How much B12 should a vegan take?

B12 is made by bacteria — not by animals themselves; livestock are supplemented because their diet no longer supplies enough. Skipping the animal and supplementing directly is the simplest route.

Absorption drops sharply at doses above 1.5 µg per dose because the intrinsic-factor pathway saturates. That's why low daily or high weekly regimens both work. Get MMA or holoTC blood tested every 2–3 years to confirm status.

Set a recurring phone alarm for a specific day each week if you choose the 1000 µg dose to ensure consistency. While some claim fermented foods like tempeh or seaweed contain B12, these are often inactive analogues that do not effectively raise human serum levels. Relying on a standardized supplement is the only medically verified way for vegans to prevent long-term neurological damage and anemia.