Resident Medical Authority: J. E. Williams, OMD, FAAIM

PART I – Blood Testing for Vegetarians & Vegans

Personally, I started my own personal experiment with vegetarianism and vegan lifestyle in 1972, and I also conceived and raised children as vegetarians (until they were pre-teen). I have 30 years of clinical experience in natural medicine, and for 25 years, I was a busy clinician in Southern California. Thus, I have earned my credentials and have seen it all.

I know through all of this that if you want to get your cholesterol and LDL (“bad” cholesterol) down to bare bones levels, go vegan. If you want to boost your folic acid and antioxidant levels to new heights, eat more plants. It is the same with reducing your risk for a heart attack to zero, and preventing many types of cancer. But, if you want to have strong vitamin B12 levels, and enough iron and albumin, vegetarians and vegans are vulnerable.

This blog is the first in a series where I discuss the basic laboratory tests most important for plant-based diets. Let’s look at the 10 most helpful ones for evaluating deficiencies and the consequences of not having adequate levels of certain nutrients.

If you’re into raw food, a vegan, or even someone who eats a whole food diet that includes meat, eggs and/or dairy, you’ll want to watch this show.

I run over the types of vitamin b12 that you can find in your cabinet, what types of food sources are appropriate, the skinny on spirulina, and where you can find out for yourself if you’re deficient or not!

Why vitamin B12? You want to keep your brain and nervous system sharp. Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to poor memory, depression, fatigue, and neurological damage.

(I also talk about the hippie guy on my desk and answer a non-health related question as best I can…)

Take a look…

Your question of the day: What episodes do you like and which ones should we can?

Your comments and feedback are super important so be sure to click here, scroll down to the bottom of the page and tell us what you like and what you don’t!

BTW: B12 Testing can be done with Dr. D.

I wrote to him to ask him if he did the urine MMA type of testing and in proper Dr. D fashion, I got some great information back… I asked if I could share his email with you and he said sure!

Here it is…

Hi Kevin: The short answer is yes! But, you know me – there’s a lot more to the story (most of which you probably already know). The condensed version regarding the testing itself is that a blood B12 level measurement is a very unreliable test for vegans, particularly for vegans using any form of algae.

Algae and some other plant foods contain B12-analogues (false B12) that can imitate true B12 in blood tests while actually interfering with B12 metabolism. Blood counts are also unreliable as high folate intakes suppress the anemia symptoms of B12 deficiency that can be detected by blood counts.

Blood homocysteine testing is more reliable, with levels less than 10 mmol/litre being desirable. The most specific test for B12 status is methylmalonic acid (MMA) testing. If this is in the normal range in blood (<370 nmol/L) or urine (less than 4 mg/mg creatinine) then your body has enough B12. Many doctors still rely on blood B12 levels and blood counts. These are not adequate, especially in vegans.

Vitamin B12 can not be absorbed on its own: it must first combine with another substance called 'intrinsic factor' which is produced by your stomach lining. B12 from foods is released from its protein complex by the action of hydrochloric acid and enzymes. The secreted intrinsic factor then binds to B12 and this complex (IF-B12) travels to the end of the small intestine where it crosses the intestinal wall into the bloodstream. B12 is stored in the liver after it is absorbed, and any excess is excreted in the urine. The body contains roughly a 3-year supply and 30% of that found in food is typically destroyed by cooking.

So, there are some viable solutions if this deficiency is a concern or suspected!

If you are concerned or want to know if you’re getting the right amount of vitamin b12 and if your body is absorbing it, please visit Dr. D’s site by clicking here and tell him I sent you

UPDATE: You can also check out Norman Clinical Labratory. They will send a uMMA by mail for (as of this post date) $150. Click here and tell them I sent you!