Nutritionists and medical researchers are postulating that spirulina does not contain vitamin B12; but contains a pseudo form that is not useful to humans. Can any body shed some light on this with evidenced based information?
Spirulina and B12
- Thread starter Elonya
- Start date
Jack Norris, Ginny Messina and a couple of others, all with relevant credentials, run a website called veganhealth.org - you can read about the site authors here. They have a whole section on B12 from plant foods, including spirulina - see here:
If you read the summary at the top of the page, it seems that unfortunately not enough research has yet been conducted to say much conclusively about the topic.
Luis Halson
Forum Practitioner
Quoted from Vitamin B12 in Algae: Spirulina, Chlorella and Nori | Dr. Schweikart
For a long time, spirulina was considered a vitamin B12 source. However, the B12 content in spirulina, which was originally measured by outdated methods, soon turned out to be B12 analogues in various studies (1-3). In fact, the B12 content has been measured to total at just 30%, a very low amount compared to the level of analogues (4, 5).
As expected, taking spirulina significantly worsened the B12 status of a research group in a study, which found that the analogues impaired the absorption rate of the genuine vitamin (6). Vegans, vegetarians and people with B12 absorption disorders should thus steer clear of spirulina products.
It is also not recommended to take spirulina alongside B12 supplements, as the analogues in the spirulina can hinder B12 absorption. Spirulina products are, for this reason, no longer allowed to be advertised as B12 sources (7).
For a long time, spirulina was considered a vitamin B12 source. However, the B12 content in spirulina, which was originally measured by outdated methods, soon turned out to be B12 analogues in various studies (1-3). In fact, the B12 content has been measured to total at just 30%, a very low amount compared to the level of analogues (4, 5).
As expected, taking spirulina significantly worsened the B12 status of a research group in a study, which found that the analogues impaired the absorption rate of the genuine vitamin (6). Vegans, vegetarians and people with B12 absorption disorders should thus steer clear of spirulina products.
It is also not recommended to take spirulina alongside B12 supplements, as the analogues in the spirulina can hinder B12 absorption. Spirulina products are, for this reason, no longer allowed to be advertised as B12 sources (7).
While I have no reason to doubt the veracity of the quoted part of the website, the authors' credentials are not the sort I would prefer for this sort of article. It appears the website authors are dentists, naturopaths, with degrees in psychology, philosophy and so on.
About Us | Dr. Schweikart
About the website B12-vitamin.com, the Dr Schweikart publisher and the Association for the Promotion of Holistic Health.
