The vegan diet is becoming more and more popular. It enjoys recognition among people claiming that thanks to this they lead a healthy lifestyle while caring for environmental protection. But like any diet, it has its drawbacks. One of them, noticed by scientists from the University of Cambridge, is the deficiency of vitamin B12, which is important for our body. Now, however, scientists seem to have an answer on how to fill that shortfall.
Research conducted by the Cambridge team has shown that many species of algae have the ability to accumulate vitamin B12. This opens the possibility of creating effective dietary supplements that will help vegans and vegetarians provide the body with the required amounts of this vitamin. Professor Alison Smith, who leads the team studying plant metabolism, notes: "There are many benefits to a plant-based diet, but one of its biggest drawbacks is vitamin B12 deficiency.
The dietary supplement market already offers various forms of vitamin B12, but not all of them are effective. Dr. Payam Mershahi points out that many vegans prefer to get their vitamin B12 from natural sources rather than using supplements. Hence, algae, as a natural source of this vitamin, may prove to be an ideal solution for them.
The main problem is that plant sources of vitamin B12 are not as widespread as animal products. Vitamin B12 is naturally produced by bacteria inhabiting the digestive system of animals, such as cows and sheep. For this reason, the main sources of this vitamin are meat, dairy and eggs. Switching to a plant-based diet can result in a significant reduction in vitamin B12 levels, which can lead to serious health consequences.
With the UK population of vegans and vegetarians growing to over one million people, there is a growing need for effective and natural sources of vitamin B12. Since 2018, sales of plant-based products have increased by 49%, which shows how popular this approach to healthy eating is becoming.
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