be a very small portion of your food and the increase to 20 to 30 grams of fiber a day. What this study has found, I wish I knew how to find the report. My friends are on the road and cannot get it from them. But that Adventist Vegetarians outlived secular vegans by four years. Overall Adventist outlived all groups by far. So Richard is right, some vegetarians may include in their diet things that Adventist don't and that is why they live longer.Someone who reviewed this report also came to the conclusion that resting on the Sabbath does make a significant difference in health and well being overall was found. That is why there has been in resent years the encourgement for employers to give people more R&R days off. I will also ask my friend about b-12.Liane
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