Is supplementation needed?

Tracy430

I eat 5 servings per week of animal products. Am I getting enough B12 or should I supplement?

kommodevaran

Ask your doctor.

fr33sia12

Even Most vegans consume enough B12 to avoid anemia and nervous system damage, from fortified foods, just not always enough to minimize potential risk of heart disease or pregnancy complications, so you probably get plenty of B12.

deannalfisher

i'd recommend getting a CBC/CMP as part of your annual check-up - that will let your Dr identify any potential issues with vitamin levels

lemurcat12

Here's a good article on B12 (there's information that would be useful to more than just vegans): http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/vitaminb12

I don't know the answer to the question, but here's a place to start.

yirara

fr33sia12 wrote: »

Even Most vegans consume enough B12 to avoid anemia and nervous system damage, from fortified foods, just not always enough to minimize potential risk of heart disease or pregnancy complications, so you probably get plenty of B12.

Careful there, this might be true in the US (and maybe the UK. Not sure), but certainly not in most other countries.

Tracy430

I live in the US.

fuzzylop72

If you're not at particularly high risk for deficiency (ie: you're not vegan) i'd probably only supplement on the basis of a methylmalonic acid test or if directed to by your doctor. It's not harmful to supplement b12 even if your levels are fine (it's water soluable and there's no toxic upper limit), but it just feels like it's an extra expense which you might not see any benefits from.

fr33sia12

Tracy430 wrote: »

I eat 5 servings per week of animal products. Am I getting enough B12 or should I supplement?

Try entering your details into Cronometer website for a week maybe as that website tracks vitamins and minerals too. That way you can get an idea of how much B12 you're getting.