A New Method for Calculating Vitamin B12 Content and Determining Appropriate Vitamin B12 Levels in Foods

Calculating the vitamin B12 (also known as cobalamin) content per 100 kcal, 100 g or 100 mL, or the reference amount customarily consumed (RACC) of food shows the vitamin B12 content of some foods inappropriately. So, making some food choices based on them to achieve adequate vitamin B12 intake may increase the risks of some chronic diseases. Calculating the vitamin B12 content and determining appropriate vitamin B12 levels (to achieve adequate vitamin B12 intake) based on U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), and the proposed method were performed in 7,445 food items. Making some food choices based on the FDA and CAC per serving (the serving is derived from the RACC) or CAC per 100 g or 100 mL to achieve adequate vitamin B12 intake exceeded energy needs, which could lead to overweight or obesity. Making some food choices based on the CAC per 100 kcal or CAC per 100 g or 100 mL to achieve adequate vitamin B12 intake did not meet vitamin B12 requirements, which could lead to vitamin B12 deficiency. Some foods that met vitamin B12 requirements were not appropriate food choices based on the CAC per 100 g or 100 mL or CAC per serving to achieve adequate vitamin B12 intake. On the basis of the proposed method, calculating the vitamin B12 content and determining appropriate vitamin B12 levels in foods are performed by considering RACCs and the energy content of foods. Thus, making food choices based on the proposed method met vitamin B12 requirements and did not exceed energy needs. About 61.3% of foods contained vitamin B12. On the basis of the proposed method, the average (%) of foods containing appropriate vitamin B12 levels in food groups was 43.57%, of which 9.05% was the average of vitamin B12 source (good source of vitamin B12) foods, and 34.52% was the average of high vitamin B12 (excellent source of vitamin B12) foods. Beef products with 99.35%, lamb, veal, and game products with 98.4%, finfish and shellfish products with 97.68%, pork products with 93.11%, sausages and luncheon meats with 82.21%, poultry products with 79.22%, fast foods with 72.49%, American Indian/Alaska Native foods with 70%, dairy and egg products with 67.16%, breakfast cereals with 56.88%, baby foods with 53.42%, restaurant foods with 52.05%, and meals, entrees, and side dishes with 47.3% had the highest averages of foods containing appropriate vitamin B12 levels. The highest amounts of vitamin B12 were found in most meats (meat from beef, veal, pork, finfish, shellfish, lamb, mutton, poultry, and meat from other species), energy drink (vitamin B12-fortified), clam chowder, breakfast cereal (vitamin B12-fortified), meat substitutes (vitamin B12-fortified), fruit juice (vitamin B12-fortified), formulated bar (vitamin B12-fortified), water (vitamin B12-fortified), almond milk drink (vitamin B12-fortified), coconut milk drink (vitamin B12-fortified), soy milk (vitamin B12-fortified), pancakes (vitamin B12-fortified), oyster stew, chunky turkey soup, whey protein, waffles (vitamin B12-fortified), sausage and luncheon meat with meat as the main ingredient, nutrition shake (vitamin B12-fortified), chili con carne, French toast (vitamin B12-fortified), rice milk drink (vitamin B12-fortified), vegetable oil spread (vitamin B12-fortified), hamburger, cow milk, sheep milk, cheeseburger, yogurt, protein bar (vitamin B12-fortified), chocolate bar (vitamin B12-fortified), cream of shrimp soup, buttermilk, tripe soup, coffee prepared with milk, malted milk drink (prepared with milk), egg yolks, whole eggs (such as duck egg, goose egg, turkey egg, quail egg, and chicken egg), scrambled eggs, omelet, milkshakes, Swiss cheese, egg custard, kefir, Indian buffalo milk, Gjetost cheese, whey, cottage cheese, soup prepared with milk, cheese quesadilla, cheese enchilada, beef and mushroom soup (chunky), Tilsit cheese, fried mozzarella, instant breakfast drink (vitamin B12-fortified), infant or child formula (vitamin B12-fortified), eggnog, beef stroganoff soup (chunky), Queso Blanco cheese, Feta cheese, Fontina cheese, Queso Fresco cheese, corned beef hash, Brie cheese, pulled pork in barbecue sauce, and Gruyere cheese. Foods containing appropriate vitamin B12 levels were not found in three food groups (cereal grains and pasta; nut and seed products; spices and herbs) and were very few in three food groups (fats and oils; fruits and fruit juices; vegetables and vegetable products).