Hi everyone;

MANY places (and threads here on veggieboards) have said that as a vegan I should be taking a B-12 suppliment.

If I am drinking fortefied soy milk, should I still take a B-12 pill?

Just how much B-12 does one need? I had read (somewhere...I don't even know it is reliable) that omni's have so much B-12 in their system that a new vegan doesn't even really need to worry much about B-12...

Any truth in that?

Thanks!

Zeb

The average person may take several years to blow through thier B-12 reserves.

If you don't have any trouble absorbing/utilizing B-12 you may get enough from just over 3 cups of your average fortified/enriched soymilk.

Jarrow makes a B-12 sublingual tablet that is the best, IMO.

Personally I feel more comfortable with taking supplements, because then I feel more sure that I actually get the vitamin.

If you decide to rely solely on fortified foods, keep in mind that your body better absorbs many small doses of B12 spread out over a day, than one single big dose.

ETA: Oh, and you *do* need to think about B12, even if you were non-veg before. There's really no need to wait with it until your stores are low either. Go ahead and get a supplement and/or include fortified foods into your diet right away.

Okay - I will take a suppliment just to be sure I'm getting what I need.

Thank you!!

Nutritional yeast also provides B-12 and is used by a lot of vegitarians to cook with. The taste gets a little getting used to, but I like it.