Marmite

[Alfabeta]

I was reading the NHS site about b12 deficiency and it stated that marmite was a viable source of b12.

1 Is this correct?

2 How much marmite daily would one need to take to obtain sufficient b12?

3 I assume that it is the yeast base of marmite which contains the b12 hence do other yeast base foods (bread!) provide b12?

Any views would be welcomed.

Chris

[Marybrown06]

Hi,

1) It is not natural B12, it is added.

2) 5g of Marmite serves 25% of the needs.

3) no, no b12 in yeast! No b12 in vegetals, except *maybe* (according to a study) in nori, but supplementation is safest

[Alfabeta in reply to Marybrown06]

Thanks, Mary BUT why has the NHS cited marmite when there are lots of foods with added b12 - most breakfast (all!) cereals for example,

They must believe that it has an intrinsic b12 content.

[fbirder]

According to the Marmite website, one portion (8 g) contains 1.9 ug of B12. That's 125% of your daily requirements (1.5 ug a day, according to the NHS).

Some 'nutritional' yeast is fortified with B12.

[Alfabeta in reply to fbirder]

Thank you for your response. But what is in marmite that provides so much b12 - it is a vegetarian spread - what is the ingredient? Is it added as the previous responder said which, if so, why doesn’t the NHS site simply say foods fortified with b12

[fbirder in reply to Alfabeta]

Yes, it is added during manufacture.

The NHS site for vegetarian health does say that Marmite is 'fortified' with B12. It also lists fortified breakfast cereals and some soya products as being good sources.

[helvella in reply to fbirder]

Someone is manipulating numbers. Their site also says:

1 portion = 4g

social.marmite.co.uk/

(I had to click on the Nutritional Information link at bottom of page to get this.)

Do we suspect that the ramp up their definition of portion to 8g when making vitamin providing claims? Yes - single portion catering packs are mostly 8g, but some are sold as 4g. And just how much do most of us actually use when offered ad libitum from a jar?

[topazrat]

I like Marmite, but it has quite a bit of salt in it. So I wonder if eating it in enough quantity to get a viable amount of B12 would maybe give you more salt than you would want.

Just as an Aside, apparently Marmite makes a good mozzy repellent due to the high levels of B vitamins - I presume that is eaten, rather than smeared on though

[helvella in reply to topazrat]

Not as much salt as we might think.

0.40g per portion

social.marmite.co.uk/

(I had to click on the Nutritional Information link at bottom of page to get this.)

As implied in my earlier comment, perhaps they use a 4g portion to make the amount of salt look smaller?

Probably get more from the slice of bread/toast (typically around 1g). And possibly another 0.2 g from butter/spread.

actiononsalt.org.uk/news/su...

If we add them up 0.4 + 1 + 0.2 = 1.6 - so the contribution of Marmite would be about a quarter of the salt.

[topazrat in reply to helvella]

That's surprising, as it tastes so salty - I thought it would be much higher.

[helvella in reply to topazrat]

So did I - which was why I first looked it up many years ago.

[Hidden in reply to topazrat]

Marmite sure does make a marvellous insect repellent topazrat. I saw this reported in a newspaper several years ago and as a victim of severe attack by the evil little things - not me, I don't usually have a problem but my wife does and it has made Scottish holidays and picnics anywhere a real problem. Two grandsons also have terrible problems with insect bites, it is as if all 3 of them are insect magnets. So, in the summer the boys have a slice of toast with marmite spread thinly and no more problem. My wife doesn't like Marmite so she has Vitamin B complex tablets, 1 a day, and that solves her problem. The local pharmacist recommended the Bcomplex pills.

As I understand it the mossies are repelled by a smell we exude after taking the pills or eating Marmite. All I can say about it is that it has made life much more enjoyable during summer months as we don't need smouldering Moon Tigers everywhere, windows tight shut and a mass of repellent solutions and creams as assorted ointments to relieve the after effects of the bites.

[helvella]

The internet reveals numerous hits on both 4g and on 8g (as portion size). And this as actual single portion packs:

singleportions.co.uk/marmit...

Which is why I am suspicious as to motives.

[fbirder]

Only 10 g for me.

[helvella in reply to fbirder]

I quite often have a single bread roll split in two and toasted for lunch - with soup. One half gets eaten as is and the other gets Marmite. 9g - but I think I did use slightly more than usual.