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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Robin McKie Science editor

Scientists find vital missing ingredient for healthy vegan diet – algae

Algal cells under a microscope
Some types of algae are able to accumulate vitamin B12. Photograph: Natural Visions/Alamy

Vitamins for vegans made from algae could soon prove to be the most effective solution to replacing an important nutrient missing from plant-based diets, thanks to recent research by scientists at Cambridge University.

The popularity of meat- and dairy-free foods in western diets is leaving many people potentially exposed to vitamin deficiency. In particular, they can suffer from a lack of the vitamin B12, a key nutrient involved in blood and nerve cell manufacture.

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