Abstract

Vitamin B12 (B12) is present in foods of animal origin, and vegans are encouraged to take supplements with synthetic B12 in order to ensure a sufficient uptake. Recent rat studies suggest that natural (hydroxo-B12, HO-B12) and synthetic (cyano-B12, CN-B12) B12 behave differently in the body. Here, we test if a daily vitamin pill matches dietary B12 in ability to restore a low B12 status in rats. B12-depleted male Wistar rats (n = 60) were divided into five groups (n = 12 in each) and subjected to two weeks intervention with various schemes of B12 supplementation. Two “dietary” groups received a low-B12 chow that was fortified with either HO-B12 or CN-B12 providing a continuous supply. Two “pill” groups received a single daily dose of CN-B12, where the vitamin content either matched or exceeded by factor four the provisions for the “dietary” groups. A control group received the low-B12 chow without B12 fortification. B12 was measured in plasma and tissues. Dietary B12 provides 35% more B12 to the tissues than an equivalent single daily dose (p < 0.0001). Natural B12 delivers 25% more B12 to the liver than synthetic B12 (p = 0.0007). A fourfold increase in B12, supplemented as a single daily dose, does not provide any extra B12 to the tissues (p = 0.45). We conclude that dietary B12 is better at rescuing a low B12 status than a daily vitamin pill.

Highlights

  • Vitamin B12 (B12, cobalamin) is a driving force

  • We address the following questions: (1) Are dietary HO-B12 (“real food”) and dietary CN-B12 (“fortified food”) equivalent sources of B12? (2) Can a single vitamin pill per day provide the same amount of B12 as multiple dietary intakes? (3) What can be gained by applying a higher B12 content in vitamin pills compared with a lower dose?

  • We present data on 60 rats kept on a low-B12 diet for four weeks prior to two weeks intervention with either dietary B12 or a daily vitamin pill or continuing on the low-B12 diet

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Summary

Introduction

Vitamin B12 (B12, cobalamin) is a driving force It helps to make DNA and blood cells, and it is crucial to sustain a healthy brain and nervous system [1]. The vitamin in its natural form is only present in foods of animal origin, such as milk, meat, and fish, and a well-balanced omnivorous diet is necessary to supply the recommended amount in humans (2.4 μg B12/day) [1]. This poses a challenge for the growing number of vegans worldwide. This distinction is important as the intestinal B12 absorptive system is saturated at 1–2 μg

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