Researchers unveil sustainable spirulina solution to vitamin B12 deficiency
Scientists have developed a method to cultivate Spirulina algae that contains biologically active vitamin B12, a nutrient typically absent in plant-based sources. By using controlled light conditions, the team created a sustainable, carbon-neutral alternative to animal-derived B12.
Why it matters
This breakthrough could address vitamin B12 deficiency in over a billion people while providing a more environmentally sustainable alternative to meat and dairy products.
Scientists have found a way to grow Spirulina that produces biologically active vitamin B12 at levels comparable to beef, potentially overcoming one of the biggest nutritional limitations of this widely promoted algae.
The research, published in the scientific journal Discover Food , was led by Dr. Asaf Tzachor, Founder and Academic Director of the Aviram Sustainability and Climate Program at Reichman University, together with researchers from Iceland, Denmark and Austria. Using advanced biotechnology and carefully controlled light conditions, the team produced carbon-neutral, nutrient-rich Spirulina biomass containing active vitamin B12. According to the researchers, this is the first time biologically active vitamin B12 has been reported in Spirulina.
Vitamin B12 is an essential micronutrient involved in several critical processes in the body, including red blood cell formation and normal nervous system function. More than a billion people worldwide are estimated to have low levels of the vitamin.
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