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                            I am not a health and nutrition expert, nor am I an expert at biochemistry. But to the best of my knowledge the information here is correct, being derived from well informed sources, but given some of my own interpretations and deductions. Some information is based on reading and knowledge gained from sources not mentioned in the references, such as the well known food chain effect in concentrating toxins up the food chain.
 Most vegans, sooner or later, will discover the Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) requirement stories that circulate and often form the basis for demonstrating the alleged dangers of veganism. This text aims to demonstrate that it is not so much a lack of B12 that causes ill health, but that rather it is the modern western lifestyle that may generate excess requirements of this micronutrient. In particular this text will look at the little known issue of mercury, and how it interferes with normal cobalamin metabolism. I hope to encourage people to read about, examine and challenge popular nutritional and health issues, because my experience has tought me that only learning the issues for yourself frees one from the many misleading schools of thought that surround dietary practices. Perhaps most people will be satisfied just to know that they get enough B12, but this text is for those who want to understand what the real health issues are. I suggest that rather than focusing always on B12 intake, a far more health giving practice is to ensure that the B12 in your body is used effectively. The human body can only absorb about 8 µg of B12 from any one oral dose. If one lives a conventional "toxic" lifestyle it would seem sensible to take a modest B12 supplement if you are a vegan. I have yet to see any strong evidence that this is necessary or what levels of intake may be required depending on lifestyle factors.
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