The Study
Assessment of vitamin A, vitamin B2, vitamin B12, vitamin K, folate, and choline status following 4 months of multinutrient supplementation in healthy vegans: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
This study is like a fair test where half the vegans got a special pill and half got a fake one, and then scientists checked their blood to see what changed. They found that the real pill helped raise vitamin B12 levels, but didn't do much for other vitamins. So we can say the pill probably causes better B12 levels, but not that it fixes everything.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
Vegans sometimes lack key vitamins like B12. This study gave vegans a daily multivitamin pill or a fake pill to see if the real one helped.
Where does this study sit?
Systematic Reviews & Meta-analyses
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Cohort Studies
Max 72Case-Control
Max 58Cross-Sectional
Max 44Case Reports & Series
Max 30Expert Opinion
Max 582 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. Considered the gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — B12 levels improved enough to help prevent deficiency, but the pill didn't fix low vitamin A or choline levels, suggesting those need higher doses or different approaches.
- 2The real pill had 82 micrograms of B12.
- 3After 4 months, B12 levels went up in the pill group but not in the fake pill group.
- 4Other vitamins and choline didn't change much.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
European Journal of Nutrition
Year
2025
Authors
Tim Zerback, C. Koeder, Stine Weder, Andreas Sputtek, G. Eckert, Markus Keller
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.