B12

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B12 is made by bacteria.

 

All natural animals have a method of providing themselves B12.

When carnivores eat the flesh of herbivorous animals, they get

the B12 stored in the flesh of the animal they are eating.

Herbivorous animals like cow’s have more than one stomach. Their

first stomach is a non-acid one, which acts as an ideal bacterial

fermentation chamber, so this is the source of B12 for cow’s.

Humans lack this facility. In nature, primates (such as we are)

DO use a B12 " supplement " ... they eat their own poop! Because

there is normally a healthy bacterial colony in primate lower

(large) intestines, excrement typically is loaded with several

micrograms. The only way to absorb it is to introduce it into the

upper digestive tract. And, primates do eat flesh on occasion

too.

 

For us " modern " primates who wish to pass on our " natural "

sources (let's see a show of hands!), a supplement is a

preferable alternative! :-) B12 for supplements is made in a

process that mimics what happens in our lower intestine or the

first stomach of the cow. Therefore, taking a B12 supplement

isn't all that unnatural. It just cuts out the middle man (er,

animal)...! :-)

 

My understanding is that the B12 found on plant foods is an

inactive form, not useable to us.

 

 

Vegans have been known to last as long as 30 years without taking

any form of supplement. This is because there are several ways in

which the human body recycles stored B12. Our livers store it for

us, so if/when we don't take any in, our livers provide it. This

supply can last a long time. Eventually though, it runs out if

more is not taken in. People have been known to run into B12

problems in as short a time as a year, although a typical storage

amount lasts about 5 years. This is why it is recommended to

start taking a supplement within at least 3 years.

 

I am not aware of any way of predicting how long any one person's

stored supply will last. Regretfully, my husband and I didn't

understand initially how important it was, and we waited about 10

years before we started. By that time, we were starting to see

some symptoms of deficiency. We regret waiting until symptoms

presented, because once they are noticeable, that means that some

of the damage from the deficiency may not be reversed entirely.

The damage from deficiency begins at a very deep level, and only

much later shows on the surface. With my husband and I, it was a

tremor in our hands. It reduced about 50% once we started the

B12, but we have been left with that reminder of how important it

is to take it before one sees the need.

 

 

Getting it in supplemented foods is fine, and serves the majority

of people. However, it falls short of meeting the needs of about

30 to 40% of people.

 

About 30 to 40% of people have a problem with their absorption

system. They have to ingest a " therapeutic dose " ... 1000

micrograms per day is called the " safe in all cases " dose. It has

been shown to fulfill even those with Pernicious Anemia. In

Pernicious Anemia, the person does not produce Intrinsic Factor,

which escorts B12 onto it’s receptor sites in the upper

intestine. Without Intrinsic Factor, B12 can only be absorbed

" passively " . With passive absorption, only about 1% of what is

swallowed gets absorbed. So by taking 1000 micrograms, about 10

actually enter the blood stream. This is plenty. This is what I

do, and I know of a number of others who have been very surprised

to find out that they too number in that 30 to 40%.

 

You can find out if you need the therapeutic dose by having your

blood checked. If it is low or below normal, you will probably

have to take the full 1000 micrograms per day to get it up to

normal. People with a fully functional recycling system only need

to take in a few micrograms every few days. This is enough for

about 60 to 70% of people.

 

Deborah Pageau B.Sc.