Vegans Must Take A Vitamin B12 Supplement Every Day, Says German Nutrition Society As It Raises NRV
Executive Summary
As it raises the nutrient reference value for vitamin B12, the German Nutrition Society recommends that vegans take a supplement every day to address deficiencies resulting from vegan diets. The Vegan Society Germany, however, while supporting the level raise, disputes the claim that plant-based diets cannot supply the required amount of the vitamin.
The German Nutrition Society, the DGE, has recommended that vegans take a vitamin B12 supplement daily to address deficiencies resulting from purely plant-based diets.
The recommendation came as the DGE raised the nutrient reference value (NRV) for vitamin B12 in Germany from 3µg to 4µg for adults (see Figure 1).
“Vitamin B12 is best known as a critical nutrient for vegans,” the DGE explained. “It only occurs in sufficient quantities in animal foods. Therefore, vegans must take permanently a vitamin B12 preparation to avoid deficiency.”
Even vegetarians were at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency, the DGE warned, and should also consider taking a daily supplement.
“Vitamin B12 is best known as a critical nutrient for vegans. It only occurs in sufficient quantities in animal foods. Therefore, vegans must take permanently a vitamin B12 preparation to avoid deficiency.”
For adequate vitamin B12 intake, the DGE recommended that Germans “regularly consume milk and dairy products, eggs, fish, seafood, poultry and lean meats.”
The revised NRV could be achieved, the DGE suggested, for example, with a “small glass of milk, a cup of yogurt, an egg and 60g Camembert.”
Vegans Respond Critically
The Vegan Society of Germany said while it supported raising the NRV, it disputed the DGE’s claim that plant-based diets could not supply the required amount of vitamin B12.
“We have always advised [vegans in Germany] to regularly test their vitamin B12 levels and to use supplements if necessary,” Christian Vagedes, chairman of the Vegan Society Germany, told HBW Insight. “Better safe than sorry,” he added.
“However, we disagree with DGE’s assertion that there are no plant sources of vitamin B12,” he continued. “We now know that the vitamin is also present in certain species of algae and couch grass.”
While the Society supported the use of dietary supplements where necessary, pointing out that there were now many plant-based products available, Vagedes maintained that vegans should get their vitamin B12 from vegetable and plant whole-food sources if possible.
Many Vegan B12 Supplements Available
To meet the rising demand for vegan B12 dietary supplements, several OTC firms have launched suitable products on the German market.
Salus Haus Dr. Med Otto Greither GmbH & Co. KG has a vegan-friendly version of its flagship Floradix liquid iron and vitamin formula available in the country.
Floradix Iron Plus B12 vegan contains vitamin B12, B2, B6, Niacin and Vitamin C, which the firm said catered for vegan nutritional need, as well as contributing to the reduction of fatigue.
Queisser Pharma offers a vegetarian vitamin and mineral supplement – certified as suitable for vegans by the European Vegetarian Union – as part of its Doppelherz portfolio of OTC brands.
Doppelherz Vegetarier Vitamine + Mineralstoffe – which contains the minerals calcium, iron, zinc and iodine, as well as the vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12 and D – was “optimally tailored” to the needs of a vegetarian and vegan diet, Queisser claimed.
For vegans who want to take their dietary supplements on the move, Mibe Arzneimittel GmbH offers a single-serve ‘stick’ version of its Vita Active B12 product, which can be administered without the need for water.
The Vita Aktiv B12 Direkt Sticks high-dose vitamin B12 combination dissolved “quickly on the tongue” and had a purely natural flavour, the firm explained.