Originally published December 6 2005
Vitamin B-12 may be more important to America's health than previously thought
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Registered Dietitian Karen Collins discusses new research that suggests vitamin B-12 intake may be more of an issue than was previously recognized by health officials.
As long as basic blood counts didn't show any anemia, even these people were considered safe.
Now research shows that vitamin B-12 may be a concern for many more people.
Strict vegetarians - those who avoid meat, poultry, fish and dairy products - are among those most likely to lack vitamin B-12, because animal foods are the primary sources.
According to surveys, most Americans do meet the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of 2.4 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin B-12 per day.
The average consumption ranges from 2.9 to 5.1 mcg.
However, if people cut back on animal foods, as they should, to eat a mostly plant-based diet that will lower their cancer risk, careless choices could leave them short.
Two modest servings of poultry, lean meat, or seafood plus two cups of lowfat, skim, or nonfat milk or yogurt allow a person to meet this RDA.
Children need less vitamin B-12, too, but their ability to store less means that they can develop health problems more quickly with an inadequate diet.
Supplements encouraged Now, a new concern about vitamin B-12 has arisen.
Since acids in our stomachs' digestive juices release the bonds that bind vitamin B-12 to protein in food, we need enough of these acids for proper absorption.
Studies suggest that 10 to 43 percent of people over the age of 50 may lack the acids to release vitamin B-12 from protein so it can be absorbed.
A high intake of folate from fortified grains can hide the changes in red blood cells that show a lack of vitamin B-12.
If you are at risk of not getting enough vitamin B-12 - either because of your food choices or your inability to absorb it - you should discuss the matter with your doctor.
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