Title: Vitamin B12 in Algae: Spirulina, Chlorella and Nori | Dr. Schweikart
Headings: Vitamin B12 in Algae: Spirulina, Chlorella and Nori
Plant-based B12
Vitamin B12 in Algae: Spirulina, Chlorella and Nori
Plant-Based, Vegan Vitamin B12: It Does Exist
Algae – A Source of Vegan Vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 in Algae: Real or Analogue?
Algae and Pseudo Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 Content of Algae
Which Algae Contain Vitamin B12?
Spirulina: Not a Vitamin B12 Source
AFA Algae (Aphanizomenon flos-aquae)
Nori – Still in Question
Chlorella – Currently the Best Candidate
Chlorella: Vitamin B12 Content
For Whom is Chlorella Suitable?
Plant-Based, Vegan Vitamin B12
Sources

Content: Both of these tests are unsuitable, however, as the serum test cannot differentiate between B12 and its analogues, whilst the homocysteine test is also influenced by levels of folate and vitamin B6 (9). Exact chemical measurements have shown that this alga simply contains ineffective analogues. Nori – Still in Question
One potential source that is still being debated is the red algae nori (porphyra). Some studies have identified its content as B12 analogues (6), whilst others have come to the conclusion that the B12 which is measured in the fresh alga is destroyed during the drying process. It has also been demonstrated that eating dried nori actually worsened the vitamin B12 status in the body (10). On the other hand, some studies have shown that nori contains large quantities of genuine vitamin B12 (11, 12) and that it had a clear biological effect when tested on rats (13). The aforementioned results regarding nori are still widely disputed and have mostly been interpreted as an indication that, since the vitamin B12 and analogue content varies so much from test to test, no clear statement can be made on nori as a B12 source. Using this information, nori cannot be considered a reliable source of the vitamin, as it is not possible for the consumer to check the B12 content of each specific product. Chlorella – Currently the Best Candidate
Out of all the potential plant sources of B12, chlorella is the most promising at present. Yet even here there are also contradictory studies: