How common is vitamin B-12 deficiency?

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Vitamin B-12 deficiency is prevalent globally, affecting both older adults and populations in developing countries.
• Prevalence increases with age, with nearly 20% of older adults having marginal vitamin B-12 status.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the prevalence and causes of vitamin B-12 deficiency.
• To assess the potential benefits of vitamin B-12 fortification of flour for deficient subgroups.

Main Methods:

• Review of current knowledge on vitamin B-12 deficiency prevalence and causes.
• Analysis of potential benefits of flour fortification for at-risk populations.

Main Results:

• Approximately 6% of individuals aged 60+ in the US and UK are vitamin B-12 deficient.
• Inadequate intake is the primary cause in younger adults and developing countries, while malabsorption is key in older adults.
• Flour fortification is likely to improve vitamin B-12 status for most deficient individuals.

Conclusions:

• Vitamin B-12 fortification of flour shows promise for improving population-level vitamin B-12 status.
• Intervention studies are necessary to confirm efficacy and functional benefits, especially in the elderly with gastric atrophy.