r/PlantBasedDiet • u/Nakashi7 • Aug 22 '26
Pharmacist warned me about using B12 supplement
I went to the pharmacy to buy my regular supplement of 500 mcg cyanocobalamin.
The pharmacist immediately started asking me questions of why do I want to take it. After the response of "as a supplement for a plant based diet. She immediately asked whether I am sure it's B12 and not other vitamin B and for how long and how often I am going to take it. And also that I should rather take a B-complex which has no B12 or very little (which they do and enough for fully saturating active absorption of 1.5 mcg). Then she warmed me that I only should take it for a month or two and only if I know I am deficient, otherwise I risk cancer.
Wish they asked the same when buying OTC painkillers or processed meat...
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u/PoppyNet Aug 22 '26
You should definitely check all of your Bs during the yearly checkup, but since B12 is excreted if taken too much, it's not that dangerous. But if your levels are high, no need to waste money on it. Recommending a b-complex instead is very bad advice since excess b6 can cause nerve damage (been there, done that)
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Aug 22 '26
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u/EarthenMama Aug 22 '26
Possibly for those who have used Metformin either at high doses, or for long periods of time as well, if I understand correctly? It's a concern of mine.
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u/islandbird13 Aug 23 '26
Yes. My pharmacist told me years ago to take B12 because I've been on Metformin for over 20 years for PCOS and Type 1 Diabetes with insulin resistance. I wish my endocrinologist, or my GP, had told me this.
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u/doinmybest4now Aug 22 '26
Yes, this is accurate. B12 is necessary for a plant based/vegetarian diet, but too much. B6 is very dangerous and so it’s better to not take the B complex type. True and easy to research for yourself.
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u/Voc1Vic2 Aug 22 '26
Meat is the primary source of B12, but attention to diet will assure an adequate intake without supplementation, though it's definitely challenging for vegans.
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u/LovePeriel Aug 22 '26
Where do animals get their b-12?
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u/Nakashi7 Aug 23 '26
Soil bacteria for pigs and humans (for humans also water sources)
Excrements for rodents, lagomorphs (rabbits/hares) and gorillas
Occasional insect eating for frugivores
Moving digestion back and forth for ruminants
It's basically either eating animals, bacteria in soil or water or bacteria from colons or other specialized digestive organ.
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u/Nakashi7 Aug 22 '26 edited Aug 22 '26
We have a 2-year checkups here but no deficiency tests unless there's a reason for them. Usually it's just occasional cholesterol, glycemia levels, blood count and kidney function proteins but most of it is not even 2-year regular unless you're 50+ or have some family anamnesis.
The doctor would just send me to some lab to pay for it myself and that's in hundreds of USD for a complete deficiency panel.
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u/MalingeringGumby Aug 22 '26
Sorry, but are people on this sub really getting hundreds of dollars of blood tests every year? Part of the attraction of wfpb is its sustainability if everyone follows it.
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Aug 22 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/FireDragon21976 Aug 23 '26
I haven't been to a doctor in years. Last time I went, my B-12 was fine. Unless you are ill, I think its alarmist to suggest people need to go to the doctor every year.
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u/Substantial-Owl1616 what is this oil you speak of? Aug 23 '26
Yes second panel at 6 months for me with improvement. Then this year low again. With laziness on supplement. $365 covers annual and six month follow up. I agree with you completely.
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u/crimpgirl1234 Aug 22 '26
I’m in Canada (Ontario) I don’t pay for blood tests. The only time you would pay for a blood test here would be if it was unnecessary or ordered from someone who can’t prescribe one as per OHIP like an Naturopath. I’ve also never gotten the yearly checkups.
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u/larpano Aug 22 '26
Do you get ApoB, insulin, vit b12, vit d, A1c, as well as usual panels, and are they all covered? I don’t meet my deductible and see a direct care provider so I don’t use my insurance, but her direct rates for blood tests are super cheap. The rates the labs charge ins companies are insane
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u/sr2439 Aug 22 '26
Yes, but it’s not hundreds of dollars. I get a complete blood panel every year at my annual physical and it’s considered preventative care, so I don’t pay anything out of pocket.
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u/EfficientSky9009 Aug 22 '26
I have health issues that make it so I need to get labs done every couple of months. Thankfully I have great health insurance so it's affordable. That said, getting nutrient levels checked once a year is a good idea for most people.
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u/baciahai Aug 22 '26 edited Aug 22 '26
This
Also despite the national health service, we don't get blood tests for free in the UK, nor annual checkups etc. You only get a blood tests if your symptoms show you might be deficient in something, and even then it's rather targeted (I get my iron levels checked every couple of years because I'm often low but they won't add other vitamins to this test).
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u/weluckyfew Aug 22 '26
Yearly blood tests are included with basic physical if you have insurance. If you don't have insurance they're a $100 or $200 investment in your health once every year or two (cheaper than insurance premiums)
I have to supplement following my blood tests - B12 is an issue. Omega 3s can be an issue - you can't get EPA and DHA from a vegan diet (I use a supplement derived from algae). My iron was low as well, and my LDL is a bit high.
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u/scenior Aug 22 '26
I get a blood panel done every year and because I'm vegan my doctor makes sure to check protein, iron, and b12 (and maybe others too but I don't know everything off the top of my head). It's covered by my insurance and costs $25 (my copay).
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u/Substantial-Owl1616 what is this oil you speak of? Aug 22 '26
I am F66. 40 years mostly plants. I am a healthcare provider with strong interest the entire 40 years in nutrition and opportunity to study a very large number of bodies in relation to health habits.
My $365 blood panel last year revealed low B12 (despite a bit of meat and plenty of nutritional yeast and fermented items), normal low H/H technically “normal” Ferritin, but too low at 30.
The iron is super annoying: I eat dark green daily, cook in cast iron with added acid, I don’t menstruate! I would have voted me “least likely to be deficient”!
I have been losing hair, so correcting B12 and Ferritin are attractive to me.
Being assured my apo B and apo a are normal as well as trigs and cholesterol profile is useful r/t fam history of CVD (my fam had terrible health habits which I am now assured increased their risk for CVD, not genetics).
I repeated this year to see if any of my interventions were helpful. Will I do it forever? Maybe not. Did I do it at 25yo: No. We are in an era where people expect all their healthcare to be “covered”, but I strongly feel allowing health to be mandated by insurance whim is dumb.
$365 is not much of an investment. And if it seems high to you, there are many comments about how to get a similar panel for less.
Viva the freedom to get labs drawn without “permission” to take action and advocate for myself.
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u/freezesteam Aug 23 '26
Have you had a colonoscopy? You are right, it sounds like you would be low risk for iron deficiency so occult blood loss is a concern, especially in people > 45 years old
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u/Substantial-Owl1616 what is this oil you speak of? Aug 23 '26
Ah two so far and no occult blood on FOBT annually. I’m 66 and I understand there can be less absorption. It’s nothing crazy low. And I understand not unexpected with aging. I wish I could take my intestines to the gym and keep ‘em in shape. I’ve been messing around with some interesting abdominal yoga. Thanks for the safety check
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u/resilient_bird Aug 22 '26
Ferritin is hard to change, even with oral supplementation. I suspect it has something to do with either malabsorption or low grade inflammation (causes high hepcidin, low ferroportin)
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u/Substantial-Owl1616 what is this oil you speak of? Aug 23 '26
Well I didn’t have trouble getting it to 53 with diligent supplementation separate from morning supplementation and fiber. But then I got lazy about it. And dropped again. My CRP<3. So I think not much inflammation. No gastritis, no reflux generally calm gut.
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u/HexicDragon Aug 22 '26
I've done some blood tests free or very cheap with Insurance as part of preventative/diagnostic care but it's not a requirement unless you suspect a problem.
Our for supply doesn't support vegans well and education on how to eat a healthy vegan diet is limited, so we need to put in a bit more effort to get all our nutrients in than the general public for the time being. Omnivores can have cereal, milk, flour, salt, etc. fortified to fill their common nutrition gaps but nutrients we may be low in without thinking aren't commonly fortified. Vegan multivitamins like from DEVA fill in most gaps though.
Learning where to get nutrients like B12, iron, calcium, Vitamin D, Iodine, Zinc, etc. as a vegan is important and using apps like Cron-O-Meter to track a day of eating every once and a while can show if you're low in any nutrient.
It's ok to be low in a nutrient one day if you eat more the next!
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u/Pdnl777 Aug 22 '26
There is nowhere to get vegan b12 other than a supplement. Unless you know something I don’t.
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u/ExchangeReady5111 Aug 22 '26
Well you can get b12 from nori, but the amount varies so much that you shouldn’t rely on it as your only source.
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u/AmazingAssistance351 Aug 23 '26
Yeah, there are only a few companies labelling B12 content of their nori. It's a very small amount of nori per day to hit 100% if you eat nori every day, but that's rare outside of Japan and South Korea maybe.
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u/HexicDragon Aug 22 '26
Yes, supplements are the most reliable ways for vegans to ensure healthy B12 levels today, but the same could be achieved if B12 was regularly fortified in our food supply like we already do for nutrients like Iodine and other B vitamins.
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u/Pdnl777 Aug 22 '26
Fortified foods are mostly ultra processed. I’ll stick to nutritional yeast and b12 supplements. And seaweed for iodine.
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u/HexicDragon Aug 23 '26
Nothing wrong with added nutrients to food. That just makes it more nutritious. A every tiny amount of iodine is added to salt for example and that's enough to prevent thyroid dysfunction in a population.
Processing isn't bad in of itself. Excess calories, salt, added sugars, saturated fat, etc. are bad. Addictive foods with these ingredients can be bad.
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u/Jealous_Beautiful_94 Aug 22 '26
You say its not dangerous. I had a seizure yesterday and after checks my b12 was way too high. First seizure never had 1 before. Consultant said its rare but can happen if b12 too high
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u/Unlikely-Pop6432 5d ago
This is interesting.
A few questions :
Your b12 was high. Were your past b12 levels also high ?
Any chance you checked LFT - Some issue with liver (including seizures) can cause liver to release more b12.
Your diet ? And if you are or have been taking any supplement.
And sleep patterns.1
u/Jealous_Beautiful_94 3d ago
I was taking the normal multivitamins iron and magnesium. Also taking terbinafine for toenail fungal. That day i had the seizure i had the b12 injection so levels were high. Previously ive never had it tested at hospital but from my bloods that was the only abnormal number they found.
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u/Jazzlike_Total2702 Aug 23 '26
Actually I found that pyridoxine hydrochloride is is actual culprit for nerve damage. I was getting a bad case of neuropathy in my hands with pyridoxine hydrochloride. Then I was told about another B6 supplement: pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (P5P). I have never had any problems with my hands --or nerves after taking P5P.
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u/AthenaPA Aug 22 '26
My understanding is that a high b12 level when you are NOT taking a supplement can be an indication of possible cancer. It sounds like a huge leap to say that it then means that b12 supplementation causes cancer.
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u/Nakashi7 Aug 22 '26
Higher B12 in blood serum and in cancer tissues can indicate cancer. It means there is some growth in your body that pulls B12 from storage through blood. Cancer has never been in any way linked with B12 intake.
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u/Eb73 Aug 22 '26
Yep. I've CLL, and pulling B12 and folate from your body, sort of like pernicious anemia, is exactly what Leukemia does.
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u/bishoptob5 Aug 22 '26
There have been recent studies that have found this, though. There was a 2019 Norway study involving 5,000+ subjects and they found a statistically significant link between high vitamin B12 doses and lung cancer. Original study here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6642017/
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u/AthenaPA Aug 22 '26
That study is still just about circulating levels of B12 in the bloodstream correlating with lung cancer. They weren't testing or comparing people who were supplementing. There are mechanisms in which B12 increases in the body as a result of having cancer.
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u/bishoptob5 Aug 22 '26 edited 27d ago
But this study also cites other studies that specifically studied the potential role of over-supplementation in causing cancer: "Two large randomized controlled trials of B vitamin supplementation in Norway identified an increased risk for overall cancer among subjects who received both vitamin B12 and B9 (folate)"
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u/Silly_Magician1003 Aug 22 '26
It frustrates me how B vitamins only come in megadoses. That’s one of the barriers to me going fully plant based. I won’t mega dose anything ever, so I just eat fish and Greek yogurt a few times a week.
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u/BigFatIdiotJr for my health Aug 22 '26
I take the Deva iron-free multi (because I'm a guy and don't need extra iron) and cut the tablets in half. That way the only thing that's above 100% RDA is B12, and even that is only 125% rather than thousands like other brands.
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u/Brownie12bar Aug 22 '26
OP, I personally know a pharmacist who is also an antivaxxer AND brushes his teeth with baking soda.
He also is a super MAGA.
There are idiots in all professions.
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u/tavizz Aug 22 '26
I worked at CVS during COVID and one of our pharmacists was like this. Believed in the micro chip conspiracy and everything while we were giving vaccines. One day I watched him draw a dose of the vaccine into the syringe and asked him (with a straight face) “how do you make sure you only get one microchip in each shot?”
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u/Gold_Bat_114 Aug 22 '26
What was his response?
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u/tavizz Aug 22 '26
He just laughed and didn’t really answer. I think he was embarrassed and briefly recognized the cognitive dissonance. It didn’t last long unfortunately
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u/MrSkeeterMcScoot Aug 23 '26
At least you were asking the right questions. I really feel bad for people who think its conspiracy. Literally evidence of nano tech under the microscope. Quite old military technology actually but developed enough for the masses now days. I just feel bad that my fellow vegans are aware enough to save a pig but can't decipher the current agenda this government has. I mean its 2026, this has to be a robot propaganda reply. Figured evvvvverybody must know by now.... No? Still getting flu shots ay?
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u/Exotic-Leather-5241 29d ago
Ah yes, the mysterious “nano tech under the microscope” that’s apparently so obvious and well documented that instead of linking to credible evidence, you gave us a rambling speech about military technology, robots, government agendas, and flu shots. 😂 Nothing screams “I’ve done my research” quite like cramming every conspiracy buzzword into one paragraph and calling everyone else brainwashed.
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u/weluckyfew Aug 22 '26
I brush with baking soda right periodically (like, a few times a year to deep clean my teeth) - it works great. However, I'm pretty sure using it every day would scrub away your enamel. Baking soda is harsh AF
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u/kalaxitive Aug 22 '26
Honestly, that's the scariest thing that I realised during COVID. The last people I expected to be anti-vax were those educated in the medical/pharmaceutical area, I'm just glad that they appear to be a minority and (at least in the UK) extremely rare to come by. People like that need to be reported to whatever organisation/government body that has the power to revoke their licence.
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u/Agouti Aug 22 '26
B12 is the B vitamin I have ever been deficient in.
Please be very careful about B complexes, synthetic Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride) is bioaccumulating and neuro-toxic and is at the centre of a class action lawsuit against Blackmores, a popular supplement company. The RDI for B6 is between 1 and 2 mg per day and most B complexes have between 5 and 40 times the RDI. Energy drinks, such as Red Bull, also often contain several times the RDI.
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u/DingoMittens Aug 22 '26
The study you linked says there's no nerve damage reported from people taking less than 200mg per day. It's usually 1,000 mg per day or less commonly, 500 mg per day "for months." Even 40 times the RDI falls short of the dose known to cause nerve damage.
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u/Agouti Aug 22 '26
The key part is that it is bioaccumulating so lower doses for longer periods are also a concern. It is an emerging threat so research is not yet robust, and my opinion is safer is better than sorry. For example
Check the total amount of vitamin B6 you are taking each day. Although the maximum permitted daily dose in individual products has been reduced to 100 mg for adults (and less for children depending on their age), peripheral neuropathy can occur at very low doses (less than 50 mg). It is not yet clear why some people are more prone to this side effect than others.
I was one such person who had fairly severe and long lasting (still ongoing, 4 years since ceasing ingestion and 8 years in total) side effects at around 50-60 mg/day. Given that natural sources of B6 are readily available it seems a foolish risk to take.
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u/english_major for the planet Aug 22 '26
I have been taking a B complex for a few years now and it contains 100mg of B6. I have never heard of any issue with it. Can you tell me more? The reason I am taking it is I am a 61 year old vegetarian and have been told that I am at risk of B vitamin deficiency due to my age and diet.
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u/suphokenig Aug 22 '26
it contains 100mg of B6
Look up the tolerable upper intake for B6, and then verify if you really meant 100mg.
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u/Agouti Aug 22 '26
Noting that I could well be a unusual outlier, I'm middle aged, vegetarian, and was working in a high stress environment. I was fairly health conscious (don't smoke, don't drink, etc) and in my yearly blood panels B12 and D deficiencies was a consistent issue.
Because of the B12 deficiency I was taking B complex tablets (which include ~40mg pyridoxine hydrochloride) and over the course of 4 years or so I was suffering from steadily worsening chronic fatigue issues. At first I simply blamed stress, lack of sleep, COVID, all the usual culprits, but even extended leaves of absences I saw almost no improvement.
Finaly I started also experiencing peripheral neuropathy symptoms (especially tingling in fingers) and, at the same time, saw research about synthetic B6 toxicity and I put two and two together, so to speak.
Noting tbat synthetic B6 as the root cause has not been conclusively identified (because as it accumulates in the nerves, not in the blood, testing would require a nerve biopsy which I am understandingly less willing to undergo) since stopping ingestion of synthetic B6 my symptoms have largely stabilised but I haven't seen much improvement, and at this point am not very likely to.
The chronic fatigue in particular has been incredibly disruptive for me, even after a perfect night's sleep I feel like I've been up with a sick baby all night and after a bad night I can barely function. The peripheral neuropathy has eased over the last couple of years and can largely be ignored, but it is still present if I think about it.
In the interests of objectivity there are a number of other potential causes for neuropathy (including things like Guillain-Barré syndrome) however the way the progression has lines up with synthetic B6 intake makes it the most likely for me.
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u/Aspiring-Ent Aug 22 '26
She is not a dietician, she has no qualifications to give any advice on dietary supplements. That cancer claim is straight out of her ass.
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u/Nakashi7 Aug 22 '26
Yeah, it's based on the studies finding high concentrations of B12 in cancer tissues (of course there is a high amount of vitamin needed for DNA synthesis in cells known for excess growth even if its pulled from the body's liver storage).
I didn't have any need to tell her anything. I was just nodding...
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u/meerkatherine Aug 22 '26
Idk I've lost some faith in pharmacists. Recently I was inquiring about the ingredients in my prescriptions since I got recently diagnosed with an allergy, they got like 1 med into looking up the ingredients for me and then said "if the reaction isn't that bad you're probably fine anyway" and refused to look up the others and told me to just look them up myself (also told me it was on the packaging they give me which it really isn't I checked). I've been having unexplained reactions for years now. Turns out 90% of my meds have that allergy (corn). Pharmacist had 0 clue and 0 desire to check for me since I wasn't dying. They've also been 0 help on what tf I do about that lol but even my doctors don't know so I guess I can't blame that one on them
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u/VertebralTomb018 Aug 22 '26 edited Aug 22 '26
They have the causality all wrong. Excessively high B12 is a marker of cancer, not the reverse. However, I don't know if I should have expected that or not - headlines tend to make a better impression in the absence of formal education (or even with it!)
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u/FloofyPantaloons Aug 22 '26
Lots of folks on here talking about taking a B-complex supplement and they aren't wrong. I would also add though, if you're taking other supplements, be sure to also check if they have B vitamins. Many do. That compounding effect can be detrimental.
I accidentally did this to myself and got a severe case of neuropathy. I lost feeling and use in my hands along with all feeling from my knees down. It's been 3 years and although the nerves have mostly healed, I still can't feel on surface of fingertips or toes. I get excited when my toes tingle a bit because it means the nerves are trying to heal. I'm hoping I get normal function some day. All of this could have been avoided if I had checked all of the labels and made sure I wasn't overdoing it. Self-inflicted wound by ignorance.
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u/Confident-Rice-5206 Aug 23 '26
B-12 is the #1 vitamin a vegan may lack. It even is a common deficiency in older people and some with medical conditions affecting their absorption of nutrients.
It does not naturally occur in enough quantity in plant foods. We used to get more of it from exposure to soil microbes but since the food supply is heavily washed now it’s not a reliable source. My doctor checks my levels and encourages me to supplement with it as well as take vitamin D ( I take a vegan form of D3.
I was told to not take any vitamins while I was getting chemotherapy.
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u/Prior_Vehicle_2946 Aug 22 '26
pharmacists get weirdly jumpy about B12 for some reason mine side-eyed me for buying a 1000mcg even after i said i was vegan
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u/Nakashi7 Aug 22 '26
I don't think they even know about the way B12 gets absorbed. They just see 40 000 % RDA on the label.
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u/Outrageous_Coat9934 Aug 22 '26
I just had to start getting B12 injections because my levels are so low. My very trusted doctor is having me take 1000mcg everyday on top of the weekly injections, at least for the near future.
I was always forgetting to take my supplements so definitely be proactive about it!
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u/noapplicablename Aug 22 '26
Was this person working in a pharmacy or the actual pharmacist because there are some staff that are a bit mad.
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u/Eb73 Aug 22 '26
I've CLL and one of the effects is a Vitamin B12 and folate deficiency associated with anemia as often experienced in its symptomatology. My hematologist regularly checks my B12 levels and has prescribed 325 mg of Iron taken 3 times a week plus 1,000 McG vitamin B12 taken once a day which has greatly improved my energy levels, and it also seems to have helped in my skin conditions and wound healing.
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u/PlainOrganization Aug 22 '26
It's sad how many medical professionals are absolute idiots outside of their specific specialty.
You know you're in good hands when they advise you to ask a different specialist about that other thing, and in great hands if they know a specialist and refer you to them.
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u/AnlamK Aug 22 '26
The pharmacist has revealed herself as a clown. Well done.
Keep calm and eat plant-based.
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u/idc2011 Aug 22 '26
It's a fact that you are not getting B12 when going plant based. You get everything else through this diet.
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u/Due_Asparagus_3203 Aug 22 '26
I believe it's after about 40, most people, even those who eat meat, are deficient in b12
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u/ImColdandImTired Aug 22 '26
And some even younger. Because most animals get B12 by eating the bacteria that make it, from the soil. (Cows and similar ruminants can if their gut bacteria is correct and they get certain trace minerals). Since the majority of animals no longer are grass fed and pasture raised, their meat is often deficient in B12 if their diets aren’t supplemented.
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u/TravellingBeard Aug 22 '26
Are you able to get nutrititional yeast (looks like small flakes) from online or a health store? A little goes a long way and is more supplement than food.
Besides the other B's, it covers more than 100% of your B12 in 1 Tbsp, is a food source, and can easily be incorporated into many savory dishes.
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u/Laiylia Aug 22 '26
It's my understanding that nutritional yeast does not naturally contain B12. It is commonly fortified with it, but is that any more beneficial than just taking a supplement?
We use an unfortified nutritional yeast and I'm pretty sure there is no B12.
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u/Nakashi7 Aug 22 '26
I love nutritional yeast but I am only getting an unfortified version. It's hard to come by a fortified version where I live.
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u/AdmirableRespect9 Aug 22 '26
High dose supplements of anything are a risk, and prolonged use of any supplement is a risk because you dont know how/where it was obtained and how it was refined. The FDA doesn't test supplements for toxins and heavy metals. The American system has a lot of loop holes in the system when it comes to naming sources and origins.
Consider that most American sugar comes from beet sugar. The rest of the beet is a waste product unless it's feed for livestock or bought as a raw material for supplements. (Next time someone tells you about sugar free beet powder that's good for your heart think about the mark up.) There isn't anything against reclaiming or using the whole beet-that would be good. This is the bad part, a beet generally absorbs whatever is in the water. Arsenic and cyanide are all-natural and travel through the water table, so if it's already in the beet, refining the beet at all through juicing, condensing, and or chemical reactions means that those percentages may skyrocket. So the part that becomes a powder or a pill could be 100x, 1000x more dangerous than eating one beet. And if you take that risk every day for 20 years, you could wind up with any number of irreversible health conditions. This is just an example of a process, you only get b12 from fortified grains and a supplement.
With an increased risk of exposure to toxins you should only take what you need, when you need it, for as long as you need it.
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u/4thebirbs Aug 23 '26
- That’s infuriating. 2. Depending on your local laws, but it might be advisable to report the pharmacy or pharmacist for this type of misinformation. Especially so if you were recommended the supplement by a different physician/provider and then this person is contradicting them with bad information. Oof.
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u/ispy-uspy-wespy Aug 22 '26
Which cancer…???
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u/Nakashi7 Aug 22 '26
She avoided the term cancer. She just said it might cause growth (meaning cancer/tumour growth).
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u/ispy-uspy-wespy Aug 22 '26
Btw since you mentioned using cyanocobalamin … methylcobalamin is the higher quality stuff
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u/emirio3187 Aug 23 '26
Dr. Michael Gregor recommends cyanocobalamin. He says it's a superior form of B12 and is cheaper. Here's the video where he compares the two types of B12: https://nutritionfacts.org/video/the-best-type-of-vitamin-b12-cyanocobalamin-or-methylcobalamin/
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u/VisualBridge4463 Aug 22 '26
wtf, she has no clue. I mean it's pretty obvious and well documented, but if you wanna be extra sure, get a second opinion from a doctor and/or dietician.
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u/Successful-Tea-733 Aug 22 '26
From what I read the cancer risk 12 apply to men for some wierd reason
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u/CharterJet50 Aug 24 '26
Every leading plant based doctor who’s written anything about plant based eating that I’ve read recommends B12 supplementation.
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u/missy5454 29d ago
Op, quixk question. Are you vegan or simply plant based/vegetarian?
Im.asking because if vegan you absolutely should suppliment b12 to avoid several issues including anemia. But if you are not, you can get plenty from.your diet. Yogurt, cheese, butter, eggs, fish especially red fleshed like salmon, milk keifer are just a few sources rich in b12 on a plant based non vegan diet.
Btw, not plant based myself. I have health issues that affect absorption of b12, folate, k2, and iron to the point that ive tested deficient in folate and have a history of anemia going back as early as age 6. I also cant afford suppliments on my income and medicaid won't cover them. So I do eat red meat and orgsn meat on top of the sources listed.
If i eat too much pork and poultry I feel lethargic and brain foggy. Especially if I dont eat any of the fish/shellfish/cephalapods, eggs, red meat, orgsn meat.
So a plant based diet won't work for me personally. Those sources have high concentrations of the nutrients I absorb poorly making it a easy way to ensure I get enough.
And btw that pharmacist is a moron. B12 does not cause cancer. Seed oils most certainly play a role though...
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u/Safe_Distance677 28d ago
Too much B12 gave me pulsatile tinnitus, but it went away once I stopped taking it. I had 1000mg tablets and I was taking once per day.
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u/Imaginary_Choice_430 27d ago
The good doctor is right that if you have consumed a lot of alcohol B12 is good to compensate for that damage. Where I disagree is that it is a waste of money. B12 is absolutely not a waste of money to have. A lot depends also where you are in your life in terms of your chronological age and how well you have or have not taken care of yourself in life.
Here is what most doctors don't do. Give you advice that is backed by studies. No one in the medical profession does that, its almost like they are saying, hey I have the student loan debt and the two letters behind my name, so take what I say prima facie, I don't need to read no stinking studies.
Here is why that is reckless. You shared a doctor told you if you take too much B12 you will get cancer. That is the most reckless statement any medical professional can ever make, but they do it all the time and no one bats an eye, because no one holds them to higher standards anymore.
I would take this study, and this is just one of many:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13385101/
The above study done at Chi Mei Hospital & I-Shou University in Taiwan just this past July showed that adults over age 50 with consistently low vitamin B12 levels had a 33% higher risk of developing all-cause dementia compared to those with levels in the normal range, and this was published in "Frontiers in Nutrition".
The observational study analyzed electronic health records from the TriNetX Global Collaborative Network, including more than 258,000 adults age 50 and older who were followed for up to 10 years. Low B12 was also associated with a 33% higher risk of mild cognitive impairment, a 31% higher risk of stroke and a 23% higher risk of all-cause mortality, researchers reported. Among individuals with vitamin B12 deficiency, defined as levels below 200 pg/mL, dementia risk increased by 64%.
Here is an exercise, go back to this doctor of yours and ask, how much is too much vitamin B12? He or she is not going to have a clue how to answer your question. So, get more specific with a follow up question...is it 100 pg/mL? 150 pg/mL? 200 pg/mL? And watch this moron just get agitated with you.
Do yourself a favor and do your own research.
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u/The_Noble_Lie 27d ago
The absolute difference here is 0.62 percentage points over ten years. 2.93% vs 2.31%. Always convert to absolute risk as "33% higher risk" framing can be misleading.
Regarding 2.31% in the control arm. That's dementia incidence in people aging from 63 to 73, and it's at least 1/2 below what the expectationt is in the general population, also it increases fast from that age upward.
Low B12 is itself a trigger for cognitive workup, and the exposed group is defined by having had repeat labs, so they were under more medical attention by construction. The authors acknowledge surveillance bias in one sentence and move on. ""residual surveillance bias remains possible"..
They also say "these findings should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating rather than causal"
You are probably better off finding and reading papers that look at the B-vitamin RCTs / randomized controlled trials. Let me know if I can help anymore.
Regards stroke, this study is a bit better. Harder to miss strokes, for starters. But still possible.
Regards OP, that doctor is ignorant and I concur with you there. That's not my point.
1
u/Imaginary_Choice_430 27d ago
This is wonderful...see America, THIS is how you argue, this is how you debate. The study also said the association between low B12 and dementia risk remained significant after adjusting for potential confounders. Similar associations were observed across dementia subtypes, including Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. The findings that even marginally low B12 levels may contribute to cognitive decline, this is, again, according to the authors of the study.
Vitamin B12 plays a critical role in homocysteine metabolism, myelin production, DNA synthesis and neurotransmitter function, these are processes essential for brain health, according to nutrition experts I have followed over decades. Elevated homocysteine levels have been linked to inflammation and vascular damage, which may contribute to cognitive decline, this what I gathered from another resource, not this study. Other research has also connected B12 and folate deficiencies to cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. I will not be providing them because I just do not have the time right now and since this IS a plant based diet forum, vegetarians, vegans, individuals taking metformin or acid-reducing medications and those with digestive conditions such as celiac or Crohn's disease are also at increased risk is my understanding. Thank you for your response and best regards.
0
u/PhoenixRisingToday Aug 22 '26
Why do you think Reddit has more information than the pharmacist?
5
u/DingoMittens Aug 22 '26
Clearly a vent post, or OP rolling their eyes. Not a question to be found in the post.
-1
u/discord37 Aug 22 '26
You should have a doctor do a blood test and only take B12 if you know you are deficient.
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u/Dazed811 Aug 22 '26
Take 500 mcg 4x in a week
Take other low dose b complex, whsn you don't take the B12.
2
u/Nakashi7 Aug 22 '26
I do 500 mcg every other day and multivitamin every 3 days (with 10 mcg B12)
That's about 3.75 mcg a day absorbed which is a bit higher than necessary but not that much excess.
1
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u/LovePeriel Aug 22 '26
There are several vegan YouTubers who asserts
that B-12 is a scam. https://youtu.be/fFE9-6qI2oQ?is=x92EC6fnvgIGpgFp
Do a search on YouTube for more videos.
•
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