Apollo doctor puts end to the vitamin B12, veg vs non-veg debate; busts popular myths with science
A new video by a Delhi based Apollo Hospital specialist is challenging long held assumptions about Vitamin B12 and its supposed link to non vegetarian diets. Dr Anshuman Kaushal, a senior Surgical Gastroenterology Specialist better known online as theangry_doc, has explained the science behind the nutrient in a way that is sparking fresh conversations across social media.
The Debate That Refuses to Die
For years, arguments over whether Vitamin B12 is “non vegetarian” have dominated everything from WhatsApp forwards to dinner table discussions. Many continue to believe that the nutrient is exclusive to animal based foods, while others claim certain plant sources offer enough B12 for daily needs. Dr Kaushal’s latest video, titled “B12 Controversy Explodes Again: What Your Plate Doesn’t Tell You… but Science Does”, calls out this confusion using evidence rooted in microbiology.
What Science Actually Says About Vitamin B12
Referencing his own video statements, Dr Kaushal clarifies that neither animals nor plants produce Vitamin B12. According to him, the true manufacturers are bacteria, which synthesise the nutrient through natural fermentation processes. Animals act as storage houses because the bacteria present in their digestive systems produce and retain B12.
Plants, on the other hand, do not contain the enzyme systems needed to make the vitamin, which is why leafy greens or vegetables cannot be considered reliable sources. Dr Kaushal notes that earlier societies consumed trace amounts of B12 through soil bacteria, muddy water and organic exposure, conditions that modern sanitised living no longer allows.
Why Deficiency Is Rising Across Diets
The Apollo specialist highlights that today’s purified water, cleaner environments and reduced contact with natural microbes have significantly lowered unintentional B12 intake. As quoted in the UNILAD report, he explains that deficiency rates vary widely across diet groups. Vegans are the most affected with a deficiency range of 60 to 80 percent, while vegetarians fall between 40 and 50 percent. Omnivores, who consume meat and dairy, show less than 5 percent deficiency.
The Debate That Refuses to Die
For years, arguments over whether Vitamin B12 is “non vegetarian” have dominated everything from WhatsApp forwards to dinner table discussions. Many continue to believe that the nutrient is exclusive to animal based foods, while others claim certain plant sources offer enough B12 for daily needs. Dr Kaushal’s latest video, titled “B12 Controversy Explodes Again: What Your Plate Doesn’t Tell You… but Science Does”, calls out this confusion using evidence rooted in microbiology.
What Science Actually Says About Vitamin B12
Referencing his own video statements, Dr Kaushal clarifies that neither animals nor plants produce Vitamin B12. According to him, the true manufacturers are bacteria, which synthesise the nutrient through natural fermentation processes. Animals act as storage houses because the bacteria present in their digestive systems produce and retain B12.
Plants, on the other hand, do not contain the enzyme systems needed to make the vitamin, which is why leafy greens or vegetables cannot be considered reliable sources. Dr Kaushal notes that earlier societies consumed trace amounts of B12 through soil bacteria, muddy water and organic exposure, conditions that modern sanitised living no longer allows.
Why Deficiency Is Rising Across Diets
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