Vitamin B12 sources in non-animal foods: a systematic review

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#vitamin-b-12 #seaweed #agaricales #humans #fermented-foods

Vitamin B12 sources in non-animal foods: a systematic review

Marques et al., 2023 | Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr | Systematic Review

Citation

Marques de Brito Beatriz, Campos Vinícius de Menezes, ... Tomita Luciana Yuki. Vitamin B12 sources in non-animal foods: a systematic review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2023;63(26):7853-7867. doi:10.1080/10408398.2022.2053057

Abstract

Interest in plant-based diets and vegetarianism is increasing worldwide, however, a concern for total vegetarians is vitamin B12 (B12) deficiency. We conducted a systematic review to investigate non-animal food sources of B12. Databases were PubMed, LILACS, Cochrane, Embase and Google Scholar, up to September 9, 2020. Quality of the eligible studies were assessed. We identified 25 studies which assessed B12 content in seaweeds, mushrooms, plants and fermented foods. Initial studies were microbiological bioassay, ELISA and HPLC. In the last decade, more sensitive method for real B12 determination was used, the liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry chromatograms. Real B12 content varied from mean (SD) mcg/portion size of seaweed hijiki 3 × 10-3/7 g to nori 1.03 - 2.68/sheet; mushroom white button cap 2 × 10-3(7 × 10-4)/20 g dry weight (dw) to shiitake 0.79(0.67)-1.12 (0.78)/20 g dw; and fermented foods from soy yogurt 20/cup. It is possible that daily recommendations for B12 can be met by a varied diet containing non-animal B12 food sources. Future research should consider different methods of storage, preparation, fermented foods and standardization of the production of certain foods.Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2022.2053057.

Key Findings

Future research should consider different methods of storage, preparation, fermented foods and standardization of the production of certain foods.Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2022.2053057.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size 25
Age Range See abstract
Condition deficiency

MeSH Terms

  • Vitamin B 12
  • Seaweed
  • Agaricales
  • Humans
  • Fermented Foods
  • Diet, Vegetarian
  • Food Analysis
  • Vitamin B 12 Deficiency
  • Diet

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Systematic Review
  • Publication Types: Systematic Review, Journal Article
  • Vertical: vitamin-b12

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09