Elena Shekhova, PhD
@lumipie.com
Exploring & visualizing data on nutrition, health, and eating habits: lumipie.com
Interests: 🧬 Biology 📊 Data Viz 📢 SciComm 💻 Coding
Prev: University of Copenhagen, MRC for Medical Mycology, Leibniz:HKI
Curator of the scientific #Nutrition feed
📍🇩🇰
Interests: 🧬 Biology 📊 Data Viz 📢 SciComm 💻 Coding
Prev: University of Copenhagen, MRC for Medical Mycology, Leibniz:HKI
Curator of the scientific #Nutrition feed
📍🇩🇰
I think most studies show that supplementation works quite well. E.g., a study from Germany found that vegans who took supplements had adequate B12 status.
What he probably meant refers to certain health conditions where B12 is not absorbed properly. Look up “intrinsic factor and vitamin B12”
What he probably meant refers to certain health conditions where B12 is not absorbed properly. Look up “intrinsic factor and vitamin B12”
October 26, 2025 at 9:46 AM
I think most studies show that supplementation works quite well. E.g., a study from Germany found that vegans who took supplements had adequate B12 status.
What he probably meant refers to certain health conditions where B12 is not absorbed properly. Look up “intrinsic factor and vitamin B12”
What he probably meant refers to certain health conditions where B12 is not absorbed properly. Look up “intrinsic factor and vitamin B12”
Microbial fermentation is another alternative pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Formation of folates by microorganisms: towards the biotechnological production of this vitamin
Folates (vitamin B9) are essential micronutrients which function as cofactors in one-carbon transfer reactions involved in the synthesis of nucleotides and amino acids. Folate deficiency is associated with important diseases such as cancer, anemia, ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
October 25, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Microbial fermentation is another alternative pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Good question. I think it is hard to compare nori cultivation at scale vs. industrial synthesis. Industrial synthesis and fortification are probably easier to control and ensure the right amounts of folic acid, especially for people who need it most.
October 25, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Good question. I think it is hard to compare nori cultivation at scale vs. industrial synthesis. Industrial synthesis and fortification are probably easier to control and ensure the right amounts of folic acid, especially for people who need it most.
To sum up
🔴 Neither animals nor plants synthesize B12
🔴 Symbiotic or environmental bacteria produce B12, which can be absorbed by other organisms
🔴 Animals and some algae require B12, and therefore accumulate it
🔴 Fermented plant foods and mushrooms may have some B12, but the amounts vary a lot
🔴 Neither animals nor plants synthesize B12
🔴 Symbiotic or environmental bacteria produce B12, which can be absorbed by other organisms
🔴 Animals and some algae require B12, and therefore accumulate it
🔴 Fermented plant foods and mushrooms may have some B12, but the amounts vary a lot
October 25, 2025 at 5:30 PM
To sum up
🔴 Neither animals nor plants synthesize B12
🔴 Symbiotic or environmental bacteria produce B12, which can be absorbed by other organisms
🔴 Animals and some algae require B12, and therefore accumulate it
🔴 Fermented plant foods and mushrooms may have some B12, but the amounts vary a lot
🔴 Neither animals nor plants synthesize B12
🔴 Symbiotic or environmental bacteria produce B12, which can be absorbed by other organisms
🔴 Animals and some algae require B12, and therefore accumulate it
🔴 Fermented plant foods and mushrooms may have some B12, but the amounts vary a lot
While non-animal foods can deliver some B12, they are still not considered reliable sources.
That is why industry relies on bacterial fermentation to produce B12 at scale. The vitamin is then purified and used for food fortification. Milk alternatives often have B12 added to them 🥛
That is why industry relies on bacterial fermentation to produce B12 at scale. The vitamin is then purified and used for food fortification. Milk alternatives often have B12 added to them 🥛
October 25, 2025 at 5:30 PM
While non-animal foods can deliver some B12, they are still not considered reliable sources.
That is why industry relies on bacterial fermentation to produce B12 at scale. The vitamin is then purified and used for food fortification. Milk alternatives often have B12 added to them 🥛
That is why industry relies on bacterial fermentation to produce B12 at scale. The vitamin is then purified and used for food fortification. Milk alternatives often have B12 added to them 🥛
The final non-animal foods that contain B12 are mushrooms🍄
Not all mushrooms have meaningful amounts, but shiitake stands out. Still, compared to nori at about 32.3 μg per 100 g dry weight, shiitake only contains about 5.6 μg per 100 g on average.
Not all mushrooms have meaningful amounts, but shiitake stands out. Still, compared to nori at about 32.3 μg per 100 g dry weight, shiitake only contains about 5.6 μg per 100 g on average.
October 25, 2025 at 5:30 PM
The final non-animal foods that contain B12 are mushrooms🍄
Not all mushrooms have meaningful amounts, but shiitake stands out. Still, compared to nori at about 32.3 μg per 100 g dry weight, shiitake only contains about 5.6 μg per 100 g on average.
Not all mushrooms have meaningful amounts, but shiitake stands out. Still, compared to nori at about 32.3 μg per 100 g dry weight, shiitake only contains about 5.6 μg per 100 g on average.
This distinction is very important, because what researchers have found makes perfect sense:
🟢Chlorella commercial products contained active B12
🟢Spirulina supplements were dominated by pseudo-vitamin B12 analogues. Spirulina’s B12 works perfectly well for Spirulina, just not for us.
🟢Chlorella commercial products contained active B12
🟢Spirulina supplements were dominated by pseudo-vitamin B12 analogues. Spirulina’s B12 works perfectly well for Spirulina, just not for us.
October 25, 2025 at 5:30 PM
This distinction is very important, because what researchers have found makes perfect sense:
🟢Chlorella commercial products contained active B12
🟢Spirulina supplements were dominated by pseudo-vitamin B12 analogues. Spirulina’s B12 works perfectly well for Spirulina, just not for us.
🟢Chlorella commercial products contained active B12
🟢Spirulina supplements were dominated by pseudo-vitamin B12 analogues. Spirulina’s B12 works perfectly well for Spirulina, just not for us.
Chlorella, as eukaryotic microalgae, obtains B12 from its environment, which means it can contain bioactive B12.
Spirulina is actually a cyanobacterium, not a true alga, and can synthesize corrinoids, but mostly pseudo-vitamin B12, forms that are inactive in humans.
Spirulina is actually a cyanobacterium, not a true alga, and can synthesize corrinoids, but mostly pseudo-vitamin B12, forms that are inactive in humans.
October 25, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Chlorella, as eukaryotic microalgae, obtains B12 from its environment, which means it can contain bioactive B12.
Spirulina is actually a cyanobacterium, not a true alga, and can synthesize corrinoids, but mostly pseudo-vitamin B12, forms that are inactive in humans.
Spirulina is actually a cyanobacterium, not a true alga, and can synthesize corrinoids, but mostly pseudo-vitamin B12, forms that are inactive in humans.
The fact that algae may contain B12, along with other vitamins, was picked up by the wellness industry. This is why you may have seen supplements based on Chlorella or Spirulina. But even though both are known as microalgae, they are fundamentally different.
October 25, 2025 at 5:30 PM
The fact that algae may contain B12, along with other vitamins, was picked up by the wellness industry. This is why you may have seen supplements based on Chlorella or Spirulina. But even though both are known as microalgae, they are fundamentally different.
So some algae are like us, and others are more like plants. How cool is that?
October 25, 2025 at 5:30 PM
So some algae are like us, and others are more like plants. How cool is that?
About half of all algal species do require B12 for growth, because they depend on B12-based enzymes for essential metabolic reactions. The other half do not need it at all, yet still accumulate it. In both cases, B12 comes from symbiotic or nearby bacteria, not from the algae themselves.
October 25, 2025 at 5:30 PM
About half of all algal species do require B12 for growth, because they depend on B12-based enzymes for essential metabolic reactions. The other half do not need it at all, yet still accumulate it. In both cases, B12 comes from symbiotic or nearby bacteria, not from the algae themselves.
Here is a question:
are algae more like plants, simply absorbing B12 from the environment? Or do they actually require B12 like animals?
are algae more like plants, simply absorbing B12 from the environment? Or do they actually require B12 like animals?
October 25, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Here is a question:
are algae more like plants, simply absorbing B12 from the environment? Or do they actually require B12 like animals?
are algae more like plants, simply absorbing B12 from the environment? Or do they actually require B12 like animals?
How do we know it’s bioavailable?
🔎in B12-deficient rats, supplementing with dried purple laver restored B12 status
🔎vegan children who consumed diets including brown rice and dried purple laver did not develop B12 deficiency
🔎in B12-deficient rats, supplementing with dried purple laver restored B12 status
🔎vegan children who consumed diets including brown rice and dried purple laver did not develop B12 deficiency
October 25, 2025 at 5:30 PM
How do we know it’s bioavailable?
🔎in B12-deficient rats, supplementing with dried purple laver restored B12 status
🔎vegan children who consumed diets including brown rice and dried purple laver did not develop B12 deficiency
🔎in B12-deficient rats, supplementing with dried purple laver restored B12 status
🔎vegan children who consumed diets including brown rice and dried purple laver did not develop B12 deficiency
There is another non-animal B12 source: algae.
Certain edible macroalgae, such as dried purple laver (nori), can contain substantial amounts of bioactive B12.
Certain edible macroalgae, such as dried purple laver (nori), can contain substantial amounts of bioactive B12.
October 25, 2025 at 5:30 PM
There is another non-animal B12 source: algae.
Certain edible macroalgae, such as dried purple laver (nori), can contain substantial amounts of bioactive B12.
Certain edible macroalgae, such as dried purple laver (nori), can contain substantial amounts of bioactive B12.
🦠because bacteria in fermented foods, such as certain beans and vegetables, use plant material for energy and produce B12 as a byproduct
❕However, while fermented foods can contain B12, the amounts are unpredictable, so they are not considered a reliable source of this vitamin for humans.
❕However, while fermented foods can contain B12, the amounts are unpredictable, so they are not considered a reliable source of this vitamin for humans.
October 25, 2025 at 5:30 PM
🦠because bacteria in fermented foods, such as certain beans and vegetables, use plant material for energy and produce B12 as a byproduct
❕However, while fermented foods can contain B12, the amounts are unpredictable, so they are not considered a reliable source of this vitamin for humans.
❕However, while fermented foods can contain B12, the amounts are unpredictable, so they are not considered a reliable source of this vitamin for humans.
🦠because B12-producing bacteria may reside on or in the plant (think soil microbes and unwashed vegetables). This was likely one way our ancestors got some B12, not something wildly practiced in the modern world.
October 25, 2025 at 5:30 PM
🦠because B12-producing bacteria may reside on or in the plant (think soil microbes and unwashed vegetables). This was likely one way our ancestors got some B12, not something wildly practiced in the modern world.
But plants are a different story. They don’t need B12 to function. Nevertheless, it can still be found in some plant foods.
Why?
Why?
October 25, 2025 at 5:30 PM
But plants are a different story. They don’t need B12 to function. Nevertheless, it can still be found in some plant foods.
Why?
Why?
❔First of all, let’s understand why meat like beef has substantial amounts of B12.
Cows, like humans, need B12 to live and function, but they also cannot synthesize it. So how do they get it?
⚪cows eat food that introduces B12-producing bacteria into the rumen, where they act as B12 factories
Cows, like humans, need B12 to live and function, but they also cannot synthesize it. So how do they get it?
⚪cows eat food that introduces B12-producing bacteria into the rumen, where they act as B12 factories
October 25, 2025 at 5:30 PM
❔First of all, let’s understand why meat like beef has substantial amounts of B12.
Cows, like humans, need B12 to live and function, but they also cannot synthesize it. So how do they get it?
⚪cows eat food that introduces B12-producing bacteria into the rumen, where they act as B12 factories
Cows, like humans, need B12 to live and function, but they also cannot synthesize it. So how do they get it?
⚪cows eat food that introduces B12-producing bacteria into the rumen, where they act as B12 factories
Would it maybe be easier to read if the title were grey and aligned to the left? When I first saw it, I was really overwhelmed by the colors.
October 9, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Would it maybe be easier to read if the title were grey and aligned to the left? When I first saw it, I was really overwhelmed by the colors.