Sources of Vitamin B12 are

Appeared in: RRB Staff Nurse Jaipur-6th June 2018

Explanation

Vitamin B12 is primarily found in animal-derived foods because it is synthesized by microorganisms that are part of the animal's gut flora or diet.
Dairy products, such as milk and cheese, are significant animal-based sources of Vitamin B12.
Yeast extracts, particularly nutritional yeast, are commonly fortified with Vitamin B12 and serve as a crucial source for vegans and vegetarians.
The combination of an animal product (dairy) and a common fortified product (yeast extract) makes this the most accurate and comprehensive answer.

Option A: This option lists plant-based foods. Plants do not naturally produce Vitamin B12. Mushrooms, grains, and nuts are not reliable dietary sources.
Option C: This option also consists of plant-based foods. Bread, rice, broccoli, and beans do not naturally contain Vitamin B12 unless they are artificially fortified.
Option D: This option is incorrect because options A and C are not primary or reliable sources of Vitamin B12.

Visual 1: Infographic - A chart displaying various food items categorized under 'Animal Sources' (e.g., fish, milk, eggs) and 'Fortified Sources' (e.g., nutritional yeast, cereals) for Vitamin B12. This helps visually reinforce the primary sources.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Dietary sources of Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must educate patients, especially those at risk, about dietary sources of Vitamin B12 to prevent deficiency.
At-risk populations for B12 deficiency include older adults, individuals with gastrointestinal disorders (like Crohn's disease), those who have had gastric surgery, and strict vegetarians or vegans.
A deficiency in Vitamin B12 can lead to megaloblastic anemia, fatigue, weakness, and serious neurological problems like peripheral neuropathy and cognitive impairment.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question, which is asking for the dietary sources of a specific nutrient: Vitamin B12.
Recall the fundamental classification of nutrient sources. Remember that Vitamin B12 is unique because it's not made by plants or animals but by microbes, and thus is primarily found in animal products or fortified foods.
Evaluate each option against this core knowledge.
Option A and C list plant-based foods. Immediately recognize these as incorrect natural sources.
Option B lists an animal product (dairy) and a known fortified product (yeast extract), making it a strong candidate.
Since A and C are incorrect, Option D ('All of these') must also be incorrect. This confirms B as the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full RRB Staff Nurse Jaipur-6th June 2018

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.