The Claim
Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient for human physiology and is not synthetically produced by plants or fungi in bioavailable forms.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
Vitamin B12 is required for normal human bodily functions and is not naturally produced in usable amounts by plants or fungi.
See the scientific wording
Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient for human physiology and is not synthetically produced by plants or fungi in bioavailable forms.
Humans need vitamin B12 to make methionine, a building block for proteins and other vital molecules. Only bacteria can produce vitamin B12. Plants and fungi do not make it in a form the human body can use. Without vitamin B12, the body cannot complete methionine production, which stops protein synthesis and damages cell function. The body must get vitamin B12 from animal foods or supplements because no other source provides it in a usable form.
What the research says
3 studiesThis study found that some seaweed has vitamin B12, which might seem to contradict the claim — but we don’t know if our bodies can actually use it. So we still can’t rely on plants for B12.
Study: Dependency on host vitamin B12 has shaped Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex evolution
This study shows that the tuberculosis bacteria can't make their own vitamin B12 and must steal it from the human body, which means humans must get B12 from food like meat or supplements — not from plants or fungi.
This study shows that only bacteria can make vitamin B12 — plants and fungi can't. That means humans need to get it from animal products or supplements, not from plants.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 3 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.