Vegan Nutrition with Dina Aronson, M.S. R.D.

Dina Aronson, MS, RD is a vegan dietitian whose specialties include chronic disease prevention, vegetarian/vegan nutrition, and lifestyle management. She is the founder and director of VeganRD.com, a nutrition consulting company. Active in many vegetarian nutrition organizations, Dina was the recipient of the American Dietetic Association's Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year Award in 2002.

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Does a breastfed baby whose mom is vegan need B12 supplements? Is the baby able to get B12 through my breast milk if I am taking a B12 supplement? -- Crystine

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Dear Crystine,

If the mom gets enough vitamin B12 to meet her needs (via supplements, food, or both), the baby will get enough through the breast milk. But please be aware that even people who get enough B12 -- whether they are vegan or not -- may not absorb the vitamin sufficiently. Though rare in young women (more common in the elderly), some people cannot absorb B12 well, leading to a deficiency. Thus it is important to get screened during and after pregnancy. Ask you doctor to throw in a blood or urine MMA test along with your other blood work, such as when they screen for iron and do other standard tests.

Disclaimer: The advice given here is for eductional purposes only. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified health care provider.

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