Notes 1-5 below explain the origin/calculation of numeric columns 1-5, respectively, in the table.

1. Raw B-12 data from Mozafar [1994]:

   Column 1 = (ng B-12)/(gm of plant) = (mcg B-12)/(kg of plant), dry weight.

2. Amount of plant food (kg), on dry basis, needed to provide 2 mcg B-12 = daily requirement:

   Column 2 = 2.0/(column 1) = number of kg of dry weight plant food needed to provide 2 mcg of B-12.

3. Estimated amount of crude plant food (kg), on "wet" basis, required to satisfy daily B-12 requirement:

   Column 3: the numbers in column 2 must be converted to crude wet weight to be meaningful. Mozafar does not provide water content data, so we will use values for similar items from USDA handbook 8, Composition of Foods, to compute approximate wet weights. The formula to estimate wet weight from dry weight is:

   Column 3 = wet weight = (dry weight)/(1.0-wp) = (Column 2)/(1.0-wp)

   where wp = water proportion, i.e., percent water content of food item, expressed as a proportion. The water proportion values used were: soybeans = 0.0854 [USDA handbook 8-16, 1986, p. 129], barley = 0.0944 [USDA handbook 8-20, 1989, p. 22], spinach = 0.9158 [USDA handbook 8-11, 1984, p. 385].

4. Estimated amount of edible raw plant food (kg, seeds sprouted) to satisfy daily B-12 requirement:

   Column 4 is merely the numbers from column 3 multiplied by (estimated) factors to adjust for weight after sprouting. The multipliers used are: 3.5 for soybeans (must be sprouted very long to eat raw), 2.0 for barley, 1.0 for spinach (spinach is eaten as-is). Note the assumption here that sprouting does not change total B-12 in the seed--an untested assumption. The multipliers to adjust for weight after sprouting are estimates; the actual change in weight from sprouting will vary according to how long the sprouts are grown, and other factors.

5. Estimated amount of edible raw plant food (pounds, seeds sprouted) to satisfy daily B-12 requirement:

   Column 5 is the same as column 4 except converted to pounds, i.e.:

   Column 5 = (Column 4)*2.2

6. It should be emphasized that the weights in numeric columns 4 and 5 are estimates based on the following assumptions:
   • The multipliers used above actually reflect weight gains during sprouting (of soybeans, barley).

   • Total B-12 content does not change in sprouting (soybeans, barley).

   • The water content of the plant foods analyzed by Mozafar was equivalent to the water content of the similar foods in USDA handbook 8, Composition of Foods.

   As the validity of the table depends on the above assumptions, the numbers given here should be seen as rough approximations. The numbers in the table are for discussion only, and not to be interpreted as a prescription or guarantee of vitamin content.

7. Table entries were rounded to the nearest hundredth (0.01). Calculations were performed at full (computer) significance and then rounded.

SEE REFERENCE LIST

SEE TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR:
PART 1 PART 2 PART 3 PART 4 PART 5 PART 6 PART 7 PART 8 PART 9

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GO TO PART 1 - Brief Overview: What is the Relevance of Comparative Anatomical and Physiological "Proofs"?

GO TO PART 2 - Looking at Ape Diets: Myths, Realities, and Rationalizations

GO TO PART 3 - The Fossil-Record Evidence about Human Diet

GO TO PART 4 - Intelligence, Evolution of the Human Brain, and Diet

GO TO PART 5 - Limitations on Comparative Dietary Proofs

GO TO PART 6 - What Comparative Anatomy Does and Doesn't Tell Us about Human Diet

GO TO PART 7 - Insights about Human Nutrition & Digestion from Comparative Physiology

GO TO PART 8 - Further Issues in the Debate over Omnivorous vs. Vegetarian Diets

GO TO PART 9 - Conclusions: The End, or The Beginning of a New Approach to Your Diet?

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