Metabolic vitamin B12 status on a mostly raw vegan diet with follow-up using tablets, nutritional yeast, or probiotic supplements

Ann Nutr Metab. 2000;44(5-6):229-34. doi: 10.1159/000046689.

Abstract

Background: Pure vegetarian diets might cause cobalamin deficiency due to lack of dietary intake. It was hypothesized that a population following a vegan diet consuming mostly raw fruits and vegetables, carrot juice, and dehydrated barley grass juice would be able to avoid vitamin B12 deficiency naturally.

Methods: Subjects were recruited at a health ministers' reunion based on adherence to the Hallelujah diet for at least 2 years. Serum cobalamin and urinary methylmalonic acid (MMA) assays were performed. Follow-up with sublingual tablets, nutritional yeast, or probiotic supplements was carried out on subjects with abnormal MMA results.

Results: 49 subjects were tested. Most subjects (10th to 90th percentile) had followed this diet 23-49 months. 6 subjects had serum B12 concentrations <147 pmol/l (200 pg/ml). 37 subjects (76%) had serum B12 concentrations <221 pmol/l (300 pg/ml). 23 subjects (47%) had abnormal urinary MMA concentrations above or equal to 4.0 microg/mg creatinine. Sublingual cyanocobalamin and nutritional yeast, but not probiotic supplements, significantly reduced group mean MMA concentrations (tablet p < 0.01; yeast p < 0.05, probiotic > 0.20).

Conclusions: The urinary MMA assay is effective for identifying early metabolic cobalamin deficiency. People following the Hallelujah diet and other raw-food vegetarian diets should regularly monitor their urinary MMA levels, consume a sublingual cobalamin supplement, or consume cobalamin in their food.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Sublingual
  • Diet
  • Diet, Vegetarian*
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methylmalonic Acid / analysis
  • Methylmalonic Acid / urine*
  • Middle Aged
  • Nutritional Status*
  • Probiotics / administration & dosage*
  • Tablets
  • Vitamin B 12 / administration & dosage
  • Vitamin B 12 / blood*
  • Vitamin B 12 / metabolism
  • Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / prevention & control*
  • Yeasts

Substances

  • Tablets
  • Methylmalonic Acid
  • Vitamin B 12