File:Results of food choices based on different methods for achieving adequate vitamin B12 intake.pdf

English: Calculating the vitamin B₁₂ (also known as cobalamin) content per 100 kcal, 100 g or 100 mL, or the reference amount customarily consumed (RACC) 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.

Suggested citation: Forouzesh, Abed; Forouzesh, Fatemeh; Samadi Foroushani, Sadegh; Forouzesh, Abolfazl. A new method for calculating vitamin B12 content and determining appropriate vitamin B12 levels in foods. SSRN 2022. DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4133649