EFFECT OF A KLAMATH ALGAE PRODUCT ("AFA-B12") ON BLOOD LEVELS OF VITAMIN B12 AND HOMOCYSTEINE IN VEGAN SUBJECTS:
A PILOT STUDY

Luciana Baroni¹, Stefano Scoglio², Serena Benedetti³, Chiara Bonetto⁴, Silvia Pagliarani³, Yanina Benedetti², Marco Rocchi⁵, and Franco Canestrari³

¹Department of Neurorehabilitation, Villa Salus Hospital, Mestre-Venice, Italy; ²Nutritheapy Research Center, Urbino, Italy; ³Deaptment of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino "Cario Bo", Italy; ⁴Department of Medicine and Public Health, Universtiy of Verona, Italy; ⁵Department of Human, Natural and Environmental Sciences, University of Urbino "Cario Bo", Italy.

Publisher: © Hogrefe & Huber Publishers

Abstract: Vitamin B12 is a critical nutrient that is often inadequate in a plant-based (vegan) diet, thus the inclusion of a reliable vitamin B12 source in a vegan diet is recommended as essential. Unfortunately, many natural sources of vitamin B12 have been proven to contain biologically inactive vitamin B12 analogues, inadequate for human supplementation. The aim of this non-randomized open trial was to determine whether supplementation with a natural Klamath algae-based product ("AFA-B12", Aphanizomenon flos-aquae algae plus a proprietary mix of enzymes) could favorably affect the vitamin B12 status of a group of 15 vegan subjects. By assessing blood concentration of vitamin B12, folate, and more importantly homocysteine (Hcy, a reliable marker in vegans of their B12 absorption), the vitamin B12 status of the participants at the end of the 3-month intervention period, while receiving the Klamath-algae supplement (T2), was compared with their vitamin B12 status at the end of the 3-month control period (T1), when they were not receiving any supplement, having stopped taking their usual vitamin B12 supplement at the beginning of the study (T0). Compared to the control period, in the intervention period participants improved their vitamin B12 status, significantly reducing Hcy blood concentration (p=0.003). In conclusion, the Klamath algae product AFA-B12 appears to be, in a preliminary study, an adequate and reliable source of vitamin B12 in humans.

Citation: Baroni L, Scoglio S, Benedetti S, et al. Effect of a Klamath algae product ("AFA-B12") on blood levels of vitamin B12 and homocysteine in vegan subjects: a pilot study. Int. J. Vitam. Nutr. Res. 2009; 79 (2): 117-123.

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TESTIMONIES

"As I reflect on our experience with Julia, the word that comes to mind is "resilience." Julia is our 19-year-old cat, and she has been on Bluegreen Body algae for over a year. We began feeding her the product when we noticed some decline in her attitude that we attributed to old age. Since then, she has had a number of diagnoses that are common in old cats (hyperthyroidism, cardiomyopathy, recurrent cystitis, and renal disease). We treated her medically and continued the Bluegreen Body. With each new episode of illness, we know it might be her last. But, she has repeatedly surprised me by bouncing back and continuing her highly spoiled lifestyle. In recent months, we have added a sprinkle of enzymes to her food. With this addition, her appetite improved (a plus!) and she has had less of a problem with constipation. In my experience, it´s unusual that an old animal is able to repeatedly survive several different health problems. I attribute Julia´s survival to both good medical management and to lots of TLC. One of the ways our TLC is manifested is by including algae and enzymes in her diet."
- Dr. Mary Walser, VMD, Ph.D
Professor of Pathology, Univ. of Minnesota