on a macrobiotic diet almost devoid of animal products. In ad- dition to several other deficiencies. (2, 3), low plasma vitamin. B- 12 concentrations were observed ...
Vitamin Pieter
B-i 2 from
C Dagnelie,
Wija
ABSTRACT fermented
plant
foods
g
absorbed, (MCV)
in children
effect on
vitamin
ofcurrent
B-12
and
B-l2
because
199 1;53:695-7
other
van
spirulina)
status
that
den
and
of vitamin
0. 15-0.5
rising plasma only plant the vitamin
zg vitamin
studies
are warranted.
B-
plant
foods
as a safe source
B-l2/
Vitamin
B-l2,
hematological volume, spirulina,
main
topics
ofdiscussion
children,
ofvitamin
B-l2
on a macrobiotic
diet
dition to several B- 12 concentrations
other
of mean moglobin
almost
devoid
participants
foods
purified
nori rich
(Porphyra in vitamin
meal
sourdough
no
ofthis
that
factor
(1) claimed
tenera) and B-12; other
some 40 plant protein-binding
was
measurable
bread,
In ad-
corpuscular aberrations
study
used
vitamin
and
shiitake
contained only small amounts. These results generally agreed with ies(5, 6); therefore, we advised parents
he(1).
some
plant
foods (CPB)
were assay
as a binder
(4). Most
B-I2.
the
spirulina (Spirulina) algae and barley-malt
parsley,
mo
plasma vitamin to an elevation
volume (MCV), mean and other hematological
intrinsic
contained
10-20
products.
(2, 3), low ( 1 ), leading
foods might contain vitamin B-l2, analyzed by means ofa competitive in which
aged
of animal
deficiencies were observed
corpuscular mass (MCH),
Because
(dried
Only appeared syrup,
algae to be whole-
mushrooms)
the findings ofchildren
ofrecent studon macrobiotic
above).
To
follow
up
the
study
mentioned
above
(1),
another blood sample was taken 4-6 mo after the first sample had been taken (7). To our surprise, despite significant (P < 0.05) increases in vitamin B- 12 intake and in its concentrations in plasma, hematological values did not show any improvement (all P
>
0.20)(7).
Am J C/in Nutr
Thus, l991;53:695-7.
the objective Printed
ofthis in USA.
study
was to correlate
© 1991 American
Society
study
was
fish
study
erence
values.
vitamin
For
rise in plasma
and the
age group between by
1 had
(n
intakes
=
mo 4)
1 vs change 0.20, 1:?
=
2 [Wilcoxon’s rank-sum 0.002, §P = 0.05.
Downloaded from www.ajcn.org at Universiteit Maastricht UB Randwijck - Verwerking on April 5, 2011
1 2 3 4 5
VITAMIN Our data seem to contradict macrobiotic infants (5),
fed
fit with
ever,
the
the vegetarian
macrobiotic
fish (12)
and
actually
ate
(ie, macrobiotic)
it has since and
does
been
clam
noted
broth
of fish
and
plant
shellfish
vitamin
in a subsequent
larger
to show
on the
any
children’s
According and
alogues vitamin Such
organisms that B-l2
would,
a CPB
assay
not
ofvitamin specific
analogues
question restoring
im-
1.
of alleged (15),
2.
which
or fermented and
foods
Drivas
for
(4).
algae
B- 1 2 an-
3.
and may even block for spirulina (16, 17). been
expected
true
in nori
in nori,
vitamin
measured by the which is thought
as well
(17),
vitamin
have
4.
using
B-12),
was
5.
microbiological to include non-
It is therefore
an
intriguing
why nori was equally ineffective as was spirulina in normal division of red blood cells in vitamin 8-12-
deficient
children;
it could
be argued
contain
noncomnoid
12 metabolism support
theoretically, that
there
are three
possibilities.
from
vitamin
B-l2,
compounds
and/or
this
apart DNA
hypothesis.
interfering
synthesis.
Second,
We
our
findings
First,
nori
with have
7.
vitamin
B-
no evidence
to
might
fact
that
similar
figures
for the
were obtained by CPB and hypothesis unlikely. Third, tamin porcine
B-12 analogues intrinsic factor
(4) used
in the CPB
reflect
consistent
with
erroneously
noncobalamin
analogues
9.
Evidence
in the
literature
of nori this vi-
and
suggests
vitamin
on
the
metabolism
with
our
own
that
some
20)
creted animals
and
because
in the urine confirmed
spirulina
was
they
are
(18) and that both
absorbed
but
potentially
14.
noncobalamin
noxious
they
in different
organs
to support cobalamin
the hypothesis that nori analogues instead of true
may contain mainly nonvitamin B- 1 2, as is the case
for spirulina. group who
did
Our observation-that not improve (Table
the only child in the Fish 1, #10) had received much
of alleged
vitamin
B-12
(0.7
van
cx-
that of noncobalamin observations, 1989).
amounts
analogues (H This information
are
g/d)
than from fish (0. 1 5 zg/d)-would be consistent pothesis that vitamin B-l2 metabolism is blocked alamin
analogues
present
in nori.
15.
16.
study in and from
resembled unpublished
higher
13.
of
data.
bile (19). A subsequent vitamin B-l2 from nori its distribution
I I.
12.
analogues can compete with vitamin B- 12 intrinsic-factor complexes for ileal receptors (16, 1 8) and thus be absorbed when vitamin 8-12 intake is low; they are concentrated in the liver (18,
10.
B-
existence and nature of this hypothesis would
knowledge ( 1 8-20)
high
8.
a
could be bound by the purified Chemical Company, St. Louis)
yielding
current
content
assays renders noncobalamin
12 contents for nori. Even though the such corrinoids remain to be established, be
8-12
microbiological yet-unidentified
in nori (Sigma
assay,
vitamin
6.
might
nonspecific effect (ie, an effect caused by noncorrinoid compounds) on the CPB assay used by us (4) and others (6). However, the
further specificity
It seems
studies ofcurrent
unjustified
as a safe source
ofvitamin
on
the
nature
vitamin
to advocate 8-12
8-12 algae
because
of nori
vitamin
assays
are war-
and
other
plant
its bioavailability B
References
corroborated
B- 1 2 we measured
almost identical to the amount Lactobacillus /eichmanii assay, cobalamin
Herbert
to humans as was shown
(supposedly
that the consumption
children
noncobalamin
however,
the amount
foods
status.
and
produce
are unavailable metabolism,
analogues
because
B-l2 (16)
mother vi-
was
of algae
ranted.
the
is questionable.
49 g
consumption
conclusion
effect
vitamin
concerned contain
ofmacrobiotic
favorable
to Herbert
other
to her
This
study
the
How-
and
fish or shell-
it would appear to the mother’s
than
B-12
697
BIOAVAILABLE
den would
from
Berg, tend
17.
18.
19.
nori
with the hyby noncob-
20.
Dagnelie PC, van Staveren WA, Vergote FJVRA, Dingjan PG, van den Berg H, Hautvast JGAJ. Increased risk of vitamin B-12 and iron deficiency in infants on macrobiotic diets. Am J Clin Nutr l989;50:8 18-24. Dagnelie PC, van Staveren WA, Verschuren 5MM, Hautvast JGAJ. Nutritional status ofinfants on macrobiotic diets aged 4 to 18 months and matched omnivorous control infants: a population-based mixedlongitudinal study. I. Weaning pattern, energy and nutrient intake. EurJ Clin Nutr 1989;43:31 1-23. Dagnelie PC, Vergote FJVRA, van Staveren WA, van den Berg H, Dingjan PG, Hautvast JGAJ. High prevalence of rickets in infants on macrobiotic diets. Am J Gin Nutr l990;51:202-8. van den Berg H, Dagnelie PC, van Staveren WA. Vitamin Bl2 and seaweed. Lancet l988;l:242-3. Specker BL, Miller D, Norman El, Greene H, Hayes KC. Increased urinary methylmalonic acid excretion in breast-fed infants of vegetarian mothers and identification of an acceptable dietary source ofvitamin B-12. Am J Clin Nutr l988;47:89-92. Oesterdahl B-G, Johansson E. Vitamin Bl2 in algae and fermented foods. Vaar F#{246}da Livsmedelsverketstidskrift (National Food Administration, Uppsala, Sweden) 1989;4 l( l-2):37-42. Dagnelie PC, van Staveren WA, Vergote FJVRA, Hautvast JGAJ. Nutritional intervention and follow-up study of children aged 1-2 years on macrobiotic diets. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 1990;l34:34I-5. Jadhav M, WebbJKG, VaishnavaS, BakerS.J. Vitamin-Bl2 deficiency in Indian infants; a clinical syndrome. Lancet 1962;l:903-7. Dallman PR, Siimes MA, Stekel A. Iron deficiency in infancy and childhood. Am J Clin Nutr l980;33:86-l 18. Neave HR. Worthington PL. Distribution-free tests. London: Unwin Hyman, 1988. Chanarin I, Malkowska V. O’Hea N-M, Rinsler MG, Price AB. Megaloblastic anaemia in a vegetarian Hindu community. Lancet l985;2:l 168-72. Kushi M, Jack A. The book of macrobiotics. The universal way of health, happiness, and peace. Revised ed. Boston: Japan Publications, 1987. Bruce G. The myth of vegetarian 8-1 2. East West Journal 1988; 18: 44-55. Exler J. Composition of foods: finfish and shellfish products. Agriculture Handbook 8-15. Hyattsville, MD United States Department ofAgriculture, 1987. Specker BL, Ho M, Miller D, Norman EJ. Association between decreased stature and biochemical vitamin Bl2 deficiency in vegetarian children. Pediatr Res l988;23:294A(abstr). Herbert V. The 1986 Herman Award Lecture. Nutrition science as a continually unfolding story: the folate and vitamin B-12 paradigm. Am J Clin Nutr l987;46:387-402. Herbert V, Drivas G. Spirulina and vitamin B12. JAMA 1982;248: 3096-7. Kolhouse JF, Allen RH. Absorption, plasma transport, and cellular retention of cobalamin analogues in the rabbit; evidence for the existence of multiple mechanisms that prevent the absorption and tissue dissemination of naturally occurring cobalamin analogues. J Clin Invest l977;60:l381-92. Kanazawa 5, Herbert V. Herzlich B, Drivas G, Manusselis C. Removal of cobalamin analogue in bile by enterohepatic circulation ofvitamin B12. Lancet 1983;l:707-8. Kanazawa 5, Herbert V. Noncobalamin vitamin 8-12 analogues in human red cells, liver, and brain. Am J Gin Nutr l983;37:774-7.
Downloaded from www.ajcn.org at Universiteit Maastricht UB Randwijck - Verwerking on April 5, 2011
failed
rather
B- 12 sources.
that
prohibit
NOT
In conclusion,
in breast8-12 defi-
philosophy.
not
(1 3). Clams
tamin B-l2/l00 g (14). Therefore, provement of this child was due
ALGAE
after the mother allegedly fermented foods to it, as
and
philosophy
fish
FROM
the findings of a study suggesting that vitamin
ciency in one infant was corrected modified her diet by adding algae would
8-12
