Fortunately, it is quite easy to obtain sufficent B12, even for vegans who eat no meat or dairy products. Foods such as tempeh and Grape Nuts and many others, have been fortified with B12. There is one brand of nutritonal yeast that also contains b12 and a teaspoon will provide more than enough
However, a failure to receive enough B12 may have serious consequences at the cellular level. B12 is required in order to convert ribose nucleotides into deoxyribose nucleotides. This conversion is necessary for formation of DNA. A B12 deficiency can cause irreversible nerve damage.
Frequently, the cause behind B12 deficiency, is not what foods you choose to eat but an inability to absorb B12. The lack of a protein, known as intrinsic factor, which is secreted in the digestive tract, may be the culprit. Studies have indicated that seniors, in particular, may have difficulty absorbing B12.
It is likely that only an injection of B12 will work in cases where intrinsic factor is lacking. If you feel dizzy regularly, get tired very easy, are becoming forgetful, or have a numbness in hands or legs, you may want to ask your family doctor to check your B12 levels.
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