Researchers from the National Dairy Research Institute at Karnal have isolated an edible bacterium that is sure to benefit those with vitamin-B12 deficiency.
The group of scientists isolated two novel strains of Lactobacillus plantarum, a food-grade bacteria which produces vitamin B12, after studying approximately 59 different strains through a screening method. The B12-producing strains were isolated from mother’s milk and child’s fecal matter.
Research team member, Dr. Bharat Bhushan, told India Science Wire that both strains, in the form of any food formulation, are completely safe for human consumption.
“The vitamin B12 producer bacteria isolated from human milk sample highlights the positive role of breastfeeding for healthy gut of infants,” he said.
The water-soluble vitamin is one of eight B vitamins that help the body convert food into fuel, which then produces energy. B12, also called cobalamin, plays a key part in the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system, as well as aiding in the formation of red blood cells.
“It is rare for young people to be deficient in vitamin B12, but it is not uncommon for older people to be mildly deficient,” according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. “This may be because their diets are not as healthy, or because they have less stomach acid, which the body needs to absorb B12.”
Low levels of the vitamin can cause fatigue, shortness of breath, diarrhea and numbness.
It is estimated that B12 deficiency is typically common in the Indian population and its supplementation in the form of food or other product could help suppress the dilemma. The scientists claimed the newly isolated strains of the edible bacterium will be an advantageous alternative to increasing vitamin concentration in food.
“Such novel vitamin B12 producing strains can be exploited in future for increasing B12 content of the deficient food bases using bio-fortification strategy,” researchers said.
