Are you getting enough Vitamin B12?

Consequences of Vitamin B12 deficiency are real. The most reliable vegan sources of B12 are supplements that contain B12 and foods fortified with B12. Fortified foods commonly include plant milks, soy products and other vegan nutritional fortified food forms. 50+ years of vegan experimentation proves that only B12 fortified foods and B12 supplement prove to be reliable sources of B12 despite other views. It's therefore really important that vegans ensure that they have an adequate intake of B12 from fortified foods or supplements. National recommendations for B12 recommended dietary intake (RDI) vary from country to country. They can range anywhere from 2.4 micrograms per day for adults to 2.8 micrograms for nursing mothers. The German recommendation is 3 micrograms per day. VITUS® VEGAN B12 is 3 micrograms per day for the average adult diet.

As for B12 itself, it's a unique vitamin unlike other vitamins. It's required in much smaller amounts unlike other vitamins. 10 micrograms of B12 throughout the course of a day supplies the human body as much as it can actually use. Developing a B12 deficiency can therefore develop anywhere from 5+ years onwards. Whilst some cases of deficiency may appear within the first year of clinical deficiency, others only show some 20+ years later. 

Before sharing information about a clinical B12 deficiency, we're debunking the myth that you need to eat meat to receive adequate B12 levels. You are what you eat, and what you don't eat. Vegans with adequate amounts of fortified foods with B12 supplements are less likely to experience B12 deficiencies than a meat eater. The Institute of Medicine support this through a statement; "Because 10 to 30 percent of older people may be unable to absorb naturally occurring vitamin B12, it is advisable for those older than 50 years to meet their RDA mainly by consuming foods fortified with vitamin B12 or a vitamin B12-containing supplement." Choosing a vegan B12 supplement like VITUS® VEGAN B12 is an important consideration for vegans because it's a natural wholefood source of B12, not a synthetic un-vegan one.

Now, to the serious stuff - deficiency. 

Clinical vitamin B12 deficiency can cause anaemia or nervous system damage. Whilst most vegans consume enough B12, there are a few groups of vegans who may not receive adequate B12. Examples of these groups are long-term vegans who avoid fortified foods (like raw food vegans) and breastfed infants of vegan mothers (whose intakes are low). Clinical deficiency in adults can include fatigue, energy loss, abnormal gait, sore tongue, poor memory, confusion, hallucinations and even personality change. Such symptoms can gradually develop over several months to a year before being recognised as being due to B12 deficiency. The damage is usually reversible upon administration of B12. Unfortunately, there are cases of irreversible damage in adults from B12 deficiency. It's important to consult a Doctor or healthcare professional if you believe either are the case. Unlike adults, infants will show a rapid onset of B12 deficiency symptoms. Symptoms in infants can include a loss of energy, decreased appetite and or demotivation to thrive. As a side note, whilst most vegans may show adequate B12 levels, it can still lead to restricted activity of B12-related enzymes which can lead to elevated homocysteine levels, which can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke or pregnancy complications. Homocysteine levels can also affected by other nutrients, most notably folate. Our VITUS® VEGAN MULTI is another great product with natural folate.

To B a happy little vegan, it's our due right to lead by happy vegan example to keep in good health and to keep all vegans in a healthy household name. There's nothing happier than saving an animal's life, protecting the environment and living in a clean mind-body that's free from world cruelty. So B a happy little vegan with VITUS® VEGAN B12 in addition to all your other adequate food intakes of B12. It's a savoury tasting, natural, wholefood powder blend providing 150% of your recommended dietary intake (RDI) of Vitamin B12 natural wholefood sources. We're keeping it real. Be energetic. Be happy. Be your best with VITUS® VEGAN B12!