Vitamin B12 From Animal Foods: Why Stomach Acid Matters
Why Do Animal Foods Provide the Best Source of Vitamin B12?
Animal foods provide the most bioavailable form of vitamin B12 because they contain the vitamin bound to proteins in a form that requires stomach acid and intrinsic factor for optimal absorption. This complex absorption process explains why people taking acid-suppressing medications like PPIs are at increased risk for B12 deficiency, even with adequate dietary intake from animal sources.
Dr. Kumar’s Take
This research highlights a crucial connection between stomach acid and vitamin B12 absorption that’s particularly relevant for GERD patients on long-term PPIs. The irony is that while we’re treating acid-related symptoms, we may be creating nutritional deficiencies by impairing the very acid needed for B12 absorption. Understanding this mechanism helps explain why some PPI users develop fatigue, neurological symptoms, or anemia despite eating plenty of meat and dairy. It’s a perfect example of why we need to consider the broader implications of acid suppression.